If you've read books like NurtureShock
Initially I was a little put off by the book. The first chapter draws heavily on Carter's experiences as a working mom and I was starting to wonder if her tips would apply to parent who stays home. Especially when, in a section on building a good relationship with your partner, she wrote "busy couples with kids and two full-time jobs don't have sex less than couples with a stay-at-home parent." As if I have nothing to do other than lay around in lingerie thinking sexy thoughts. Anyway, despite the shaky start, I was totally won over by the end of the second chapter. Raising Happiness is organized into short chapters, with sub-headings and "Try This" sections that make finding the information you're looking for easy. She only employs one acronym (ERN - empathy, reason, non-controlling language) which is actually simple enough for me to remember and make use of when dealing with my 3 year old. Plus, she recognizes that kids may respond differently to her tactics. She actually includes an example where labeling a angry child's feeling does not diffuse the situation, but instead prompts him to shout "I AM NOT FRUSTRATED. I AM HAPPY!" So many of the examples in this book spoke to my own experience, from being bored while playing with my son to chaotic dinner time situations.
Since the book is about creating a happy and fulfilling family situation, its messages are relevant to families with infants all the way up through the teenage years. Once you are beyond the books on when to introduce solids and how to get your baby to sleep (I read plenty of those!) I highly recommend picking up Raising Happiness.
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