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10 of My Favourite Parenting Books

10 of My Favourite Parenting Books

by Alex Turner | Jul 18, 2019 | Parenting

Parenting is hard! Here’s a list of 10 of my favourite parenting books that made my life dramatically better.

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When did we become so afraid of advice? Anytime I When did we become so afraid of advice? Anytime I’ve accidentally given one of my friends or family unsolicited advice (especially parenting advice), I phone or text them the next day apologizing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give you unsolicited advice!!” And they do a heavy sigh and say “it’s okay” but you can feel the irritation. Well you know what, I’m no longer sorry. I think it’s CRAZY that we can’t politely offer opinions. When I had my first, I listened to SO many opinions… and it was great!! I can listen to any advice… I don’t have to internalize it. Some advice I got was great, some was not. Some I applied to my life, some I didn’t. No ones outside opinion shook me but it did help root me. And before you say “but there is toxic advice from toxic people,” of course! I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about lived experience from good people who love you. I see new parents these days, they’re doing it on their own and they’re struggling. They’re missing something that our ancestors had before - village, community… advice from older cousins, aunts and friends. Of course breastfeeding is hard. Our family members have done it behind closed doors for the last 100 years. How is something supposed to be instinctual when you didn’t grow up seeing it? Yes, the research that has been done in the last 20 years is huge. It’s changed a lot. So I get that older folks have outdated info. But they still survived parenthood and still have a wealth of information and instinct to offer us newer parents. Through my journey in motherhood I’ve found a few people who are farther along in their parenting journey that I often turn to for advice. I’ve also found parents who are at the same stage as me and we can share what we’re doing now. There is MAGIC in sharing and talking. Our generation needs to take a collective deep breath. Things are tough and we can’t do it alone. We need to open up, not shut down. We need to lean on each other and ask for help. Listen to advice from the right people. Surround ourselves with those who love us and have positive intentions. Be confident enough in ourselves and our instincts that differing opinions don’t overwhelm our ego.
One of my 2022 goals is to do more ME focused acti One of my 2022 goals is to do more ME focused activities outside. I’m always outside… but these days it’s usually for the kids. I start to feel disconnected, root bound even, when I don’t have time alone (or more accurately, alone with the dog) outside. I do my best thinking in the fresh air with dirt beneath my feet and no other humans around. It’s my chance to really look inward. Filter out the noise of the world and focus on myself. What does your ideal me time look like?
What a difference a year makes!!! Merry Christmas What a difference a year makes!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! This morning I opened up Big’s curtains, excited to reveal the falling snow. I turned on the Christmas lights we put in his room. Lights aglow, snow aflow, Big says to me, “mama when I’m older and you’re dead, I’m going to get whatever I want for Christmas because you’ll be dead and won’t control me.” 💀🤣 Merry Christmas to all!
Farm Friends 💜 Farm Friends 💜
Are you a snow person? Snow seems to be winter’s Are you a snow person? Snow seems to be winter’s cilantro. You love it or hate it. I hate the work of snow - bundling the kids, trying to get anywhere. Love the fun of snow, especially with kids. It’s so magical to them. Here in Vancouver snow isn’t a guarantee. Sometimes we get a lot, sometimes we get none. Because of that… Vancouverites aren’t the most… functional… in snow 😬😆 We often don’t have the right gear, don’t know how to drive and just seem to go a little loopy the second there’s an ever so slight dusting on the ground. What do you think? Do you like the snow??
Chased the sunshine! Saw those rays popping throug Chased the sunshine! Saw those rays popping through the clouds this morning and booked it to the park! Lots of rain and snow expected over the next two weeks so had to soak up all the vitamin d we could find!
Parenting in a pandemic has fundamentally changed Parenting in a pandemic has fundamentally changed me as a person. I’ve learned to be less judgemental and one key phrase has helped me get there: Instead of “why would they do that?” I say “I can see why they would do that.” Then I work backwards. So I come up with the positive conclusion and then I find the reasons someone ended up there. Or sometimes I don’t even bother finding reasons, I just accept that yep, I can see how they got there. And then I move on. Someone’s different decision doesn’t have to impact mine. Our different decisions can coexist, without judgement. Easier said than done, I know. Especially when the stakes are so high like right now. But it’s a practice I’ve found very helpful in coping with all the negativity and divisiveness in this world, so I thought I’d share.
“What do you think?” A phrase I use all the ti “What do you think?” A phrase I use all the time when the Santa questions arise. If your kids are like mine, this time of year they have a loooot of Santa questions, as they try to make sense of the magical man who enters their house in the cover of darkness one night a year 😆🙈 I’ve heard some say they refuse to lie to their kids and they tell them the truth, I’ve heard others give elaborate Santa stories. I like to be somewhere in the middle, centred on the child. It’s up to them to make up the magic, and they do. “How did Santa get here?” the kids asked as we approached this barn with Santa inside. Me - “what do you think?” and my goodness the wonderful magical stories that followed. The beauty of kids is you don’t need to make up magic, they’ve got that one down. Their imaginations are wild and beautiful, so leave it up to them! “What do you think?”
Instagram vs Reality 😆 Friendly reminder as the Instagram vs Reality 😆 Friendly reminder as the holiday season approaches to keep realistic expectations for what young kids are capable of. Smiling for photos, saying thank you’s, visiting seldom seen relatives… not always fun for the little ones!! I always have to remind myself of this when I see the happy, holiday photos on insta!! What about you?? Do you get caught up in the festive season?
“The wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't saf “The wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone."

