Never Perfect: Finding More Joy, and Less Guilt, As a Mom

Does it sometimes feel like everybody else has life figured out except you? Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face, wants you to know that’s a lie. Life is messy and complicated for everyone, but once you understand that you are in control of your life, you can begin to live with passion, joy and confidence.

Aimed at women who feel overwhelmed and unworthy, Girl, Wash Your Face examines 20 lies that can hold you back from becoming who you were meant to be. Hollis details her own mistakes, traumas and life lessons, and shares with readers the strategies she used to overcome these lies and find true happiness.

Most of us want Wholehearted, meaningful lives. What stops us? In Daring Greatly, Brené Brown suggests that what holds us back the most is the widespread belief that vulnerability is a weakness. If you can embrace your vulnerability, you’ll find that it’s actually your greatest strength.

In Daring Greatly, you’ll learn how to live a Wholehearted life and become a better leader, parent, and spouse in the process.

All the alarming statistics about child abuse and neglect—millions of cases reported each year, killing nearly five children each day—don’t begin to illustrate how victims experience abuse. In A Child Called 'It', author Dave Pelzer provides a rare and grisly glimpse into his experience of severe physical and psychological abuse at his mother’s hands.

In one of the worst child abuse cases reported in California’s history at the time, Pelzer was starved, burned on the stove, regularly locked in the bathroom with a noxious mixture of ammonia and Clorox, and forbidden from speaking to or looking at any of his family members. Through it all, Pelzer maintained an indomitable will to survive that’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit even under the bleakest circumstances.

Most of us want Wholehearted, meaningful lives. What stops us? In Daring Greatly, Brené Brown suggests that what holds us back the most is the widespread belief that vulnerability is a weakness. If you can embrace your vulnerability, you’ll find that it’s actually your greatest strength.

In Daring Greatly, you’ll learn how to live a Wholehearted life and become a better leader, parent, and spouse in the process.

Does it sometimes feel like everybody else has life figured out except you? Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face, wants you to know that’s a lie. Life is messy and complicated for everyone, but once you understand that you are in control of your life, you can begin to live with passion, joy and confidence.

Aimed at women who feel overwhelmed and unworthy, Girl, Wash Your Face examines 20 lies that can hold you back from becoming who you were meant to be. Hollis details her own mistakes, traumas and life lessons, and shares with readers the strategies she used to overcome these lies and find true happiness.

"Navigating the choppy waters of adolescence can be daunting, but 'The Mel Robbins Podcast' shines a guiding light. In a heartwarming conversation with her son, Oakley Robbins, Mel delves into the emotional undercurrents of teenage life, exploring topics like emotions, self-esteem, and anxiety. Oakley shares invaluable advice from his perspective, shedding light on managing derogatory comments, forming lasting friendships, and the importance of initiating discussions about mental health.

Mel Robbins and Oakley Robbins also agree on the key role that parents play, advocating for them to become 'coaches' that provide support without attempting to remove all of life's stumbling blocks. They emphasize the importance of effective communication, clear rules, and mutual respect. This episode of 'The Mel Robbins Podcast' isn't just a deep dive into teenage life and its challenges; it's also a toolkit for parents and teens alike, offering solutions, tactical insights, and cherishing open dialogue."

How can we raise kids to be self-confident, independent, and compassionate? In Unconditional Parenting, author and lecturer Alfie Kohn argues that we should throw away the standard parenting rulebook and replace it with a new approach built on unconditional support, acceptance, and understanding.

Find out what kids really need from their parents, why using rewards and punishments doesn’t work (and can even backfire) in the long term, and what you can do to make your kids feel loved and valued for who they are rather than what they do.

In this guide, we highlight Kohn’s practical advice and add a few more techniques to try out. We also update Kohn’s research and consider ideas from development experts with similar approaches, including Maria Montessori and Janet Lansbury.

Discover invigorating insights on navigating complex relationships with The Mel Robbins Podcast. In an enlightening episode, Mel Robbins introduces her transformative "Let Them" theory, a beacon for those entangled in the emotional web of trying to control the uncontrollable. With an array of callers—from those bearing the weight of their parent's gambling addiction to families steeped in conflict—Mel Robbins elucidates the theory's pillars of emotional detachment and personal accountability, offering a mantra for regaining composure amid chaos.

Delve into personal stories entwined with Mel's empathetic guidance, which ranges from the familial peacemaking woes of Daniel from Los Angeles to the autonomous assertions of Jennifer from Baltimore, who navigated criticism while pivoting her career from teaching to novel writing. More than just a method for relational conundrums, the "Let Them" theory emerges as a powerful strategy for psychological liberation and self-empowerment. As speakers share their journey of implementing this philosophy, Robbins reveals how reassessing personal narratives and embracing authenticity can lead to a profound reinvention of one's life and relationships.

Do you often think about what you need to do to turn your child into a well-adjusted, successful adult? If so, you may be acting as a carpenter parent—a parent who adheres rigidly to the blueprint for raising a “successful child”—instead of a gardener parent—a parent who nurtures the innate interests and talents of their child. In The Gardener and the Carpenter, Alison Gopnik explains that the goal of raising and caring for children should be to allow them to blossom into their unique selves and that parenting should not be a form of work but rather an act of love.

Gopnik is a professor of psychology, affiliate professor of philosophy, and author of multiple books on how to be a good parent. In our guide, we’ll explore the flaws in the current parenting model, how children naturally learn and grow, and how the schooling model also fails to effectively support children’s learning. We’ll add advice from other child-care experts, contextualize Gopnik’s ideas in psychology, and add research and statistics that support or contradict Gopnik’s theories.