Parenting is a precious opportunity; one that the universe offers - to provide a nurturing environment for the child such as Nature provides for life. Parenting nurtures the physical and the emotional development of the child…in addition, it also forms in a subtle and significant way - an understanding of the spirit of life… It brings a deeper understanding that life is not just amassing of things and objects of comfort. It is a recognition of the intangibles… qualities of kindness, empathy, patience, gratitude… to value them, refine them…within you.
These can only be learnt by the child and valued when exemplified by the parents and caregivers…those in the child’s environment. The experiences of one’s childhood form the basis for all interactions and relationships that one develops all through life. Thus, the role of a parent requires your attention, your involvement, a creative and solution-seeking perspective. Its foundation is the intent that the parents have, to help their children become the best they can be…
The book on Parenting is a valuable guide for parents to be the best they can be…which paves the way for the nurturing environment their child can blossom in…
In an age where parenting advice is often reduced to checklists, milestones, and expert-approved formulas, Parenting, arrives quietly and deliberately refuses to compete in that noise. Pratibha Malhotra does not position herself as an authority handing down solutions. Instead, she invites parents into something far more uncomfortable and far more necessary i.e, self-examination.
At the heart of her work lies a simple yet demanding premise that parenting is not a role you perform but a relationship you live. The book repeatedly dismantles the popular assumption that good parenting is defined by provision, food, education, routines, safety. While these are necessary, the author argues they are not sufficient. What shapes a child most profoundly is the emotional climate they grow up breathing.
Thematic threads of kindness, empathy, patience, gratitude, and emotional clarity run throughout the book, not as abstract virtues, but as lived behaviours. She insists that children do not “learn” these qualities through instruction; they absorb them through observation. Every reaction, silence, tone of voice, and unresolved emotional pattern in a parent quietly becomes part of the child’s inner architecture.
One of the book’s strongest contributions is its emphasis on childhood as formative rather than transitional. She underscores how early experiences shape not just behaviour, but a person’s lifelong relationship with trust, conflict, intimacy, and self-worth. Childhood is not something people “grow out of”; it is something they grow from.
This idea gives the book its quiet urgency. Parenting is not portrayed as a temporary responsibility that ends when a child becomes independent, but as the laying of psychological and emotional groundwork that echoes across adulthood. The author’s insistence on parental presence, emotional, attentive, and reflective, feels especially relevant in a world where distracted caregiving has become normalized.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Perhaps the book’s greatest strength is what it does not do. It does not shame, moralise, or demand perfection. The writing is gentle without being vague, compassionate without being indulgent.
🔸She repeatedly reminds readers that parenting is not about getting it right all the time. It is about showing up with awareness, owning mistakes, and staying open to growth. This framing is both realistic and emotionally relieving.
🔸The short chapters, affirmations, and reflective prompts encourage slow reading. This is not a book meant to be consumed quickly, despite its brief length. Its design invites pauses, journaling, and personal application, an approach that aligns well with its core philosophy.
🔸By blending emotional awareness, relational psychology, and a subtle spiritual sensibility, the book moves beyond conventional parenting literature. It treats the parent-child relationship as a living, evolving bond rather than a problem to be solved.
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️Readers looking for concrete strategies, how to handle tantrums, discipline frameworks, or age-specific behavioural tools, may feel under-served. The book prioritises internal alignment over external tactics, which may frustrate parents in crisis situations.
▪️The book implicitly assumes that readers are willing, and able, to engage in self-reflection. For parents carrying unresolved trauma or living under high stress, this inward focus may feel demanding without offering adequate scaffolding.
In conclusion, it ultimately reframes parenting not as responsibility, but as opportunity, an invitation to cultivate humanity in its most intimate form. The author suggests that raising a child is less about shaping another person and more about refining oneself in service of that relationship. The book’s quiet power lies in its insistence that love is not enough unless it is conscious, and intention matters more than outcome. Parenting, in this vision, is not about producing a certain kind of child, but about becoming a certain kind of human.
Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. Parenting: A Relationship with your Child is a gentle, soulful guide that reminds us how deeply our children learn from who we are, not just what we say.
