A Mindfulness Guide For The Frazzled, Ruby Wax(01 of05)
Open Image ModalNobody understands the word ‘frazzled’ better than a new parent. But while mindfulness is no silver bullet (that would be called ‘sleep’), according to comedian and mental-health campaigner Ruby Wax, it can certainly help to manage the stresses and strains, not just of parenthood but of modern life in general.
In this follow-up to the best-selling Sane New World, the long-time sufferer of depression explains how mindfulness can help us to cope with stress and lead a happier, calmer and ultimately more fulfilling life. Switching between sharp humour, poignant autobiography and neuroscience-made-simple, Wax addresses new parents, children, teenagers and working people (that’ll be pretty much everyone, then) in this funny, touching and practical guide to the mindfulness phenomenon. (credit:Penguin)
How To Be A Woman, Caitlin Moran(02 of05)
Open Image ModalLooking after a newborn baby can be an all-consuming task. So it’s not surprising that many new mums report feelings of having lost a part of themselves in motherhood. Doing the things we love (not least reading a great book) is often put on the backburner as we focus all our attention on how to be a (brilliant) mother.
But perhaps if we clawed back a little more time for ourselves and spent just fraction of each day thinking about how to be a woman, rather than how to be a mother, the motherhood part would come more naturally.
And who better to guide us on being a woman than the poster girl for modern feminism, Caitlin Moran? Part autobiography, part feminist treatise, How to Be A Woman is a frequently hilarious, often irreverent but always incisive dissection of what it is to be a woman in today’s society.
From boobs, Botox and Brazilian waxes to fashion, feminism and flirting, Moran has got it covered (or exposed). Oh, and there’s some stuff in there about motherhood, too. (credit:Ebury Press)
Best British Short Stories 2016, edited by Nicholas Royle(03 of05)
Open Image ModalWhat new mum hasn’t dreamed of escaping, even if just for a few minutes, to a parallel universe, free of nappies, nap times and nursing bras? As packing your bags and booking yourself on a three-day spa retreat probably isn’t an option at this point, immersing yourself in a fictional world could be the next best solution.
But when you’re beholden to the 24/7 demands of a newborn, getting to the end of a text message can be challenging, let alone a novel – which is where the short story comes in.
Short stories offer all the drama, intrigue and escapism of a novel but in short, manageable Peppa Pig-length bursts. The Best British Short Stories series aims to collate the best short stories published in the previous calendar year written by British authors. The 2016 edition offers a diverse mix of absorbing tales – perfect for dipping in and out of during nap times. (credit:Salt Publishing)
Happier At Home, Gretchen Rubin(04 of05)
Open Image ModalWith all-night parties and lazy afternoons in the pub on the backburner (for now at least), the chances are, as a new parent, you’re going to be spending a little more time than usual at home. This book advises on how to make that home your happy place, including the relationships that take place within it.
Having nailed some of the great cornerstones of happiness in The Happiness Project, with a mix of age-old wisdom and current scientific research, Gretchen has turned her attention to happiness within the home. Covering an academic year, from September (the new January!) to May, each month focuses on a different aspect of home life, from possessions and interiors to marriage and parenthood, as well as chapters on the body and time management. This warm, intelligent and well-researched guide reminds us that home really is where the heart is. (credit:Hodder Stoughton)
This Mum Runs, Jo Pavey(05 of05)
Open Image ModalIn August 2014, athlete Jo Pavey won the 10,000m gold medal at the European Championships, making her the oldest female European champion in history. Not bad for a woman who’d given birth to her second child just ten months earlier.
This might not sound like the kind of book you want to read while lying on the sofa mainlining Hobnobs but Jo Pavey is no ordinary ‘supermum’ – or rather she is exactly that: an ordinary ‘supermum’. Heartwarming and uplifting, this is the tale of a mother, who like any other mother, juggles the demands of work with the sleepless nights, nappy changes and general chaos that comes with family life.
“The only difference is that Jo is a full-time athlete pushing a buggy on her training runs, clocking up miles on the treadmill in a cupboard while her daughter has her lunchtime nap, and hitting the track while her children picnic on the grass.” (credit:Penguin)