The Real Life of a Wannabe Superwoman
You might know the ‘true story’ behind Winnie the Pooh and his friend Christopher Robin, but do you know the full story?
Have you visited the House at Pooh Corner, or played Pooh Sticks at the original Pooh Sticks Bridge? Here are 8 books to help you delve deeper into the history behind one of the most loved stories ever.
Read more: Learn More About The World Behind Winnie The Pooh
This week we read Away In My Airplane a sweet little book about a boy who takes his airplane out for a spin through the rain, through the sunshine up and down. It’s a journey of imagination and the repetition of the phrases and concepts of ‘through the rain’ and ‘through the sun’ make the book almost rhyme like.
Written by beautiful, bold, deep and striking. I love full page, bright colours in children’s books, and I think – for me – this book does it just right.
As I said, there’s a lot of repetition, which makes it nice for children. Nursery rhyme like. It’s nice.
Each page has sun and rain/night and day/light and dark.
It’s the perfect book for kids preparing for a long haul flight, specially as you can draw parallels to the upside down time zones, and flying through the clouds, above the clouds, shortened or lengthened days.
The only negative from this book, in my opinion, is the font – it makes it quite hard to read upside down, which I often end up doing with two children who both want to sit in front of the book!
Away In My Airplane is available at Amazon UK, Amazon US and The Book Depository, which offers world wide free delivery.
I like doing a craft activity with the children when we’ve read a new book – it gives us time to discuss the themes in the book, and it gives us time to mull over a story, rather than just move on to the next thing. For this activity I Googled a template for how to fold a paper plane, which the girls then took time decorating with stickers and paints before we took them outside to see how far and high they could fly. 
Between you and me this was an interesting lesson in following instructions too: I had two pieces of paper, and followed the same instructions, and yet the planes came out different! Neither flew particularly well either, between you and me, but the kids didn’t seem to notice. They laughed and played and had fun. It was great, really.
*We received this book as part of the Paragon Book Buddies programme. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Earth day happens every year in April, and it’s an opportunity for us to talk to our children about their world, to give them reasons to love it and understand how it works, and most importantly to protect it.
One of the simplest ways to teach without it being hard work, while also spending time together, is through books. There are loads of books with the theme of recycling and reusing. Pick up a couple that you can re-read year after year.
Some good examples are Fancy Nancy: Every Day is Earth Day* where Nancy helps her family be Earth-friendly every day, not just on Earth Day. In Little Critter: It’s Earth Day*, Little Critter learns about climate changes, and decides to do his part to slow down global warming. In this story children will learn about the importance of not wasting water or energy. Join Little Critter as he plants a tree, makes a climate control machine, and helps the polar bears.
In I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle* Max is a little monster who likes to litter and never, ever recycles. Then the electricity goes out and he sees how exciting and beautiful the Earth is, and that it will need his help to stay that way.
And if stories are good, activity books are even better. Earth Day Is Every Day!* is a fun activity book where four kids and a dog guide young readers through word searches, mazes, cryptograms, and other puzzles that provide fun facts about Earth Day and offer ideas for recycling, conserving energy, and making “green” practices part of everyday life.
I also love the idea of using Earth Day as an opportunity to connect with our friends and family, or our neighbours, or someone we haven’t caught up with in ages, and this Secret Garden* postcard set is beautifully thematic.
If that’s a little ‘old’ for your small people, why not have a go at this Earth Day Colouring Book*. With 32-pages of colouring fun, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to talk about the Earth and our role in protecting it.
Sometimes it hard to know if the Smalls will be interested in something before you spend money on it, so why not print this Free Earth Day Activity Book and give them that for a start. If you’re not in the US you can just remove the page about your State. If you are – it’s perfect for you!
For when the kids want to watch something, Wild Kratts and Tumble Leaf are both great nature shows available for download on Amazon Instant Prime Video* (and you can enjoy a free 30-day trial, often even if you’ve had a trial before).
When book work and brain work gets a little too much, try out Earth Day Kids Yoga – yes, that’s really a thing! This book will walk you through a story of movement and exercise with the children. It’s a great way to get the active, introduce yoga and breathing and talk about Earth Day at the same time.
Earthgames: 50 Nature Games For Ages 3+ is another great avenue for rainy day or any day entertainment. The book is full of chanting, play-it-again action games that are easy to learn quickly, yet substantial enough to last through repeat performances. The book is broken into three nature-themed sections–Wildlife World, Playful Planet, Cosmos–each containing its own Warm Up & Cool Down exercises. Designed for indoor or outdoor group play, EarthGames are a perfect fit for Earth Day or any day.
