I regularly worry that I’m not a good enough mom. Multiple times a day I question my parenting skills and wonder if I’m providing Levi with the best possible environment for his development.
For the most part, there has been no method to my (mothering) madness. Perhaps you can describe my style “parenting on a whim.” Yes, I refer to my mommy friends for their opinions and turn to our pediatrician for medical advice, but, truthfully, I don’t feel as though I have a clue about how to raise a son. Ten month in and I’m still not convinced I have any idea what I’m doing as Levi’s mommy–especially now that he’s approaching toddler-hood.
Maybe it’s time for me to start doing some research. I occasionally glanced through pregnancy books last year, and when Levi was born, I skimmed through tomes on sleep training. But now I want to know how to nurture my child as he grows into a little boy. I need to know that letting Levi play independently rather than constantly being on the floor with him or allowing him to catch a glimpse of the Today show in the morning is not going to somehow screw him up later in life.
Blogs have been buzzing lately about Simplicity Parenting, which is interesting to me because it’s not a very new book. Joanna covered it in this post, and Fern and Feather dedicated a whole series of guest posts to the book. Then, of course, there’s Bringing Up Bebe, which has been on the New York Times best-seller’s list for weeks.
I’ve compiled a list of additional parenting books that I’d also like to read. (Ha! As if I have time to read anymore…) Tell me, have you read any of these parenting books? Do you have any favorites to add to my list?
NutureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy
Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves by Naomi Aldort
Playful Learning by Mariah Bruehl
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin and Vanessa Davies
{image via Pinterest}
