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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

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How to Be a Calm Parent

By: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
Narrated by: Sarah Ockwell-Smith
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About this listen

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
Conflict Resolution Fatherhood Motherhood Parenting & Families Relationships Single Parents Single Parent Emotion Parenting Control Anger

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All stars
Most relevant  
This book is realistic, honest and really helped me - love it! It confirmed that lots of us are probably doing just fine as we are, but also included helpful and practical tips

The best book about parenting that I've ever read

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

changed my life

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I really appreciated all the helpful tips and information in this book. It was great to hear the reassuring things she says too.

A helpful book

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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.

Just what I needed!

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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.

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

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Love the book, very knowledgeable and easy to read. Sarah nailed it as usual! Thank you fir the wisdom

nailed it!

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If I apply just 20% of the knowledge here, I think I can be a calm enough parent… :)

80/20

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

Highly recommend

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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.

a brilliant audible book more should listen to.

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Practical and uplifting, a really important read for every parent. As always, Sarah Ockwell-Smith manages to connect with each and every one of us and offer us her knowledge in order to help us all in our parenthood journey. Thank you!

A very helpful guide to calm parenthood

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