And of course, the best way to get the children to love the Earth is to make them part of it. Organisations like the Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, National Trust and The RSPB all have membership schemes where your money goes to helping protect your environment. The Wildlife Trust and the RSPB both do a lot of work with children, including magazines that are pitched at their ages – and provide a gift that tops up their interest throughout the year. The National Trust operates in a number of different countries around the world and membership to one gives you access to all (they also have a fab home ed discount of £41 for the family for the year.) Most of these organisations also offer activities for the children throughout the summer. Have a look at our 50Things posts for an example of what you can do as part of that project.
* Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you click on them and then buy, I’ll receive a percentage from the merchant. You don’t pay more or less whether you use this link or go direct.
I’m spending a bit of time this week on the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, for three reasons:
1) There’s too much to cover in one post
2) It’s a fantastic offer with a multitude of resources and for a great, fantastic price
3) Sales like this one help keep food on the table for my family, so I’m helping you, you’re helping me, and I appreciate you for it!
Below is a little more info for you on the five books in the Self-Care category. These are books that will help you organise your time. If you bought these five books independently they would cost you at least $25. Purchase the bundle and you have access to 73 more, with extra benefits and offers. This sale ends on April 28th.
You can pay in any currency.
Act now to get the ultimate eBook collection on homemaking at a once-in-a-lifetime price.
Equipped offers three simple steps in an easy to navigate download to help you work through the process of living intentionally. You’ll be able to pinpoint key verses and theme that God would like you to focus on this year, draft a mission statement describing how you want to live, and come up with loosely held short term goals that are based on your priorities.
Do you have ideas, hopes, and dreams for what you want to accomplish in your life, but you feel like you’re being held back by a lack of personal discipline?
Are you easily overwhelmed by your big ideas or projects, and you just don’t know where to start and how to make real progress? Do you find yourself making “all-or-nothing” plans for transforming your life, and then three days later you crash and burn under the weight of your plan?
In Live for Him: A Grace-Filled Approach to Planning, Crystal Paine takes you through a personal evaluation in order to determine where you are now. Then, you dream a little bit to figure out where you want to be. Afterward, you walk step-by-step through creating a plan to get from where you are now to where you want to be.
Are you “burning daylight?” If you have ever experienced a series of days, weeks or even months when you felt like you just could NOT get on top of all you had to do, you are not alone. Juggling homeschooling and homemaking can be challenging—or so we’ve heard!
Whether you’re struggling with managing your day, or simply looking for encouragement and fresh ideas for tackling your list of things to do, you will enjoy hearing from the heart of busy homeschool mom of seven, wife and author, Heidi St. John. You’ll laugh out loud, learn some of Heidi’s favorite tips on everything from home organization to meal preparation, and discover how you can homeschool in freedom and joy. Are you ready to be encouraged? Then join Heidi in discovering that real moms sometimes serve cereal for dinner—and live to write about it!
Also relevant to mamas who don’t homeschool!
Do you ever get a few months into a new year and think you’ve already blown it?
Think again. It’s never too late to start planning, dreaming, and living.
A few years ago, Erin Odom started giving herself personal planning retreats near the beginning of each new year and now she’s created a 64 page book, filled with encouragement and motivation on how to create your own personal planning retreat. She includes examples of the tools needed to plan and 35 printables to guide you through your own retreat.
Act now to get the ultimate eBook collection on homemaking at a once-in-a-lifetime price.
By popular demand, 100+ homemaking bloggers are bringing back The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Sale, and it’s better than ever!
The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is a complete library of great eBooks on homemaking—a truly valuable knowledge base you’ll use for many years to come.
Unlike a library, though, you don’t have to spend years building it up. The Ultimate Bundles team has done the hard work for you, searching the web to find the very best eBooks from top homemaking authors and combining them into one essential collection that you can buy in one simple purchase.
Act now to get the ultimate eBook collection on homemaking at a once-in-a-lifetime price.
I’m confident you won’t find a more comprehensive set of homemaking resources anywhere — and certainly not at this price. Bought separately, they’d cost a total of $698 (not including $200+ in bonuses!). But you can have all of them for just $29.97!
Or, for just an extra $10, you not only get the full set of PDF files, but also a bonus set of Kindle editions, perfectly formatted for easy Kindle reading. This has been a popular request over the years and I’m excited to say it’s now available!
I believe it’s the best deal on homemaking eBooks anywhere on the web. But it will only be available for six days. So grab yours before it’s gone!
This huge wealth of information and guidance will be right there on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or Kindle, whenever you need it.
Here’s what you need to know about the sale:
When? 8 a.m. EST Wednesday, April 23 until 11:59 p.m. EST Monday, April 28
What? 78 eBooks, 2 eCourses, 2 audio files, and 2 printable packs PLUS over $200 worth of bonus products you’ll really use!
Where? Purchase the bundle here.
How much? Well now, that’s the best part. The entire package is worth nearly $900, and it’s selling for less than $30. Sweet deal, right?
