Fall is here, the kids are back in school, and there is no better way to enjoy the cooler days and blustery nights than grabbing a glass of wine and reading a good book. So check out this list, get cozy and start reading. Hot Toddy’s optional.
Not Your Mother’s Book On Family edited by Dahlynn McKowen, Ken McKowen, and Linda O’Connell. From the co-authors and editors of the Chicken Soup series is an anthology filled with “60 funny stories that confirm families aren’t perfect!” Amen, sister! So nice to know we’re not alone in this sometimes beautiful, sometimes messy, perfectly imperfect thing we call parenting. There is relief in knowing you’re not the only one who has turned into their parents. Available on amazon.
Neurotic Parent’s Guide to College Admissions by J.D. Rothman. After surviving going through the college process twice, I’ve pretty much read every college handbook known to man. But none of them put a smile on my face and left me laughing out loud from the hilarity and insanity of what we as parents and our prospective college students go through on their journey to college acceptance. My favorite college book is filled with pie charts, vivid illustrations, witty observations and basically everything you need to know and things you had no idea you wanted to know, from start to finish of the college process. Available on amazon.
The “Perfect” Parent: 5 Tools for Using Your Inner Perfection by Roma Khetarpal. Many parents today worry if they’re not doing a good job parenting, or worse, doing it all perfectly, their kids won’t turn out happy or well. From my own experience, the more perfect I tried to be the worse parent I was. This easy to read, wonderfully insightful book, filled with tools to help build better communication and stronger bonds with children, while minimizing the doubt, guilt, and worry should be on every parent’s book shelf. Available on amazon.
A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens: Talking to Your Kids About Sexting, Drinking, Drugs, and Other Things That Freak You Out by Joani Geltman. Teens are a special breed, and absolutely nothing like the sweet, helpless babies we once swaddled and cradled in our arms. (Though you might see glimpses of that little one now and again.) If you are a parent of a teen, or pre-teen, you need this book. It covers every aspect of teen life you can imagine and wish you didn’t have to know, in addition to an entire section just devoted to the challenges of the online world our kids live in. Available on amazon.
A Simple Guide to Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year by Princess Ivana Maria Pignatelli Aragona Cortes with Magdalene Smith and Marisa Smith. Written by a real live princess that I was lucky to have the chance to chat with over cappuccinos, this book is as witty and delightful as the author herself. Chock full of quick and easy tips for the new mom from good pregnancy health to raising your precious bundle to going back to work, that doesn’t frighten or overwhelm. A perfect baby shower gift! Available on amazon.
Double Take: Portraits Over Time by Maggie Evans Silverstein. The most gorgeous collection of photographs capturing and documenting the same children over time in their “evolution from babies to kids to adults” that will take your breath away. Fifty stunning, heart-tugging, photo sets each accompanied by brief, personal stories. The crush of time is humbling, leaving us all to ask ourselves the well worn question “where did the time go?” Available on Books & Books.
What you are reading now? Please share!
Elin Stebbins Waldal says
Great list of books, I for one prefer reading with the libation. 😉
Carpool Goddess says
Thanks, Ellen! I agree, libations make the words all the more sweet;)
Judy says
Thanks so much for the kind words about my angst-filled college guide. So proud to be included in such great company. I’m relieved to no longer have to worry about sexting…but do miss baby’s first year!
Carpool Goddess says
My pleasure, Judy! Your book would have been a welcome change from the others I read when I was going through the process. My “baby” just turned 21, so I’m still not totally out of the woods yet. Though one set of worries passes only to bring on another. Ugh, parenting 😉
Judy says
My baby just turned 21 as well. He is doing his semester abroad in Spain. You’re right: it never ends. A few days after his birthday he texted us from at 3am from Munich to say he had food poisoning. It turned out to be real food poisoning – not Oktoberfest-related. And the Germans don’t believe in Pepto Bismol.
Carpool Goddess says
Poor baby! 7Up and saltines are universal 🙂
Roma Dhingra Khetarpal says
Thank you so much for your review, Carpool Goddess! Love the content that you share and your fall reading list–honored to be on it 🙂 . Infinite Love and Gratitude!
Chronicallysickmanicmother says
Definetely going to look into the how to talk about those things that freak me out……
Carpool Goddess says
Yes,so important to have that conversation. Even when it’s uncomfortable.
Nina says
Oh wow! I had not heard of any of those!
I am reading the novel Friendship by Emily Gould. I don’t love it, but I like it enough to finish.
Carpool Goddess says
Good to know! I’ve got another stack of books in front of me, not sure which to read first.