Hola gorgeous hearts!
SO!
10 books that I totally and wholeheartedly recommend to every mama or mama-to-be.
These are the ones that changed me. Deeply affected me. Have helped me in parenting. Have made me sob big, beautiful tears.
1. Momma Zen by Karen Maizen Miller
I remember reading this book when Ostara was nursing in my arms. I cried on average every 12 pages. I WEPT over this book, again and again.
“Finally,” I thought.
“Someone who absolutely understands me. A mother who is human.”
I even got to tell Karen in this interview how much her books were dear friends to me.
This is the book I send to every expecting mama friend.
2. Good Mother Welcome by Ingrid Goff Maidoff
Ingrid sent this to me when Ostara was still a wee babe.
It was another one I sobbed over, creased up, and clutched to my heart.
It’s a love letter from the world to mothers.
Tremendously reassuring, loving, kind and soft.
Just what we need.
I can see why this book gets bought in the dozens to be sent as gifts to new mamas. It is truly remarkable.
3. And it’s not a book, but it dang well should be: Ask Moxie was 100% my saving grace when Ostara was a newborn.
Incredibly honest. Down to earth. Ridunkulously compassionate. Understanding.
She’s the best friend that goes “Yep, it’s really, really hard mate. I know. I know. I know. Also, here’s some really smart ways that might make things better.”
She’s not a hippy, and I ding dang love her.
4. Radical Unschooling by Dayna Martin
I’ve met Dayna, and she is the real deal. A very human earth angel who teaches real compassion.
This book is less about homeschooling and more about revolutionising the way we think of parenting… and helping open the possibilities of just amazing things can be WITH our kids.
Love, love, LOVE her!
5. The Attachment Parenting Book by Sears
So so SO important for mamas to read this book. SO important.
I 100% believe that following the principles in this book has deeply affected our parenting, and how Ostara is now.
She’s a very secure, calm, content toddler… and I wholeheartedly believe it’s because of attachment parenting.
6. Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves by Naomi Aldort
Another gamechanger of a book.
I am SO SO SO grateful to all the incredible books around now that are helping us to TOTALLY change parenthood, and create deeply respectful, kind, joyful partnerships with our kids!!!
7. Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin
This was the book that set me on my path of parenting and birth, long before I ever had Ostara.
I picked it up one day at the library because I thought it was about spirituality… and what I found instead was a deep education on womanhood and birth.
It completely blew my brain away with just how amazing birth could be – I had NO IDEA up to that point what birth was truly like, outside of TV and the pain jokes I had heard.
It shares stories from 1970s birthing hippies, and they utterly transformed the way I saw birth and parenting. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.
Spiritual Midwifery is a classic.
8. Nature’s Children by Juliette de Bairacli Levy
Another hippy-tastic book from a gypsy healer woman. I just flipping LOVE this book on optimal health, herbal healing + diet.
Whenever I need resetting, I open up this book. Simple, sage guidance on an ancient way of being!
9. 73 Lessons Every Goddess Must Know
And I wrote all the big, deep lessons I’ve learned from parenting into a huge “Mama Goddess” chapter in 73 Lessons Every Goddess Must Know…
10. Hypnobirthing / Hypnobabies / Calmbirth
And peeps, if you haven’t given birth yet, do whatever you can to get a book, homestudy course, or in-person course of any of the above.
I absolutely believe it will make the WORLD of difference for you when it comes to birth!
**
Hurrah!
Happy reading, my loves!
I so dearly hope these books bring you wisdom, transformation + joy in your parenting.
big mama booby squishy hugs,
Leonie