What’s in the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Sale? ($698 value!)
Homemaking
Food
Motherhood
Marriage
Faith
Faith {For Kids}
Financial Stewardship
Health & Wellness
Holidays & Special Events
Homeschooling
Pregnancy & Babies
Self-Care
Working from Home & Blogging
What are the Ultimate Homemaking Bonus Offers? ($200+ value)
In addition to all the amazing eResources, this bundle includes the best bonus offers it’s ever had. These deals are worth over six times the price of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. So you’re up on the deal right away!
Remember, this bundle is available for 6 days only, from 8 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, April 23 to 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Monday, April 28th.
Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Read the fine print about this bundle and read the answers to frequently asked questions.
Before Aviya was born, I put together a list of books to help prepare Ameli for the whole home birth and childbirth thing. This list has increasingly grown and grown, as I’ve found new books to add to our resources, which I now often loan out to friends about to have their second babies. Separate to the issue of the actual birth, however, is that of adding to the family, as this is something children – especially first or only children – aren’t really prepared for. While Ameli was lovely with her sister, I think it came as a bit of a shock to her when she didn’t leave when the rest of the family went back home! As such, I’ve now separated the two lists, so that there’s a great resource for those who need to help prepare siblings for the arrival of a new baby, irrespective of the manner or place of birth.
I hope you find it useful!
The book opens with mother, father, older sibling (which could pass as a boy or a girl) and baby in bed. Baby is breastfeeding and daddy is playing with the older sibling.
Later you see baby nursing again while OS eats a plate of finger foods, and on the next page, baby is in a sling while OS walks, with the words ‘I love walking. When will Baby walk like me?’ below it, so there are attachment parenting themes throughout, but it’s not alienating – baby is also carried in a bucket car seat, and cries during a nappy change before being put into a Moses Basket to sleep.
It’s a very simple book, and it doesn’t deal with the birth of the baby at all, but only with there being another baby.
I think it can be used as quite a useful tool later on too – reminding Ameli to put her own jumper on, like the girl in the book, while Mama dresses the baby, and so on. I also like the fact that though I think it’s obviously a girl on the cover, which works in our favour, you could get away with it being a brother, I think.
I Love You, Alfie Cub is a stunningly illustrated book about a little fox cub, Alfie, whose mama has a new litter of pups – twin girls. Mama Fox explains that the twins will take up a lot of her time and need a lot of love and care. Alfie is kind of excited about having new play mates, but by the end of the first day, they haven’t even grown yet! (I so relate to this. Ameli’s first question about her sister was ‘Can it walk? – at about 2 minutes old!)
Alfie’s Mama is tired, and falls asleep without reading him stories. She doesn’t play with him as much, and she is always busy with the twins. He fears that she has run out of love for him, so he spends the day looking high and low for love. A friendly frog reminds him that he still has love, so he can share his love with his mother. Alfie has an idea and sets about making a play space for his sisters.
The last few pages of this book make my eyes well up with tears. Seriously, I get so emotional. Alfie realises that his mother loves him, and she reminds him that she will never run out of love for him.
I Love You, Alfie Cub is so incredibly beautiful, it’s one of my favourites, it’s sweet, and it lays the foundation for older siblings to say that just because Mama is a bit busy right now does not mean that she doesn’t love or has replaced them.
There are a lot of subtle things in this book, like the toddlers bed pushed up next to the parents’ for an authentic family bed. In the explanation of what life with a new baby will be like, there’s a lot of inclusive language, like “You can come cuddle with us and meet your sister” or “Some days we could all nap together”.
There’s a mention and image of tandem feeding, although it’s not called that, folding up reusable nappies (called diapers in the book) and both baby and toddler are rear facing in their car seats. There’s even a picture of Mama wearing the baby and big brother “wearing” his baby, and another of daddy wearing the toddler in a back carry with Mama carrying baby in a ring sling.
It would be great if it were easily found in the UK, but I’d go so far as to say it was it’s worth importing.
The Magic Basket opens with Amy crying on her bed because she doesn’t want to become a big sister. Her mother brings her a piece of cloth, which opens up into a blue magic basket. Amy puts her hand in the basket, and out comes a feeling – curious – who guides her through how to explore her feelings. Being curious he asks her what she was doing when her mother came in, and next thing you know, another feeling – sad – comes into play. Curious and Sad help explore her feelings of worry about why her parents want another child, and help her realise that maybe they’re not trying to replace her, but ‘add to’ her. It’s a really lovely message, actually, and the transformation that comes from realisation and understanding is very sweet.
I asked my Facebook followers for their recommendations of books, since I can’t possibly buy them all. Here’s what they recommended:
What’s Inside Your Tummy, Mummy? – Abby Cocovini
– This book looks amazing. It’s the perfect book for introducing a young child to to the concept of where babies come from and how they grow. This is a great book to share and discuss all the changes going on inside ‘mummy’s tummy’.