About me

Hi! My name is Alex Turner. I’m a journalist turned stay at home mom living the (chaotic) dream keeping three kiddos, a rescue dog, husband and way too many plants alive. Join me as I share my unfiltered, raw, funny and frustrating journey through motherhood.

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When did we become so afraid of advice? Anytime I When did we become so afraid of advice? Anytime I’ve accidentally given one of my friends or family unsolicited advice (especially parenting advice), I phone or text them the next day apologizing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give you unsolicited advice!!” And they do a heavy sigh and say “it’s okay” but you can feel the irritation. Well you know what, I’m no longer sorry. I think it’s CRAZY that we can’t politely offer opinions. When I had my first, I listened to SO many opinions… and it was great!! I can listen to any advice… I don’t have to internalize it. Some advice I got was great, some was not. Some I applied to my life, some I didn’t. No ones outside opinion shook me but it did help root me. And before you say “but there is toxic advice from toxic people,” of course! I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about lived experience from good people who love you. I see new parents these days, they’re doing it on their own and they’re struggling. They’re missing something that our ancestors had before - village, community… advice from older cousins, aunts and friends. Of course breastfeeding is hard. Our family members have done it behind closed doors for the last 100 years. How is something supposed to be instinctual when you didn’t grow up seeing it? Yes, the research that has been done in the last 20 years is huge. It’s changed a lot. So I get that older folks have outdated info. But they still survived parenthood and still have a wealth of information and instinct to offer us newer parents. Through my journey in motherhood I’ve found a few people who are farther along in their parenting journey that I often turn to for advice. I’ve also found parents who are at the same stage as me and we can share what we’re doing now. There is MAGIC in sharing and talking. Our generation needs to take a collective deep breath. Things are tough and we can’t do it alone. We need to open up, not shut down. We need to lean on each other and ask for help. Listen to advice from the right people. Surround ourselves with those who love us and have positive intentions. Be confident enough in ourselves and our instincts that differing opinions don’t overwhelm our ego.
One of my 2022 goals is to do more ME focused acti One of my 2022 goals is to do more ME focused activities outside. I’m always outside… but these days it’s usually for the kids. I start to feel disconnected, root bound even, when I don’t have time alone (or more accurately, alone with the dog) outside. I do my best thinking in the fresh air with dirt beneath my feet and no other humans around. It’s my chance to really look inward. Filter out the noise of the world and focus on myself. What does your ideal me time look like?
What a difference a year makes!!! Merry Christmas What a difference a year makes!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! This morning I opened up Big’s curtains, excited to reveal the falling snow. I turned on the Christmas lights we put in his room. Lights aglow, snow aflow, Big says to me, “mama when I’m older and you’re dead, I’m going to get whatever I want for Christmas because you’ll be dead and won’t control me.” 💀🤣 Merry Christmas to all!

ABOUT ME

Hi! My name is Alex Turner. I’m a journalist turned stay at home mom living the (chaotic) dream keeping three kiddos, a rescue dog, husband and way too many plants alive. Join me as I share my unfiltered, raw, funny and frustrating journey through motherhood.

COMMUNITY

Facebook

Instagram

GET IN TOUCH