Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook: Using Mindfulness and Connection to Raise Resilient, Joyful Children and Rediscover Your Love of Parenting Paperback – February 21, 2018

Workbooks are so 80's I thought to myself. Ha! Boy was I wrong. I'm literally not even to Part 1 of the book and I already feel healing in my relationship with my oldest daughter who is only 4 years old. Last night I did my first assignment from the workbook and wrote a letter to her acknowledging regrets I have from the past few years. The letter was an electrifying jumpstart in helping me let go of parenting-guilt and promising progress in our future with more connection. Basically I feel bad that I didn't understand her motives more when she would act up after her younger sister was born and that I didn't think from her perspective earlier on.... that I expected so much from her just because she was the "older" sibling when really she was only a toddler herself! Tonight, the promises from my letter were put into action: both of my daughters are sleeping on futons in our bedroom. What you ask!? (The workbook isn't pro this or that--it's just about finding ways to regulate your own feelings and connect with your kids, so this for me was one of my first steps). From the beginning both children have been trained to sleep in their own beds which is fine. But we did CIO with my oldest. Even though it was the best I could do at the time, I have always regretted it and wondered if it is part of the reason why she is not super cuddly. Could also just be the way she is. At any rate, I wanted my oldest to feel like she is always welcomed in our room and in our hearts, so this is a change I was actually very excited to make. You should have seen how thrilled she was tonight before bed! It was like Christmas morning and it filled my soul. Also recently she has been picking her nose and swallowing her boogers whole and it grosses me out so much! YUK! I have started using coercion/threats to try and get her to stop ("If you pick your boogers nobody is going to want to hold your hand." SO SAD. Why would I say this? It's true but not the way to address the issue) which of course is not working and just makes her pick her boogers facing the other direction because she thinks I can't see her! So today I told her I love her no matter what-even if her hands are slimy. From now on when she turns to me with boogie fingers, I'll just scoop her up with love while also offering her a tissue. She has already tested me once after digging for gold! Ha! Obviously I'm trying to be a little more laid back. I definitely enforce limits in our house, but maybe we don't actually need SO MANY limits. Ever since I discovered Dr. LM's books, I have been a positive parenting junky. LIFE CHANGING! Especially Peaceful Parent Happy Siblings. I don't know where we'd be without it. I'm so grateful, Dr. LM for your love of children and willingness to share all you have learned with others so we parents can fill their hearts (and at the same time ours) and they can fill the world with love. Thank you!!

Everyone says that parenting doesn't come with a manual. Well, Dr. Markham wrote one. I love that it helps you with through your own trauma so you don't pass it on to your kids. Very practical and super helpful.

I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist, parent educator, and parent. By far one of the very best books on parenting. I love that it is mostly clearly grounded in family studies science, mindfulness, and parent-child connection. I love that it is a deep vulnerable focus on developing and fostering the emotional health and well-being of the parent--has been very personally meaningful to me as a parent. I highly highly recommend this above most all other parenting books. Ranks in top parenting books for sure in my opinion: The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting by Shefali Tsabary Ph.D.; Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn; Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne (Author), Arthur Morey (Narrator), Lisa M. Ross (Author).(IMO Her advocacy of emotion freedom technique is brief and unnecessary as it sort of cheapens the overall book)

I liked the workbook but it had a lot of overlap with the main book. I would recommend only buying one or the other. If you just want to read, buy the book. If you benefit from responding in writing, but the workbook.We have two adopted sons from traumatic backgrounds. We found that the advice worked a lot better on our almost 6 year old than on our 11 year old. I would estimate that the book would be most helpful with kids under 8

As parents of three little children and licensed professional counselors, we are always looking for new resources that will help us improve how we raise our kids and improve ourselves as parents. We are passionate about building upon what we learned from our parents and leaving an even better legacy for our children. This workbook is full of not only great information about child development but also great information about personal development. It is a workbook we have found not only strengthens our ability to parent better using love rather than fear but also makes our marriage better. If you are looking for a book with helpful information and practical techniques then this is the book for you. We are experiencing less frustration and anger, and more peace and joy in our home.

I had been suffering from PPD after my second was born and my first was 18 months old. I was never a yeller until then, and my PPD came out as rage outbursts. it was absolutely awful. I strive to be a gentle parent and align with the attachment parenting style. this workbook, along with the book itself, really helped me to be more self aware and gave me lots of tools to help get myself under control even when dealing with PPD.

This was one of the most useful workbooks for parenting I have ever read, and that's because it also focuses on repairing the parent(s) mental health so they can be a better parent. I've learned so much about myself and that in turn has made me a better mother. Do yourself a favor and purchase this workbook.

I haven’t read any other books by this author so I can’t say how this workbook compares. But I have found this workbook to be effective on its own. There are good explanations and then places to write about your own experiences. I found the writing to be more effective in retaining information than simply just reading. I am finding her methods to be effective with my children. The title is very fitting as this book helps you become a peaceful parent.