Every month a new picture shows how big baby is and how far along a timeline (featured at the foot of each spread) baby has moved. The real attractiion of the book is the ‘life-size’ nature of the drawings, giving mother and child a fantastic opportunity to really explore what is happening, how big baby is in context to everyday objects and what baby can hear or indeed eats!
I had an interesting discussion with some mama-friends a few days ago, as their almost two year olds are beginning to leave ‘baby’ behind, and welcoming toddlerhood. We discussed permissive parenting, and how it differs from conscious or positive or a word I really like, mindful parenting, and I wanted to share with you a resource that I found particularly helpful in understanding the desire in my heart – which is to gently parent my daughters – and balancing that against the fear of a thousand voices in my head, telling me I was going to ruin my children by ‘giving in’, by not ‘controlling’ and by treating them as equals. Or in other words, how I could parent them gently without being permissive.
One of the first things you learn as a parent is that what you thought you knew about having children and parenting and what you actually know about them are two different things. One of the biggest lessons for me in parenting has involved ‘shifting paradigms’ and changing my preconditioned ideas to a manner that suits my children better.
In this eBook and accompanying audio-session, Lori Petro discusses Conscious Parenting, what it is, why it matters to children, and looks at some myths about Conscious, Gentle or Positive parenting – the biggest one I’m confronted with in my own life being that these styles are ‘permissive’. (They are not).
Conscious Parenting is a love based philosophy that doesn’t use punitive or ‘reward’ style parenting.
To me, it’s a follow on from Attachment or Natural parenting, and is pretty much the same thing as Gentle Parenting or Positive Parenting.
This audio class isn’t about changing your mind or telling you how to parent, but about equipping people who want to try a different model of parenting – one of love based parenting. It’s not a set of rules for you to follow, and it’s less ‘hippy’ than most people assume, because it’s actually confirmed in a lot of science and research about child development, the developing brain, and how either traditional or conscious parenting affects a young brain.
Parenting isn’t done to a child, it’s a relationship, based on mutual respect and understanding and developed bond.
Lori talks about the two ‘paradigms’ of parenting, the traditional and conscious.
We all know what traditional paradigm says is ‘right’ but in conscious parenting, we work on through empathy, and use guidance instead of control because control breeds resistance. Conscious parenting isn’t about coddling children but about teaching them how to manage their emotions and respect other people by respecting the child.
Speak to your children the way you would to your friends. Parenting without punishment requires connection.
Lori talks about how brain science has really exploded in the last twenty years, and how we now understand so much more about the developing brain, and how it informs so much of our lives – like for instance the fact that car insurance drops at 25, because we’ve (most of us) developed beyond the irrational and impulsive phase that starts in toddlerhood by age 25.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for parents, I think – in our home, at least – is having appropriate expectations. I so often hear my husband say ‘she’s x-years old, she should be able to… ‘ and it’s something we argue about, because you can’t determine development by chronological age, which is something the ABC’s of conscious parenting addresses beautifully too.
Whatever kids experience is what they will give back
A big lesson for me in this talk was about identifying the need that is causing the behaviour. Behaviour being a child’s way of communicating. Lori says, “Start to see behavior as a form of communication and a strategy to meet a basic human need and you’ll begin to find it easier to stay in a place of compassion.”
Finally, this talk also looks at how we can approach the compassionate form of communication with our children, things like empathy, listening and also looking at our own pasts, and dealing with any painful memories from our own parents, so as to build emotional intelligence.
The difference between traditional and conscious paradigms of parenting lies in this: we want children to have an authentic drive to be caring, compassionate, kind etc, rather than to be those things because they are afraid of punishment. That’s where the difference comes in… the focus on behaviour only or the focus on relationship, which leads to desired behaviour.
Lori also gives you five ‘tools’ that you can use, if you want to, to ‘guide’ yourself through difficult interactions with your child.
It’s interesting to me, as I sit here evaluating my own behaviours as a parent, knowing exactly at which moment I have a choice as to whether I’m going to shout or going to follow the non-violent communication model, which I would use without question with students in my adult-classroom, back before children! So now, it’s just about changing my paradigm, and treating my children the same way as I would another adult, in terms of dealing with behaviour. I sure couldn’t lean over a student shouting at them, and mostly, they wouldn’t accept it either. So why, oh why, would it be okay or acceptable to do it to my children.
Taking a little over an hour out of my day to listen to this talk by Lori Petro has given me a lot to think about, and reminded me of some of the areas in which I could do to take a breath and try again.
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Welcome to the Essential Parenting Collection, the biggest online collection of Mindful Parenting products! This digital bundle offers a wide array of eProducts, including eBooks, audiobooks, eCourses, workbooks, audio, coloring pages.
