Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Book Reader

I am a book reader.
An as many books as I can afford/find time for/lay my hands on type of book reader.

But I am also quite picky.
For example (and I know this will shock and horrify some people out there), I hate Shakespeare.
Hate. Despise. Abhor.

And because I read for pleasure and enjoyment, I refuse to allow people to come in and stomp on things I love and make me hate them.
SO I only read books I like.
If required to read books I don't like for class... I skim them.
If I open them at all (or even buy them.)

(I hope my professors don't read this blog...)
But usually I like books assigned to me.
Except Shakespeare, Chaucer, and the boring, confusing like.

But being pregnant has opened a whole new genre of books to me. It is a genre I love.
Child-rearing books.
Obviously there's nothing like getting in there and getting your hands dirty and learning.

But I love reading about other's trials and errors, and more importantly successes, (and I've got time now to read, soon enough it will be Dr. Seuss only...)
It was one thing to read Little House on the Prairie. Which (except for actual scripture) is my child-raising scripture.
(Okay, so maybe we won't have rules like "children should be seen and not heard," but pretty much everything else Ma and Pa Ingalls do I will try to do. They are so wise.)

But I've recently finished reading the highly recommended "When you're expecting twins, triplets or quads," which I LOVED. Admittedly, it was mostly about being pregnant with multiples, but I found the few chapters about caring for your new babies to be a really good resource.

So, here are the books I am currently wish listing (all of which, apparently, are very controversial):

Becoming Baby wise:

50 dangerous things you should let your children do:

Free Range Kids:

1,000 Days of Wonder:
And one more, similar to Baby Wise (but which isn't controversial), Healthy sleep habits, happy child:



And here is a book I hate: What to expect when you're expecting.
If you are pregnant and have a computer, do not buy this garbage. Just go to BabyCenter.com and read about things yourself.
It's more informative, less terrifying, and unless you smoke, drink, are 40 and pregnant with one baby after several miscarriages and still don't know anything about pregnancy - I bet most of the stuff in What to Expect doesn't even apply to you.
Seriously, what a waste of money.


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5 comments:

Audrey said...

Babywise is a waste of money. Someone in your ward has it, borrow it from them, plow through it in an hour, see that anyone who likes it only reads what they want to read out of it. See that there are NO statistics citing any research in the book except those cited from Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child, then go try to borrow that from ward members and find out that no one will let you because it's their bible of child rearing, and then learn that freedom of speech means anyone can write a book, even if the writer is only right because he thinks so.

Audrey said...

ahh! PS congratulations!(sorry, I just feel really passionately about babywise...) I just found out that you were pregnant (with twins!!!) on Sunday from Amy! I am so excited for you guys! congrats! I love your blog! it's great!

Elizabeth said...

I really liked BABY 411 and TODDLER 411 by Dr. Brown
Great books with practical, safe advise for parents

Marge Bjork said...

oo, is a thousand days of wonder the one they talked about on radio lab?

Jena said...

Hi Becky,

I (found your blog from, and)am a friend of LJ and Kaylie Sikahema. I also know of your husband because I'm in the Film Program...so there is my introduction, so you don't feel creeped out by my random blog stalker-ness.

Basically I just really think you are inspiring. I know of so many people who have been blessed with multiples, who feel that it's a curse. You have such a wonderful attitude, and I know that the Lord blessed you with these boys because of that great attitude. Your head and heart are in the right place and you are definitely someone I aspire to be like when my husband and I are blessed with children.

I am SO excited for you. I am so excited for you to be a mom and I have no doubts in your abilities. Although I don't know you, I can just tell that you will be amazing, and that you'll cherish these two little wonders.

I hope we will meet for real one day :)

-Jena Burr

p.s.
I was a nanny for a baby from the time she was 2 weeks old until she was 4 months. 'healthy sleep habits, happy child' was wonderful. It's a miracle maker.