The Joys and Sorrows of Parenting: 26 Essays to Reassure and Console

by The School of Life, Alain de Botton (Editor), Bronia Stewart (Photographer)

Overview

A playful gift book that explores the highs and lows of parenting in a series of compassionate, authentic and humorous mini essays. 

Full of colorful original photographs, The Joys and Sorrows of Parenting promises us a gentle way of staying calm around one of the most arduous yet deeply fulfilling jobs in the world. 

This playful adult board book distills 2,000 years of philosophy into 26 consoling mini essays that shed light on trials and pleasures of parenting. 

• A PLAYFUL BOARD BOOK FOR ADULTS illustrated with full color, original photographs throughout. 

• 26 DIGESTIBLE MINI ESSAYS to reassure and entertain the modern parent. 

• PRACTICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL parenting advice that doesn't shy away from the imperfections of family life. 

• THE IDEAL GIFT for parents at all stages of their family journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781999917937
Publisher:	The School of Life
Publication date:	04/09/2019
Pages:	56
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 6.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

The School of Life is a global organization helping people lead more fulfilled lives. Through our range of books, gifts and stationery we aim to prompt more thoughtful natures and help everyone to find fulfillment. 

The School of Life is a resource for exploring self-knowledge, relationships, work, socializing, finding calm, and enjoying culture through content, community, and conversation. You can find us online, in stores and in welcoming spaces around the world offering classes, events, and one-to-one therapy sessions.

The School of Life is a rapidly growing global brand, with over 7 million YouTube subscribers, 389,000 Facebook followers, 174,000 Instagram followers and 166,000 Twitter followers.

The School of Life Press brings together the thinking and ideas of the School of Life creative team under the direction of series editor, Alain de Botton. Their books share a coherent, curated message that speaks with one voice: calm, reassuring, and sane.

Read an Excerpt

The good enough parent 

The mid-20th century English psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, who specialised in working with parents and children, was disturbed by how often he encountered in his consulting rooms parents who were deeply disappointed with themselves. 

They felt they were failing as parents and hated themselves as a result. They were ashamed of their occasional rows, their bursts of short temper, their times of boredom around their own child, their many mistakes. They were haunted by a range of anxious questions: are we too strict, too lenient, too protective, not protective enough? 

What struck Winnicott, however, was that these people were almost always not at all bad parents. They were not, by some ideal standard, perfect, but they were - as he, came to put it - 'good enough'. 

Strangely, 'good enough' is better than perfect, because a child will live the rest of their life in a very imperfect world. We cannot get on if we are dependent on those around us living up to the highest unimaginable ideals. The good enough parent is at times irate, stupid, a bit unfair, a bit tired or a touch depressed. There will be delays, confusions, mistakes, outbursts of irritation - and always (or almost always, which is enough) a background of deep love and good intentions.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Society's messages
• Romanticism
• Responsibility
• Love
• Irritation
• Authority
• Saying NO
• Appreciation
• Irony
• The good enough parent
• Work and family
• Disagreements
• Sex
• Soothing
• Staying together
• Against the compliant child
• Ambivalence
• When they say 'I hate you'
• Sadness
• The skills to deal with grief
• Developmental milestones
• Setting an example
• Disappointment
• Adolescence
• Separation
• Gratitude