Parenting > For Mothers

For more than two decades, the study of motherhood has focused on three main categories: motherhood as institution, motherhood as experience, and motherhood as identity or subjectivity. While this work has been groundbreaking, it fails to account for motherhood in the twenty-first century, which has been transformed by increasing agency, along with immense social, scientific, and technological changes.
A pioneer of modern motherhood studies, Andrea O'Reilly explores motherhood's representation and practice today. Her book con... read more

Today, to be pregnant seems not far from entering into a religious order. There is an expectation that mothers will fit the bill of breastfeeding, nappy-washing, home-cooking supermums. So are mums who rely on formula, childcare and disposable nappies lazy or liberated?
The conflict between a woman's individual identity and her identity as a mother is not unique to our time. In the 18th century, French women overcame the problem by shipping their newborns off to wet nurses. But not so anymore. Modern mothers are bombarded by ... read more

This is a book about attracting, vibrating and feeling good.
Sounds a bit dodgy? Well it’s not. The Attractive Mum is a light hearted look at how using the principles of the Law of Attraction, goal setting, eating well and exercise can improve the self esteem, relationships and even the financial situation of all mums. Whether life seems a bit ‘blah’ or actually pretty dismal, The Attractive Mum is for you!
It’s a self help book with a difference – It won&rsqu... read more

Become a calmer and happier mother with The Complete Buddhism for Mothers. Parenthood can be a time of great inner turmoil for a woman yet parenting books invariably focus on nurturing children rather than the mothers who struggle to raise them. These books are different. Together for the first time, these three bestsellers - Buddhism for Mothers, Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children and Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren - explore the joy of being with your children in the all-important present moment. In these books, mother... read more

Tougher economic conditions mean that more and more mothers have no choice but to go out to work to keep up with the cost of living. It means that time famine has become a fact of life - and overstretched women are desperate like never before for time-saving tips to help them cope. Packed full with ingenious short-cuts and tried-and-tested tips, this title contains everything a modern mum needs to stay on top of her busy life.

Scratch the surface of the Super Mom and you may find someone who isn't even sure she can get through the day, let alone "do it all." Or at least that's what Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile felt. Curious, they began asking other mothers and found that after twenty minutes of touting the joys of motherhood, moms would inevitably admit that they were stressed out, exhausted, and depressed that their child's first word was "Shrek."
After conducting over 100 interviews, Trisha and Amy discovered trends too similar and too widespre... read more

A practical down to earth and entertaining guide for all working women who want to have babies but keep their careers on track too.

This is a parenting book with a difference - rather than a serious tome laying down the law, Libby Purves lighthearted book shamelessly describes how to cut the corners and bend the rules that never mattered much anyway. Forget the other parenting books that hide the real truth - this is the true battle manual for mothers on the front line! This timeless guide to coping with motherhood has been revised, bringing it up-to-date for a whole new generation of mothers and mothers-to-be. Based on Libby Purves own experience of domestic ... read more

When first published in 2001, it divided female critics and readers. One famous columnist wrote a piece demanding that Cusk's children were taken into care, that she was unfit to look after them. Oprah Winfrey invited her on the show to defend herself and the book as protests grew about the its honest, gritty account of the misery of those early months. It is a seminal, stand-out book on the complications of being an ambivalent mum in an age of white-washed, Annabel Karmel'd new families.

With her children at school, a mother is on to a new stage of her life, playing a new role. The daily challenges she confronts have changed, yet for each one Buddhist teachings of mindfulness, compassion and calm are invaluable. This book explores those teachings through many scenarios, including managing the stress of numerous deadlines, coping with routine and repetition, answering children's tricky questions about how the world works, fitting in with other parents, managing fears and expectations for their children, and dealing ... read more

Have you ever spent all day looking after your baby or young child - and ended up feeling that you have 'done nothing all day'? Do you sometimes find it hard to feel pleased with what you are doing, and tell yourself you should achieve more with your time?
Maybe it's because you can't see how much you are doing already. In this unique and perceptive look at mothering, Naomi Stadlen draws on many years' work with hundreds of other mothers of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds. She explores mothers' experiences to reveal wh... read more

Nicole Hall shares her innermost thoughts on all aspects of new motherhood, such as breastfeeding, mastitis, sleep deprivation, body changes and the relationship with her husband, often jotting down her thoughts in the wee hours of the morning while breastfeeding.

This is the book every mum needs, and it hasn't been available until now. "The Seven Stages of Motherhood" looks at the experience of parenting not only in the first year or two of a baby's life, but right on through childhood and adolescence and even into adulthood. Ann Pleshette Murphy argues that women evolve as mothers throughout the lives of their children, and her book is intended as a guide through this remarkable experience. Practical, sensible and above all readable, it will be invaluable to first-time parents and absolute... read more

You Sexy Mother redefines what it means to be a stay-at-home mum today... one who is sexy, vibrant, healthy, happy and engaged in a life that has meaning and value. When she became a mother herself, Jodie Hedley-Ward failed to find any book that supported her own beliefs about what motherhood could and should be, so she set about writing one herself. In particular, she wanted to explore three key concepts: (1) The idea that being a stay-at-home mum can be an exciting, fulfilling and even lucrative option (2) To show via her own ... read more

Firmly grounded in the day-to-day reality of being a mother, Buddhism for Mothers discusses Buddhist teachings as applied to the everyday challenges of bringing up children. Parenthood can be a time of great inner turmoil for a woman. This book explores the potential to be with your children in the all-important present moment, to gain the most joy out of being with them. How can this be done calmly and with a minimum of anger, worry and negative thinking? How can mothers negotiate the changed conditions of their relationships wit... read more

A hard hitting look at our troubled society, the intergenerational cycle of crime and criminal families and the women who have the power to change things for the better - if we let them.
Take a pragmatic look inside the deep-seated issues underlying our appalling youth crime statistics. Examine the background of infamous cases of child abuse and violent crime and the way in which we as a society have traditionally handled - or some would argue mishandled - children born into families caught up in intergenerational crime, pov... read more

Karyn Riley's book How to Keep the YOU in Mum is full of practical tips, strategies and ideas to help you rediscover your identity, have time for what's important and find balance in your life. Contains quick tips for busy mums and inspirational stories shared by mothers.
How to Keep the YOU in Mum is ideal for time-poor, overwhelmed and stressed-out mothers who have become lost in the unending responsibilities of parenting, or mums who simply want to have direction and balance in their life.

Warm and wise, this beautiful collection of uplifting and frequently funny insights reveals motherhood in all its hues - the heartbreak and exhilaration, the good days and bad, the tears and the laughter. After hearing the thoughts of almost a hundred mums on the wonder, anxiety and joy of being a mum, you realise all those everyday little things a mum does adds up to a debt we can never repay, and that mums matter more than they can possibly imagine.

Motherhood, for a first-timer, can be an overwhelming and even frightening experience but admitting this doesn't seem to be the done thing.
The birth, according to Eleanor, is the least of it. It's what happens after the birth that blows your mind. You're meant to look like an expert from day one despite the fact that the choices confronting first time parents are mind boggling - and whatever they decide someone will tell them they're wrong. Then there's the unsolicited advice offered by complete strangers to the compe... read more

Mothers describe falling in love with their babies and then, more slowly, learning to understand them. Children flourish when their mothers love and understand them.
For over 20 years, Naomi Stadlen has listened to hundreds of mothers talking at her weekly discussion groups. In How Mothers Love she offers unique insights into how mothers and babies learn to communicate intimately with one another. When adults relate to one another, they are building on the foundations usually laid down by their mothers. How Mothers Love is a ... read more