You are not a sh*tty parent How to practice self-compassion and give yourself a break

A clinical social worker, speaker, parent, and author of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids (2019), Naumburg once again offers a parenting book that parents will actually want to read. Equal parts helpful and hilarious, this book instructs caregivers in the art of self-compassion, even under the hardest of circumstances. Naumburg writes with wit and wisdom, encouraging readers to let go of "Shitty Parent Syndrome": the underlying belief that you're messing everything up with your kids no matter how hard you're trying. Naumburg instead guides caregivers to focus on filling that space with self-compassion, which "isn't about letting yourself off the hook. It's an incredibly empowering practice that will help you calm down, think clearly, and approach parenting with more creativity and confidence." Subsequent chapters offer practical advice for bringing this practice into caregivers' daily lives. This begins with noticing the chaos, building connections, embracing curiosity, responding with kindness, and then "compassioning the crap out of your kids." Naumburg's advice is invaluable and reassuring while--it can't be overstated--truly embracing the humor of it all. The rare parenting book that readers will want to pick up again and again.

Social worker Naumburg (How To Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids) received dozens of interview requests from media outlets in spring 2020, a moment when many parents were feeling desperate as they managed kids learning remotely, the expectations of their own workplaces, and the unprecedented stress and challenges of a pandemic. Naumberg's book is a guide to easing parents' stress that uses humor as a tool to deliver truth and emphasizes that self-compassion, forgiving oneself, and getting support are the keys to navigating these struggles. Naumburg recognizes that parents may turn to distractions or denial instead of dealing with the core of their issues. She explains that unhealthy f-words reactions--no, not that f-word but flight, freeze, flip out, fix, and fawn--can be counteracted by the c-words: calm, clarity, creativity, and confidence. She shows that growth in parenting is quite possible, as parents learn to live in the present moment, notice unhelpful reactions, connect to their own humanity, or perhaps reach for a therapist. VERDICT It's easy to see why Naumburg's side-splittingly funny and relatable work resonates so strongly during a challenging time. Essential reading.