The Essential Parenting Collection is offered at $49.97/£30.45/AU$55.78, fractions of the retail value of $751.48/£457.98/AU$838.86.
We have divided the products into 5 categories. Scroll down the page to learn more about ALL of these wonderful resources.
Dig into these amazing resources!
Buy the Pregnancy and Birth Module
Stephanie Brandt Cornais, Mama and Baby Love, 46 pages, retail value $6.99
It’s everything I know about conception, pregnancy, and postpartum. And I know a lot! I mentored hundreds of parents in childbirth classes when I was a Birthing From Within Mentor and in labor as a Certified Doula. I have also been a Licensed Massage Therapist for 14 years, specializing in pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum. And of course, my sweet Penelope, my oh so wanted, but oh so difficult baby (now almost 4!) has taught me a thing or two as well.
This ebook is just good, fast, easy-to-understand information about everything you absolutely must know as you begin your journey to motherhood. I am giving you all the juicy tidbits and lessons I have learned from working with pregnant couples for the past decade as well as my own experiences with being pregnant and a new mom.
It’s everything I have ever told friends or clients, plus some things I wish I had known before getting pregnant with my daughter and other things I will do differently if I am blessed with another baby.
I have also included advice from my team of writers at Mama and Baby Love and some from other bloggers that I love, like The Pregnant Chicken, Code Name: Mama, Mother Rising, Dou-la-la, The Homeopathic Pregnancy, Naturally Knocked Up, Mommypotamus, and more.
As usual around here, I tell it straight, no beating around the bush or sugar coating things, which of course means there are a few curse words, but it’s a funny read. You will laugh out loud, I promise.”
Laura Schuerwegen, Authentic Parenting, 18 pages, retail value $2.99
The Postpartum Herbal Guide is an introductory booklet to herbs for new mothers.
Topics include: how to make a herbal infusion, herbs for the postpartum time, traditional chinese postpartum bone broth recipe, herbs and breastfeeding and how to make your own sitz bath mix.
Learn how to use herbs to support and strengthen your postpartum body and to heal minor ailments. Make your postpartum time a nourishing one.
Buy the Pregnancy and Birth Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Jennifer Margulis, audiobook, retail value $20
Why does the USA have among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the industrialized world? Why do pregnant women who plan to breastfeed receive “free” samples of infant formula from American obstetricians? Why are American newborns given a vaccine at birth against hepatitis B, a sexually transmitted disease? This eye-opening work of investigative journalism exposes how our current cultural practices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of a baby’s life are not based on the best evidence or the most modern science, revealing how American moms and their babies are being undermined by corporate interests.
Buy the Pregnancy and Birth Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Jeremy Dyen and Mavi Gupta, Birth Relaxation Kit, audio and booklet, retail value $79
The only hypnobirthing program by Board Certified Doctor; hypnosis mp3s, scripts, nutrition guide, birth music; less than half the price of most hypnobirth programs.
With all three Birth Relaxation Kit™ hypnobirthing programs you will overcome anxiety and fear so you can give birth confidently, feeling empowered and relaxed. You can enjoy a shorter, more comfortable and even pain-free birth!
Why Hypnosis For Pregnancy and Childbirth?
We are dedicated to serving moms and moms-to-be seeking an empowered, safe and more comfortable childbirth experience. We Are On A Mission to empower you with real tools to birth confidently and without fear…And the movement is rapidly growing as thousands and thousands of women are successfully using hypnobirthing and self-hypnosis for birth, pregnancy and motherhood.
Buy the Pregnancy and Birth Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Megan Kimmelshue, The Boho Mama, 40 pages, retail value $5.99
Simply Natural Pregnancy is a back-to-basics eBook for mothers who want to “go green” but are overwhelmed and stressed by all the alternatives available. Using concise information, actionable but powerful baby steps, and resources for digging deeper, Simply Natural Pregnancy is a transformative tool for every expectant mother.
Buy the Pregnancy and Birth Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Jennifer Hoffman, Stay at Home Yoga, Every Breath I Take, 3-Month Premium Membership, retail value $23.97
Bundle purchasers will receive three months of unlimited access to four types of yoga classes and all membership bonuses! Your physical alignment plays a vital role in your pregnancy, labor and delivery, but very few prenatal exercise programs teach moms to restore healthy alignment. Each Stay-at-Home Yoga class is designed to provide you with both information and exercises to restore natural alignment, reduce pregnancy aches and pains and prepare you for a natural birth.
Buy the Pregnancy and Birth Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
The Colic SolutionNicolette Roux, Powerful Mothering, 29 pages, value $9.95
The colic solution is an ebook to help new mothers with colic symptoms in their babies. I have detailed my experience with colic three times over, and given examples for what to look out for and how to start applying some tried and tested relief methods.
