Do you ever wonder if you are a Good Mother? If you are like many, becoming a better mom seems tough. I have compiled this list of 15 Books that Made Me a Good Mother to share with you. While none of us are perfect parents, these definitely can make us better! The important part is to love our kids, try our best, and always keep trying to do better.
I often see memes in my Facebook feed that say something along the lines of how society is going downhill because parents don't spank their children anymore, yet in 2014 94% of parents of toddlers (3-4-year-olds) reported they had spanked their toddler in the last year. Studies show that children that are physically punished are more likely to use hitting to resolve conflict with their peers and siblings, are at an increased risk for higher levels of childhood aggression, more likely to exhibit anti-social behavior and experience mental health problems, and can even affect brain development.
How can you become a good mother?
As parents, we want to do what's best for our children. Most of us were spanked as children and may have already used spanking as a form of discipline. Reading the above facts about the effects of spanking can be quite alarming, leaving you with feelings of guilt and confusion. No one wants to think that something they have done could have a negative, lasting effect on their child. But once you decide not to spank (or spank again), where do you go from here?
Once I made the decision that spanking was not something I was okay doing, I had a problem: finding a different way to parent than I grew up with. Luckily, I love to read and learn, especially on child development and how to do things better.
I read hundreds (not exaggerating – total bookworm here) of books and articles about parenting. Anything that mentioned spanking as a viable method got skipped past and anything that emphasized that spanking was unnecessary got saved. I discovered parenting methods called Peaceful Parenting, Gentle Parenting, and Positive Parenting. All are pretty similar and focus on providing firm guidelines from a loving stance.
15 Books that Made Me a Good Mother
The list below includes some of my top picks for books that helped me learn more about positive discipline and parenting methods. If you are on a journey toward becoming a better mom and know that to be a good mother you need better parenting tips, this is a great place to begin.
- How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk –
- Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting –
- Screamfree Parenting –
- The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively –
- Parenting With Love And Logic –
- Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting From Birth to Six Years –
- Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide –
- Positive Discipline: The Classic Guide to Helping Children Develop Self-Discipline, Responsibility, Cooperation, and Problem-Solving Skills –
- I Like Me: 5 Easy Ways for Parents to Help Their Children Feel Awesome about Themselves –
- Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids –
- The Invisible String – This isn't a parenting book, but the woman who runs our local bookshop recommended it to me when we lost my Mother-in-Law. This book helped me explain love and loss to my kids in a way that I wasn't emotionally capable of at the time. It talks of an invisible string that connects us to everyone we love, no matter how far away they are. It's useful for a parent traveling for work, a family member or friend that moves far away, or the death of a loved one.
- Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting & Raise Friends for Life –
- Parenting The Strong Willed Child: 5 Easy and Proven Steps for an Easy, Peaceful and Close Relationship –
- Raising Your Spirited Child –
- Momfulness: Mothering with Mindfulness, Compassion, and Grace –
Being a good mother isn't all about the games you play, places you take your children, or what kind of education they get. It starts with your communication and relationship with your child. That includes being a positive parent who understands that while children need discipline in their lives, it doesn't always include physical punishments like spanking.
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