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  • How to Be a Calm Parent

  • Lose the Guilt, Control Your Anger and Tame the Stress - for More Peaceful and Enjoyable Parenting and Calmer, Happier Children Too
  • By: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
  • Narrated by: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
  • Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (94 ratings)
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How to Be a Calm Parent

By: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
Narrated by: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
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Summary

An indispensable guide to more peaceful and enjoyable parenting

'This isn't a parenting advice book; it's a book about you. The words you read in this book, however, will have a far greater impact on your children, than those contained in any parenting book you could read (and I count my own in that too).'

How many times have you asked yourself, 'what's wrong with me? Why can't I stay calm?' So many of us would love to follow a gentler, more positive style of parenting, but we don't think we're cut out for it, because we aren't naturally calm. We feel that there is something wrong with us, that we're not good enough. We believe we are failing our children by not controlling our own emotions adequately.

What we don't realise is that this describes almost every parent there ever was—and ever will be.

In her trademark gentle, supportive and reassuring style, best-selling author Sarah Ockwell-Smith shows that while we all lose it at times, everyone can become a calmer parent. Based on her many years' experience working with parents, Sarah provides research, advice and practical exercises that will set you on the path to calmer parenting that will benefit both you and your child.

Covering everything from the impact of your own upbringing on your parenting style to work and home-life balance and letting go of the quest for perfection to ensuring your own basic needs are met, How to Be a Calm Parent is for any parent who knows that they need to be calmer to raise well-adjusted, happy children, but struggles with their own emotions and stress levels.

©2022 Sarah Ockwell-Smith (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK

What listeners say about How to Be a Calm Parent

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    3 out of 5 stars

Nothing new + blaming outside factors.

"How to Be a Calm Parent" is a good book full of useful information if you are new to gentle/respectful parenting. But if you have read any books on the subject, there is nothing new.
The author also states that the pressure and expectations on parents, the lack of government support and proper parental leave are massive contributing factors in our inability to stay calm. That is all undoubtedly true. But that's the reality we live in. Sadly, these things will not change in the foreseeable future. So saying "I can't stay calm because there is little support for parents" will not help me stay calmer - it'll only make me more frustrated. I have to focus on what I CAN change and do right now to be the best mum I can be for my son. I want to take responsibility for that and not blame the lack of government support and societal pressure on parents.
A book I found much more helpful in staying calm is "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh, which I listened to just before "How to Be a Calm Parent."
Overall, this is not a bad book, but there is nothing new, and the heavy focus on blaming outside factors for not staying calm is very irritating. Eloise Rickman's "Extraordinary Parenting" is still the best, most helpful and practical parenting book I always return to for inspiration and help.

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14 people found this helpful

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Thought provoking!

I really enjoyed listening to this as it gave me reassurance, hope and encouragement. A nice little touch was the ‘inspirational quotes’ scattered throughout. A very relatable book for most parents I would think!

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1 person found this helpful

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Just what I needed!

Finally a parenting book that gets to the root of it.
I’ve been waiting in anticipation for about 6 months for this book. Struggling with being anything but calm and in the week before its release, breaking up with my spouse of 13 years.
I’ve been at breaking point and just the introduction of How to be a calm parent made so much sense, brought me to tears and helped beyond words.

I’m not even half way through, but the practical exercises and sage wisdom I’ve read here have been enough for me to make massive changes in my behaviour and have already improved my relationship with not only my toddler, but with myself.
I urge every parent to read or listen to this book. We aren’t perfect but with this help we can learn to be calmer and more forgiving to ourselves.

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the words I needed

it is very beautiful book give you lots of good advice just like your best friend 🧡

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Useful tools to help on the journey to being a calmer parent and a calmer person

I would recommend this book for anyone hoping to make some positive changes on their parenting journey. I have realised that my frustration is not with my child, but with managing the mental load and other stressors. It’s helped me understand that children learn primarily by mirroring behaviour, it’s made me more aware of my own pitfalls (in my case the curse of people pleasing!) and there are some useful tips to deal with this. The ‘Peaceful Pentagon’ is something I will refer to again and again to keep me on track.
My only criticism is the chapter on balancing home life and work. I feel this was very much only focused on career professionals and did not give a more rounded view from some other typical working parents (for example, care workers, supermarket, retailers etc) or indeed the view of parents who decide to stay home, it was disappointing and a tad elitist. But if you skip this chapter there is a lot to take away from the book.

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    5 out of 5 stars

a brilliant audible book more should listen to.

I think this book may be best listened to as an audiobook because of her calm voice and the way she can make you feel she is really talking to you. honestly. frankly. it's like chatting to another mum who makes you realise you're doing just fine. with some very valuable support and tips on how we can help ourselves to manage the overwhelming world of parenting and thus actually be the parents we want to be. most of the time! I really thought it was brilliant thank you Sarah. This book is not a how to manage child behaviour or parenting techniques more techniques on supporting ourselves as parents.

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Great audio book, excellent author

Thank you SOS for writing an excellent, realistic and helpful parenting book that normalises adulting whilst providing some great tools to support better parenting x

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Inspirational

Thank you for this book, I have found it such a comfort and very inspirational.

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Highly recommend

Interesting and insightful, I recommend this book for all new parents. Good techniques and helpful.

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changed my life

this book has been a revelation and also reassurance that I'm not alone when having all those big feelings as a parent.

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