A Novel Mind » Self-Help

30 Things He Told Me But Can’t Tell You

Kimberly — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:59:24 +0000

30 Things He Told Me But Can’t Tell You Because You Won’t Listen by Mischa P. Green is a how to book for women who feel the need to communicate with the men in their lives. Women often find men to be lacking in communication. The fact is simply that men and women communicate differently and this can cause many a breakdown in relationships.

When I first read the title, I wasn’t sure where it was going, but after reading it, I could see that it really is meant to help women understand their men and to open the lines of communication between men and women. It is meant to save relationships.

Each of the 30 chapters starts with a quote from a husband and is then followed by a commentary by Mischa where she expands on what that quote means and shares more of what the husband said when he said this short statement to bring clarity to women to what a man is really thinking about the actions we take and words we say, and finally is the “What Might Be Helpful” where you’ll find advice and how to maintain a healthy relationship.

Mischa Green worked hard to make this book seem more like a conversation between two women than a textbook.

What does he think about your makeup? Why doesn’t he tell you he needs you more often? Why does he look at other women?

Mischa gives insight to his and 27 other issues in a very easy to read format.

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For the Love of Children

Kimberly — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:45:38 +0000

Embraced by hundreds of thousands of parents across Europe and Scandinavia, For the Love of Children is now available in English.With a combination of step-by-step instructions, For the Love of Children provides parents with the information, inspiration, and confidence to create and maintain a flock where children can enjoy life and be enjoyed.

The book is meant to be a handbook for parenting from birth to sixteen years old, and talk about comprehensive – it is over 700 pages of guidance. The first year of live is covered month by month, and then the remainder of the book is divided by years through the sixteenth year. The final section covers topics that could happen throughout a child’s life such as siblings and punishments. It also covers parenting when your marriage is on the rocks and even single parenting.

About the Author

Anna Wahlgren was born in 1942. She is a Swedish writer, author, mother of nine, and grandmother of fourteen. She is one of the most trusted authorities on children in Scandinavia and is renowned for her sleeping ‘cure.’

Purchasing

You can purchase For the Love of Children from Amazon for $30.36 (hardback). Kindle owner? It’s only $9.99 on Kindle.

The Essential Guide to Baby’s First Year

Kimberly — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:30:40 +0000

As a new grandmother, I have been looking for good parenting books for my daughter. While there are some of the traditional ones, I’ve also looked for titles that I haven’t read before.

The Essential Guide to Baby’s First Year by Erika Landau, MD and Abigail Brenner, MD is one of the books that I’ve found that I think is worthy of passing on to all first time parents (maybe even some parents who aren’t first time parents).

It is divided into six sections – starting with the “new world” of the birth of baby and then divided into 3 month periods (1-3, 4-6, etc). The final chapter even discusses things to come during the second year.

While the book is very informative, it is also easy to read and a lot more matter of fact than some of the other parenting books I’ve read that push their own way of thinking. Landau and Brenner do a great job of showing both sides of parenting decisions such as breastfeeding or formula, to give a pacifier or not, and letting the parent decide which decision is best for their baby.

It also includes some great recipes for baby food to be used during months 9 to 12.

Over the years I have gathered a list of essential baby shower gifts. I give every new mom a box of diapers and wipes, a few certain toys, and I think now I’ll pass on The Essential Guide to Baby’s First Year.

The Essential Guide can be purchased at Amazon for $13.22. Own a Kindle? You can pick it up for $9.99 in Kindle version.

About the Authors

Erika Landau, MD is a pediatrician in New York. She has been in private practice since 1999. Dr. Landau is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Student Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.Dr. Landau is a proud mother of a daughter and lives in New York with her family.

Abigail Brenner, MD attended New York Medical College and completed her internship and residency in psychiatry at New York University-Bellevue Medical Center. A board-certified psychiatrist in practice for more than 30 years, Dr. Brenner is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Brenner lives in San Franscisco and New York, is married, the mother of two, and a grandmother of four.

Review: Dr. Riley’s Box of Tricks

Kimberly — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:08:25 +0000

Do you sometimes wish you had a “box of tricks” when it comes to parenting?

Dr. Douglas A Riley has created just that, a box of out of the ordinary solutions to everyday parenting solutions. From how to deal with your child’s mouth when you don’t like what’s coming out of it, door slammers, messy rooms, liars, slackers, and siblings fighting, Dr. Riley has an uncommon solution for you.

My favorite was his solution for a child who refuses to keep their room clean – ground them FROM their room. Yep, that’s right. Do not allow them to hang out in their room.

As you can tell this is not your typical parenting book, and I loved all of the unique ideas.

