The Mediocre Mom's Guide to Greatness

Pregnancy and Infants

I really will be more brief on this one…promise.

Pregnancy

My Pregnancy Week by Week was recommended to be when I was pregnant with Max.  It tells you how your baby is growing and what is changing in your body each week.  There are other books with similar titles but this one is by Glade B. Curtis.

I think this is the website I used once until cravings and nausea got the best of me.  It gives tips on healthy eating and exercise while pregnant.  Like I said, if you are feeling up for keeping your weight gain where it should be and exercising then this is a great place to start.

Infants

Your Babies First Year Week by Week is also written by Glade B. Curtis and tells you weekly how your baby should be developing and gives you games you can play with them.  I really enjoy the way these books are set up because you can just read one week at a time and don’t have to search the index to find what you are worried about…in most cases if you just look at the applicable week you will find what you are looking for.

Secrets of a Baby Whisperer has been recommended to me but I have to say I haven’t read it.  My cousins swear by it and one of them even refers to it as her “Baby Bible”.

Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year My MIL works for State Farm Insurance and they just mail these books out to people when they have babies.  I’m not sure if every agent does it or just ours.  I liked this book but I loaned it to a friend after her son was born and she LOVED it!

Tags: books, Infants, pregnancy, websites
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Parenting

Books

I hear a lot of people say that they don’t need a book to tell them how to be a parent but I COMPLETELY disagree.  Why wouldn’t you want to benefit from an experts knowledge?

Love and Logic is the philosophy my mom used with me and my brothers.  I try to use this in raising my kids but sometimes I fall short.  My favorite thing is the “Uh-Oh” song.  Basically rather than yelling out your kids you sing, “Uh-Oh, that’s so sad now you (name your punishment here).  It keeps you from yelling.  After a while all you have to do is sing “Uh-Oh” and they will stop their misbehavior even before they start.  What could be more logical than Love and Logic.

1-2-3 Magic I’ve never read this book but my friend found it helpful with her son.

So you Want to Raise a Boy is no longer in print (as far as I know) but you could probably get it from the library.  If you have a boy I recommend it.  You know how you have those days when you feel like there is something wrong with you child?  Well this book will help.  The chapters are put together by age from 0-18 (maybe 21).  Each chapter tells you what MOST boys are doing at that age.  So if you have a seven year old who seems to be intentionally  irritating you then you will find comfort in knowing that that is just what 7 year olds do.  I just wish a So You Want to Raise a Girl book existed.

Websites

The Love and Logic link (given above) was recommended by our reader (and my cousin who is the mother of 7!) Cathy.  Apparently they will send you a monthly email with parenting tips…as I write I am opening up a new search window and signing up for that!

Honestly I haven’t looked much into parenting websites however I did come across this article on the top parenting websites, some of them seemed interesting.  I think if you take the time to look through it you will be able to find ANYTHING you are looking for.

Tags: books, parenting, websites
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Books on Motherhood

Here is a list of books that I have found motivating.  Feel free to check them out at the library or purchase them.  I suggest owning them because they are books that I can just pull off the shelf when I need a little inspiration in the area of mothering.

Hugs for new moms by Stephanie Howard

My husband bought me this book when I was pregnant with Max (my first child) because I was having a hard day.  This book gives you stories and thoughts to help inspire you as a mother.

I am Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson

This book  was written by a woman who gave up her high profile career to become a mother.  She helps us take pride in saying, “I am Mother” rather than, “I’m JUST a stay at home mom.”  WE are important and this book helps us remember that.

A Mother’s Influence Raising Children to Change the World By. Margaret D. Nadauld

My sister-in-law gave me this book for my very first Mothers Day (wasn’t that thoughtful?).  It has helped me understand the importance of a good home for my children.  It is our job to help our children become what we want them to by.  It is a HARD job but who better then their mothers to do it?

Note: Do not get discouraged reading this book…let it motivate you and give you ideas to improve rather than making you see your mistakes.

A Mother’s Book of Secrets By Linda Eyre & Shawni Eyre Pothier

I bought this book because I wanted discount tickets to lagoon and I’ve really enjoyed reading it.  I actually haven’t finished it yet.  This book tells you the secrets that these two mothers have learned to help them raise their children without loosing their minds.  There are alot of GREAT ideas in this book.

Once again…don’t get discouraged reading this book.  I know that some women are too hard on themselves when the read books about improvement.  You do not have to improve everything at once.  After you read this book you will have more ideas floating around in your head and if you implement one of these secrets just one time it will benefit you and your children.

Tags: books, motherhood, uplift
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