Every baby is different, unique, not one solution will work for every baby. That is why my ebook has many suggestions, angles of approach and views. One WILL work for your baby!
You will sleep again and you will be able to finely drink that cup of HOT tea or coffee that has been eluding you for weeks! There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Buy the Parenting the Early Years Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Twin Manibreasto: A Success Story of Milk and MultiplesMercedes R. Donis, Project Procrastinot, 54 pages, retail value $6.99
A first time mom reflects on her journey of breastfeeding twins. “Don’t judge your entire experience based on the first three months,” she cautions, as she shares the challenges faced during the ‘fourth trimester’ and beyond. Part memoir, part manual, Mercedes shares her story as well as suggestions on what gear to buy (and what to skip), recipes, links for further reading and a printable feeding log. Topics include: positions for tandem feeding twins, pumping and milk supply, and scheduling feeds vs. feeding on-demand.
Buy the Parenting the Early Years Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Susan Kuchinskas and Bryan Post, The Post Institute, retail value $0.99
Did you know that a child’s ability to love and connect is shaped after birth? The way you parent your child actually influences the way her brain cells wire together to form the circuits she’ll use in social situations throughout her life.
A key to forming healthy relationships is the oxytocin response. Oxytocin is naturally released inside the brain when we feel safe and can open to intimacy and connection. The oxytocin response probably begins to develop in the womb, is influenced by the birthing process and then continues to develop in the first three years of life. It’s shaped by the love and care a baby gets in this period.
This book is valuable reading no matter how old your child is. Parenting understanding of oxytocin and advice for all ages (works with spouses too!).
Buy the Parenting the Early Years Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Lauren Wayne, Hobo Mama, 154 pages, retail value $11.97
Babywearing gives you a convenient way to carry along a little one, keeping your child engaged while allowing you as the parent or caregiver to continue with the routines of life — walking, using your hands for tasks, and even breastfeeding — while keeping your child secure.
This book is a Babywearing 101 class, giving an introductory overview of babywearing, along with troubleshooting ideas for special circumstances. We’ll talk about the benefits of babywearing, types of common carriers, how to babywear safely, pictorial how-tos for how to tie and wrap the most popular carriers, tutorials for making your own carrier, and a list of helpful resources for information and support on your babywearing journey.
Buy the Parenting the Early Years Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Sarah MacLaughlin, Sarah MacLaughlin, LSW, 96 pages, value $12
Whether parent, teacher, grandparent, or nanny, this book will help you see the importance of not only your role as parent or caregiver, but the relationship, too. Changes in your approach, words, and tone can have lasting beneficial effects in your relationship with a child and on that child’s behavior as well.
Buy the Parenting the Early Years Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
JUNO MagazineJuno Magazine (e-magazine), 1-year subscription: 4 issues, retail value $24.74
JUNO promotes a natural approach to family life that inspires and supports parents as they journey through the challenges of parenting. We have an ethos based on conscious parenting, sustainability, social justice, non-violence and a commitment to personal growth and spiritual awareness and share fresh perspectives in this fast-paced technological world, creating a non-judgemental community for those who are keen to follow “a natural approach to family life.”
Buy the Parenting the Early Years Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
Reaching for the MoonLucy Pearce, The Happy Womb, 82 pages, value $3.99
Written for girls aged 9-14 introducing them to the menstrual cycle in simple, soulful language, taking the form of a gentle, meaningful initiation into womanhood.
Reaching for the Moon incorporates stories, real womens’ experiences of their first periods, and answers girls’ most burning practical questions about periods and their bodies in a loving, age-appropriate way. This is the guide that empowered and caring mothers, aunts and godmothers want for the girls in their lives.
Buy the Child Development Module
Buy the Full Essential Parenting Collection
How Children’s Emotions WorkHand in Hand Parenting, retail value $7
Your child has a vital need to connect with you. This booklet helps you understand your child’s emotional life, and how you can best fill his needs.
Buy the Child Development Module
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Why Does He Do That? A Parent’s Guide to ASDStella Waterhouse, stellawaterhouse.com, 32 pages, retail value $3.23
This book looks at the difficulties children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have including lesser known problems such as sensory problems to anxiety and explores the effects these can have.
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Dr. Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté, Post Hypnotic Press, audiobook (13 hrs 42 mins), retail value $26
A psychologist with a reputation for penetrating to the heart of complex parenting issues joins forces with a physician and bestselling author to tackle one of the most disturbing and misunderstood trends of our time — peers replacing parents in the lives of our children. A phenomenon they term peer orientation, it refers to the tendency of children and youth to look to their peers for direction: for a sense of right and wrong, for values, identity and codes of behaviour. Peer orientation undermines family cohesion, poisons the school atmosphere, and fosters an aggressively hostile and sexualized youth culture. It provides a powerful explanation for schoolyard bullying and youth violence; its effects are painfully evident in the context of teenage gangs and criminal activity, in tragedies such as in Littleton, Colorado; Tabor, Alberta and Victoria, B.C. It is an escalating trend that has never been adequately described or contested until Hold On to Your Kids. Once understood, it becomes self-evident – as do the solutions, none of which are impossible or even costly to undertake.
