My Favorite Parenting Resources

By Guest Blogger Anna Keller

It takes a village, as they say, when it comes to child rearing. For me, that village has come in the form of amazingly supportive friends and family as well as a collection of books, websites, podcasts, etc. that have helped me gain confidence when it comes to being a mama.

My daughter, Maggie, turned 2 at the end of March, so we’re solidly into the toddler years at this point. Some of my favorite resources were more helpful during earlier stages of parenting – both during pregnancy and her babyhood – and I know I’ll continue to uncover more go-tos as she grows and we encounter new challenges and stages in her development.

All that to say, I wanted to share a list here of some of my very favorite parenting resources to date. This is a collection I often refer others to, so I wanted to share them with y’all as well!:

• The Birth Hour: This podcast was one I listened to incessantly while I was pregnant with Maggie, and the podcast – as well as its partner Facebook community – have continued to play a role in my life even after she was born. The podcast features women sharing their birth stories, and for me hearing so many different perspectives and outcomes and experiences was incredibly helpful as I prepared for Maggie’s birth. The resources go beyond just birth, though, and the Facebook community in particular is a wonderful place to ask questions about all things pregnancy, postpartum, baby, etc. (The website even has courses such as “Back-2-Work Breastfeeding Course.”) I was so honored to be featured on The Birth Hour, sharing Maggie’s birth story, a few months after she was born!
• Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting: This was the only parenting book I read cover to cover. I loved the fact that the author was an American journalist (that’s my background as well) who was observing the French women around her and digging into what made their parenting style different. Why were their kids better behaved than hers? How did they always seem so well-rested and put together? I found myself nodding along with many of the French ways of parenting she featured, too, and have enjoyed having that perspective in mind as I’ve entered into parenthood as well.
• The Longest Shortest Time: I think just about anyone – parent or otherwise – would enjoy many episodes of this podcast, but I certainly recommend it to fellow mamas. It covers topics ranging from placenta encapsulation to injustice for mothers in the workplace (that was a whole series!) to vasectomies to adoption and SO MUCH MORE.
• Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time: I actually learned about this book when I heard the author, Brigid Schulte, speak on The Longest Shortest Time podcast, and I knew her book would be one I’d love. Little did I know what an impact it would have on my mindset and perspective as a mom – particularly a working mom. This book digs into our how our society is set up (spoiler alert: not very well) for parents (and especially mothers) to juggle parenting and working and self-care and relationships in a way that leaves them feeling content rather than frazzled. I’ve loaned this book to countless friends, and people probably roll their eyes when I mention it at this point because I reference it so often. (Oh, and I even got to feature Brigid Shulte on an episode of my podcast earlier this year, which was such a treat!)
• Janet Lansbury: I HAVE to mention my parenting guru, Janet Lansbury. I adore her calm approach to parenting, and her focus on seeing our children as people who deserve the same level of respect as you’d give any adult. (Sure, they’re children and it’s our job as parents to guide them, but as Janet Lansbury points out it’s also our job to listen to them and really hear what they have to say.) Her website is a wonderful resource, and she also has a few books I’ve found very helpful. (My favorite is No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame.)
• And, of course, this website you’re on right now — Triad Moms on Main — is an amazing resource for parents. Whether you’re looking to plan fun local activities with your kids, research summer camp options, or read about other moms’ experiences to make you feel less alone in your own parenting, this is a great site to follow.

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Anna Keller is a wife, mama, marketer, blogger, Pure Barre teacher, freelance writer, and Beautycounter consultant. (She wears lots of hats, but the theme of connection is what links all these roles together for her.) Anna is an Atlanta native, but she and her husband, Kevin, moved to the Triad in 2011 and haven’t looked back. They love being part of this community, and are so thankful to be able to raise their daughter, Maggie, here. You can see other blogs she has written for TMoM here. Follow along with Anna on her blog — curiouser-and-curiouser.com — or via social media. She’s on Instagram at @curiouserandcuriouserblog, or you can connect with her on Facebook at facebook/com/curiouserandcuriouserblog. 

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