Claudine Ong

I have piles of books on my bedside table waiting to be read. This here is a pile of just the parenting books that I want to read. So many books, so little time! They’re all good books that I have got on good recommendations from people, so I really want to read them.

The problem is, sometimes reading parenting books as a parent is like reading your weapon’s user manual in the middle of a battle zone. Tee hee. Especially the toddler stage books — too early to read before you have the baby, but before you know it you’re in battleground and missiles are flying over your head (pardon the mixed metaphors! :) Just as soon as you manage to squeeze in a bit of reading, you’re back to the onslaught of disciplining-teaching-playing-cooking-feeding-cleaning-disciplining-playing- well you get the idea. Often there’s just not enough time to digest what you’re reading and properly think of a strategy, and you’re back to the default mode of just reacting to each problem instead of being proactive in preventing problems. So. I’m hoping to find ways I can do more reading. (Not to say that being a parent is all bad, of course. It has many joys!)

The books in this pile, from the top:

1 & 2. Terrific Toddlers and Terrific Toddlers 2, by Mel Hayde. I have this on loan from Juni. Mel is a Christian mum, and her books are basically about how parents can influence their children’s behaviour, character, and choices. I’m only halfway through the first book, and I like it already. It has short chapters, short sentences, and to the point (excellent features for busy/tired parents!), and has very practical and helpful tips.

3 & 4. The Secret of Happy Children and More Secrets of Happy Children by Steve Biddulph. A secular book, recommended by another Christian friend. I got these two books at the recent Book Fair for only two dollars each! Haven’t read these yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

5. Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. A Christian book, also bought on recommendation. Haven’t read this one either.

6. On Becoming Child Wise by Ezzo & Bucknam. Another secular book. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve read another book, On Becoming Baby Wise, from the same authors. I found the Babywise book very helpful in guiding me through the early weeks and months of babyhood, so I’m hoping this book will be just as helpful (although the Ezzo books are not without controversies, but I like to read about various views on parenting, not just ones that are popularly endorsed at the moment, and I’ll decide for myself about what’s best for my situation). This book is for older toddlers to school aged children.

7. Parenting inc. by Terri Hardwick. This is a secular book written by a Christian mum. Lilis bought this for me for my birthday last year. She suggested it to me after reading the glowing review, and I was intrigued. I read this book halfway, but got distracted to something else for some reason, and now I think I’ll have to start over again.

Well, that’s my list so far. There are other great parenting books out there, but I’ll try to finish these first. I’m confident that I will finish these by 2014. Hopefully sooner. Maybe 2012.