Another favorite of mine was a solution for the child who takes forever to get ready in the morning. Buy them 2 pairs of khakis and 2 polo shorts and take everything else out of the room – no more clothes options. After all, since it takes too long to pick out clothes, he/she must have too many right? GENIUS!

Do you feel at your wits end from time to time parenting? Check out Dr. Riley’s Box of Tricks: 80 Uncommon Solutions for Everyday Parenting Problems for some new ways to parent. You can purchase it from Amazon for $10.95 in paperback or $9.99 for Kindle.

About the Author

Douglas A Riley, EdD is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than thirty years of experience working with children, adolescents, and parents. He practices in Newport News, Virginia.

Review: The End of Molasses Classes

New World Kids: The Parents’ Guide To Creative Thinking

Kimberly — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:08:25 +0000

Do you ever feel like school, state standardized tests, peer pressure – all the things that are such a part of our children’s lives so early now are stifling their creativity. I remember going out to play and making up games to play outside, but I see less and less of that now. Children spend more time on the couch playing video games and watching tv. As this happens, creative thought is being pushed aside. I have worked hard to keep creativity in our house, by limiting how much electronic time is allowed per day, buying board games, arts and crafts, and insisting on outside play, but I’m always looking for ways to make sure that my daughter is able to successfully play “make believe” while she’s young and then later to use that creativity more maturely to find answers and solutions to life. New World Kids: The Parents Guide to Creative Thinking by Susan Marcus and Susie Monday caught my attention immediately. I mean I’ve tried “my ways” for 9 years, but never thought of any formal plan to encouraging creative thinking.

Marcus and Monday combined their experience and research from founding Learning About Learning Educational Foundation, a Texas-based institution conducting aplied research in creativity, individuality, media, and play. That research can be read in New World Kids where we (as parents) “can recognize and foster children’s individual creativity to create innovative thinkers for the 21st century.”

This book is sort of a “How-To” book for parents (now many times have we wished for that?). It goes through and analyzes just what is creative thinking. It is important for us to realize that creative is nothing something you have or don’t – it’s something that can be taught. And then the book reveals how by teaching your students to use the Sensory Alphabet – color, line, shape, sound, texture, light, movement, space, and rhythm.

What did I think about the book? First, the book was hard for me to read. It took me two or three times to read the 200 pages than it typically takes me to read a book. It was like I was reading one of my school textbooks. However, with that said the information was WONDERFUL. The ideas to encourage creative thought were such good ones. I’ve alreayd started paying attention to situations and incorporate the use of the “sensory alphabet” in our daily lives from time to time. Another thing I liked was that while the writing was “formal” and not very entertaining, the book was full of pictures and color that broke up the reading some. I also am a quote person so I liked that each chapter started with a quote to relate back to creative thought.

I do think with the rapid pace that this world is evolving, we must raise our children to be ready for the future, and being able to use creative thought will be imperative. Even the best of parents can use tips and help for the parenting process, and New World Kids: The Parents’ Guide to Creative Thinking is a great book to help with guiding our children to be creative thinkers.

Find more information at the New World Kids website or purchase New World Kids through Amazon.

Kids Want Ink Pens

Enough Already!

Kimberly — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:37:31 +0000

I was recently sent a book to read and review that I have to admit to thinking “UGH!” I really wasn’t looking forward to reading it. The book? Enough Already by Peter Walsh, host of TLC’s Clean Sweep.. I didn’t even read the cover (beyond the title). I just thought a book on getting organized? Great! Just what I need. Has he seen my small house? There’s no way to organize the clutter any other way. However, I was bound and determined to be a good blogger and give it an honest read, and then I was surprised. It was nothing as I expected, and I actually enjoyed reading it. Don’t you love when that happens?

Turns out the book isn’t even really about “decluttering” my house – it was about clearing my “mental clutter,” and yes, I know I have TONS of that. I could fill up my own book just describing the clutter in my mind most of the time. Peter divided the book into six main sections – Relationships, Work, Family, Money, Health, and Our Sense of Well Being. In each section I found a little of me and really liked the way that Peter looked and it and the steps he recommended to clear the clutter. Another nice break from the reading (and a way to really apply the book to your life) is that there are activities and quizzes throughout the book for you to assist you in really applying the book to your life and finding ways to remove that clutter.

I admit to being a fiction fan. My preference is always with my fiction books, but I do like to read a little outside my fiction world from time to time and this book is one I would recommend to others. In fact, my mom and one of my best friends have both already read this book (since I passed it on with my recommendations). Thanks Office Max and Peter Walsh for the opportunity to read Enough Already and share it with my readers.

Other Organizational Books by Peter Walsh:

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