Parenting for Humans: How to Parent the Child You Have, As the Person You Are

Description

The first book to explore why parenting is so hard and to support parents in embracing the messy, powerful and unique needs of their child, by leading clinical psychologist. There's always that moment as a parent when you feel like no matter how hard you're trying, you just can't quite get it 'right'. But the fact is, parenting is hard and once we know this and why, we can forgive ourselves for finding it a struggle, and start to look for the things that make parenting a joy. Parenting for Humans is a book first and foremost for parents. It explores what we bring to the parenting journey - our hopes, values, views, circumstances, relationships, upbringing - and how we can gain confidence in ourselves not just as parents, but as whole human beings. As well as learning to parent ourselves, it will show us how to parent the child we actually have, not a textbook version, but our complicated, messy child with their own powerful needs. And by tuning into their language, learning how to hold them, not mould them, we can really start enjoying them for the funny and unique human beings that they are. With the right support and guidance, we can all totally do this parenting thing and grow a positive and loving relationship that will last forever.

Dr Emma Svanberg, aka Mumologist, is an award-winning clinical psychologist, speaker and campaigner. Emma has psychology in her veins - her father was a pioneering psychologist who set up one of the first infant mental health projects in the UK. Her early career in Tower Hamlets, East London, enabled her to work with parents from diverse communities and helped her to see the complex interplay of different factors - cultural, racial, socioeconomic - that lead parents to struggle with their mental health. Her own experience, too, as a mixed-race child from two very different cultures, marrying into another mixed heritage family, has left her particularly keen to explore the different influences on our parenting.

Most parenting advice tells us how we can better parent our children, but not why this can feel so hard. Dr Emma Svanberg focuses on how to bolster ourselves as parents so that parenting can feel like less of a challenge. Her voice provides a much-needed sense of relief for parents under pressure. * Anna Whitehouse, bestselling author and presenter * Dr Svanberg's warm, clear words have a powerful way of cutting through the noise to meet parents where they're at. Emma's non-judgemental, compassionate approach finds us seeking out her fantastic tools and insights, and feeling supported in parenting our children. This book is a gift for parents, and has the power to impact the generations to come, as she works alongside us to grow in confidence and thrive in our parenting. * Anna Mathur, Psychotherapist and bestselling author * In Parenting For Humans, Emma Svanberg holds your hand through parenting - and that's something we all need! You will learn why you parent the way you do, how to grow into your own parenting role and, ultimately, how to parent the unique child you have * Dr Becky Kennedy, clinical psychologist, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good Inside * What I love about Emma's writing is that it helps you question yourself and your approaches without judgement. She encourages you to be curious about how you respond to things, which helps create understanding and acceptance. When you become a parent there is no manual, it's a big very steep learning curve, but sometimes I feel like Emma is a fairy godmother - guiding me through it bit by bit. * Daisy Upton - The Five Minute Mum * In this important book, Dr Svanberg helps parents in a novel way - not by offering parental advice, but instead, getting parents to think about and know themselves better. To learn about the things that have shaped them, to understand more about heir feelings, beliefs, hopes and values - and how from this position, they can be the best version of themselves as a parent. Highly recommended reading. * Dr Chris Irons, Clinical Psychologist, Author, Creator of The Self-Compassion App *