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Haley Kilpatrick, Post Hypnotic Press, audiobook, retail value $16; 6 hrs 39 mins
“The Drama Years is a great overall primer for anyone with a young teen girl in there life. And the girls will love it too! I will highly recommend it to the parents, teachers, and girls I work with.” (Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes)
The Drama Years is the definitive guide to the pressures that middle school girls experience every day. Speaking to parents of both middle school girls and high school girls alike (and the girls themselves), it is packed with the voices of middle school girls, who share their experiences, anecdotes and thoughts on everything from stress to body image, from frenemies to getting along with parents. Throughout the book, high school mentors share their own similar experiences—and offer parents advice for how to help their girls survive this tricky time.
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Gender Neutral Parenting: Raising kids with the freedom to be themselvesPaige Lucas Stannard, Parenting Gently, 134 pages, retail value $9.99
Our culture has strict rules for acceptable behavior for men and women. But what about kids who fall outside the boundaries of prescribed roles? This book is a guide for parents in the practical application of Gender Neutral Parenting – a parenting style based on respect for a child’s self-identity and providing latitude in exploring their own version of gender and gender expressions.
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Rebecca Eanes & Laura Ling, Positive Parents, 180 pages, value $7.49
There is an abundance of resources available which tell parents why traditional parenting practices are not optimal, but few help parents learn what to do in place of traditional practices. In this book, we’ll discuss the principles of positive parenting, and then we will go through more than 40 scenarios to show you what it looks like when these principles are put into action.
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Setting Limits with Young ChildrenHand in Hand Parenting, 26 pages, retail value $7
What do you do when your child acts out? How do you tell a child “No” without triggering a power struggle? This booklet teaches you to set healthy boundaries, interact with both warmth and authority and create cooperation and closeness.
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The ABCs of Conscious ParentingLori Petro, TEACH through Love, 47 pages + audio download, retail value $68
Create a stronger relationship with your kids by changing the way you speak. Lori Petro will show you how to create peace in your home without sacrificing your influence.
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Raising Mindful KidsYvonne Woloszanskyj, Mindful Parenting Skills, 13 pages, retail value $27
Discover The Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Needs Your Child Has And How To Quench Their Thirst In Today’s Society, A Guide To Developing And Nurturing Mindfulness In Children
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Bryan Post, Post Institute, 44 pages, retail value: $9.95
Simple guidance for developing healthy attachments with your child from conception to age two, for raising a child who laughs lots, loves big, and learns exceptionally.
Taking a look at raising your baby from a neurological point of view, Bryan Post’s latest book will help by providing parents with what he calls “seven gifts of parenting softly.” It is guaranteed to provide insights you may have never considered. A perfect gift for new or expecting parents!
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A Survival Guide. Positive Parenting for Children with ASDStella Waterhouse, stellawaterhouse.com, 35 pages, retail value $4.16
Following on from ‘Why Does He Do That?’, A Survival Guide suggests relatively simple ideas that, although they do not offer a ‘quick fix’ or a miracle cure, are easily implemented and can be very effective.
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Flo Gascon, 157 pages, retail value $25
Your kids are your pride and joy, but sometimes conflict arises and it can be overwhelming. You lose your temper when you don’t mean to. In this guide, I break down an interaction into 5 manageable pieces, making your issues easier to define and act upon effectively. There is not a one-fits-all solution, so you have opportunity to customize your Cool Down and Help Strategy. This is about knowing your individual triggers and your individual child and getting on a path to a strong and peaceful relationship.
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Amy Phoenix, Presence Parenting, 6-week eCourse, retail value $50
Parenting kind of crazy? The Sane Parenting Challenge is a six week journey to transform how you respond when parenting feels intense. Each week you are invited to incorporate a simple, yet effective practice into your life to gradually begin choosing your response when parenting feels crazy so you can experience more ease – and still keep the joyful crazy parts that only parents can understand.
