How to be a Happier Parent

Raising a Family, Having a Life and Loving (Almost) Every Minute

By: KJ Dell'Antonia

Narrated by: KJ Dell'Antonia

An encouraging guide to helping parents find more happiness in their day-to-day family life, from the former lead editor of the New York Times' Motherlode blog.

In all the writing and reporting KJ Dell'Antonia has done on families over the years, one topic keeps coming up again and again: parents crave a greater sense of happiness in their daily lives. In this optimistic, solution-packed book, KJ asks: How can we change our family life so that it is full of the joy we'd always hoped for? Drawing from the latest research and interviews with families, KJ discovers that it's possible to do more by doing less, and make our family life a refuge and pleasure, rather than another stress point in a hectic day. She focuses on nine common problem spots that cause parents the most grief, explores why they are hard, and offers small, doable, sometimes surprising steps you can take to make them better. Whether it's getting everyone out the door on time in the morning or making sure chores and homework get done without another battle, How to Be a Happier Parent shows that having a family isn't just about raising great kids and churning them out at destination: success. It's about experiencing joy--real joy, the kind you look back on, look forward to, and live for--along the way.

This book has been an absolute gift to me

KJ is a mom of four, with one adopted daughter and 3 biological children, just like myself. That in itself made me feel like I had found a friend who’s been a little farther down the trail I’m on who could throw me a little hope.

There was not a single topic in family life addressed in this book that did not resonate with me. As a type A person sharing her life with four little hurricanes, I often feel buried by the unpleasantness instead of reveling in the beauty of this season of family life-which I fully chose and want to enjoy! The mantras and tips have given me much needed shift in perspective when a situation starts to trigger me.

So thankful to have read/heard this book!!!!

Happier Parenting

Like a chat over coffee with that mom from baseball practice who always seems to have it all together - but in an approachable rather than off putting way. I love the author’s podcast, #AmWriting With Jess and KJ, so I knew I wanted to listen to rather than read her book. Did not disappoint!

wonderful help for parents who want to be happy

A great resource. Very well descriptive examples and scenarios. The discipline chapter was most helpful.

great read

love all the tips and tricks to help me be a better mom. I will definitely listen to this again as a reminder.

Good advice, but pretty common sense

I really wanted to love this book. I liked the anecdotal stories, and it did give some parenting tips that I know I will begin to use now and as my kids get older. But a lot of it was pretty common sense at least to me. I've never met any parent or adult who hasn't heard or tried any of the tips mentioned. But the overall message is a good one, to find joy in the every day things. Take the minor set back things less serious.