First published 2020
KJ Dell'Antonia draws on years of research with families to tackle a recurring theme: parents want greater happiness in their everyday lives. The former head editor of the New York Times Motherlode blog presents an optimistic, solution-focused approach to transforming family life into the joyful experience parents hope for. Dell'Antonia identifies nine common problem areas that cause the most parental distress and explains why these situations feel so challenging. She offers small, actionable steps that can improve these daily struggles, sometimes in surprising ways. Whether the goal is getting everyone out the door on time in the morning or completing homework and chores without conflict, this guide focuses on creating experiences of joy, satisfaction, peace, and moments parents will remember with smiles. Dell'Antonia shows how parents can accomplish more by staying calm rather than rushing through tasks with stress and anxiety. Based on recent family research and interviews, the book demonstrates how to make family life feel like a refuge and source of pleasure rather than a constant battle.
Genres: family, self-help, non-fiction, parenting
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: problem-solving, self-improvement
328 pages · Paperback · Sola Unitas