Buy the Resources for Parents Module
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Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper, Post Hypnotic Press, audiobook: 8 hrs 11 mins, narrated by Michael Puttonen, retail value $20
“This beautifully written, meticulously well-researched book is a godsend for parents and professionals in search of clear, reliable, and up-to-date information about all facets of parenting and caring for transgender children. Combining real life experience with the latest research, Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper have written an indispensable guide that will save lives and empower families to ensure that transgender children receive the love and support they need to thrive.” — Shannon Price Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Buy the Resources for Parents Module
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Teresa Graham Brett, Parenting for Social Change, 131 pages plus 2+ hours of audio, retail value $47
The Liberation Parenting Program is a multimedia e-course that helps parents to do the inner work needed to move through blocks that keep them from sustaining relationships with children that are grounded in trust, respect, and freedom. Using tools for transformative learning, parents will experience greater wholeness and connection for themselves and support the children in their lives to do the same.
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Marcy Axness, Parenting for Peace, audio coaching session, retail value $19.95
Parenting can blindside us when it pushes our buttons from how we were treated as a child. “Calm Authority for Fathers” is an easy, relaxing way to harness the latest scientific finding: the more you can make sense of your own past, the healthier and more successful you child will be! The bonus: It cultivates an inner calm and self-possession that’s essential for effective parenting, and that makes most discipline issues evaporate before they ever appear.
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Rosalind Sedacca, Child-Centered Divorce, retail value $9.99
As a Divorce and Parenting Coach and Founder of the Child-Centered Divorce Network, Rosalind Sedacca shares valuable advice, tips and insights for divorced parents on helping children cope with divorce and transition after divorce with the best possible outcome. She helps parents understand the emotional effects of divorce on children and how to protect their children from hurt, anxiety and long-term damaging consequences. Learn how to co-parent more effectively and become aware of your child’s needs at differing ages and stages during and after divorce.
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12 Steps To A More Natural Family HomeEmma Weatherall, So Natural Baby, 15 pages, retail value $8.17
Many of the materials used in household items can leach chemicals into the air that we breathe and onto our children’s delicate skin, causing problems and health issues that can affect your family’s quality of life. This eBook will help you identify the ‘nasties’ in your home and give you ideas on what you can easily do to replace them or reduce their effects.
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Hugo Smits, retail value $2.99
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Lori Petro, TEACH through Love, 17 pages, retail value $20
Mindful Mondays: A collection of language examples exploring everyday parenting challenges using the process of compassionate communication
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Dr. Joe Rubino, highselfesteemkids, audio, retail value $147
Learn the tools to champion children to build soaring self-esteem as a Certified Coach in Self-Esteem Elevation for Children.
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Mama is Having a Baby – A Journey to Tandem BreastfeedingJoni Rae Latham, Tales of a Kitchen Witch, coloring book, 15 pages, retail value $3.99
This is a 15-page coloring book with line drawings by Joni Rae Latham. The drawings depict a story done in coloring pictures of a nursing toddler who still spends much of his/her day breastfeeding, and the new baby that is suddenly in the house.
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Ah, the joy of having two girls. Or two children. I’m not sure if gender makes a difference here, but sharing … oh sharing. That bastion of kindness and sisterly love. I jest. But most of the time, my girls are actually pretty good at sharing and taking turns, and more often than not, when there are issues, it’s because the youngest – Aviya, aged 21 months – has upset the balance and won’t share.
It’s easy to immediately call out Ameli – aged 4 years 3 months – because she’s the oldest, and she should know to share. And generally, Aviya shouts the loudest. Of course, when you take the time to notice ‘who had it first’ it turns out the culprit changes with the occasion. I often feel like a game referee!
The book “Mine” arrived here a few weeks before Christmas, and went straight into the cupboard waiting for an opportunity to be read, and today, a quiet, rainy Sunday became that day.
Mine, written by Sarah Hammond and illustrated by Laura Hughes, is a story about a little girl, Kitty, who plays at being a ‘cafe lady’. Her friend Lea comes to visit, and to be fair, is a bit loud and bossy, and soon Kitty doesn’t really want to play with her anymore, hiding all the cafe foods and guests in her tent. But, oh no! hiding away in the tent, Kitty and all her (stuffed animal) friends are feeling miserable. When Lea asks if she and the farm animals can join them, Kitty suggests an indoor picnic, and Kitty, Lea, the cafe guests and the farm animals enjoy a fun afternoon and share the cakes Lea brought with her.
The obvious follow on for that is to create a little tea party for ourselves, which is just what we did.
It’s lovely when you can talk about taking turns, sharing, the end of fun when you’re not able to share nicely, and then take turns being the ‘cafe lady’. The nice thing about stories and role play is that lessons that could seem tedious on paper, (Take turns being the shop keeper. Discus the value of sharing or taking turns. Talk about paying for what we eat in the cafe. Bring in money, cost and change – light math) all transfers very easily and without effort in play.
On our table: Voila Cupcake Stand, Voila Play Sushi, Bigjigs Tin Tea Set and Melissa and Doug Food Groups.
7 eProducts, including 3 month access to a virtual yoga class. Total retail value $69.09. Only available from October 28 to November 4. Now $9.96/£6.27