Parenting: A Relationship with your Child is one of those rare books that doesn’t shout “rules” or “must-dos.” Instead, it speaks softly, like a wise elder sitting beside you, reminding you that parenting is less about control and more about connection. It beautifully frames parenting as a sacred opportunity—to nurture not just the body and mind of a child, but their heart and spirit, too.
What touched me most is how the book shifts the focus from “fixing” the child to “being” the parent. It gently shows that kindness, empathy, patience, and gratitude aren’t just values we teach; they’re qualities we must first live ourselves. Our children absorb these intangibles through our daily actions, tone, and presence, not through lectures. The book helps parents see that the way they respond in everyday moments—when tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed—shapes the child’s understanding of relationships for life.
It also reframes parenting as a creative, solution-seeking journey rather than a performance. There’s no guilt-tripping or unrealistic expectations; instead, there’s a deep respect for the parent’s intent—to help their child become the best they can be. The emphasis on creating a nurturing environment, much like nature does for life, feels both poetic and practical.
This book is perfect for new parents, seasoned caregivers, or anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with a child. It’s not a quick-fix manual; it’s a reflective companion that encourages mindfulness, self-awareness, and love.
If you’re looking for a parenting read that feels warm, wise, and deeply human, this one is a quiet gem.
Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child is a gentle yet thought‑provoking guide that invites parents to see child‑rearing as a deep emotional partnership rather than a checklist of dos and don’ts. The book’s core message is that parenting is an opportunity to create a nurturing environment where children can grow as naturally and freely as life does in nature, while parents simultaneously heal, evolve, and become more self‑aware in the process.
The author emphasizes connection over control, repeatedly bringing the reader back to the quality of everyday interactions—how a parent listens, responds to emotions, sets limits, and repairs after conflicts. Instead of prescribing rigid rules, the book encourages parents to reflect on their triggers and childhood patterns so they do not unconsciously pass them on to their children. This reflective tone makes the book feel less like an instruction manual and more like a conversation that gently holds up a mirror to the reader.
What stands out is how accessible the language and examples are, making complex psychological ideas easy to relate to real‑life situations at home. The book stresses empathy, presence, and emotional safety as the foundation of discipline, arguing that when children feel seen and understood, cooperation and responsible behavior follow more naturally. For parents who are tired of fear‑based or overly perfectionist approaches, this book offers a compassionate, non‑judgmental path that prioritizes the long‑term relationship over short‑term compliance, leaving the reader with both practical insight and emotional reassurance.
Parenting : A Relationship with Your Child by Pratibha Malhotra is a self-help book that helps to guide new parents to nurture their children's physical and emotional development. The book shows us the importance of a nurturing environment for the positive upbringing of kids in the current world. It also focuses on how the qualities like kindness, empathy, patience and gratitude can be acquired by our children by experiencing and observing under our care.
The book further points out that childhood experiences play a crucial role in building the child's character and helps in the growth of his relationships with his peers. The most important takeaway from this book is that the duty of a parent is not only to provide material support and comfort, but also to bestow the kids with our attention, time, and involvement in their upbringing.
The book is filled with pictures and short phrases and quotes that allow us to ponder on the points shared by the author. When I started reading this book I thought this might be a quick read since it's only 64 pages long, but I think it's better to take time and to reflect on the topics explored in the book.
It's a short book with lots to offer and makes us contemplate our approach towards parenting a child. As a parent, this book has helped me realize that rather than being a strict and authoritative parent, it's better to become a mindful one who wants to build up a better relationship with one's child.
Most of the time we as parents feel that Parenting is all about Communicating with your Child. How we treat our children, what we teach them and how we teach them - Parenting is all about this.
But have we thought that Parenting could also be about ourselves? This is the topic which the author, Pratibha Malhotra has dealt with in this book - Parenting - A Relationship with your Child. Author being a part of Healing community gives a very alternative and unique approach to Parenting where she explains how Healing your own self can improve your relationship with your child.
She says Parenting is a Self reflection journey and taking a step back whenever there is a difficult situation with a child will help not only dealing with them but also balancing yourself. Anyone who has heard about NLP - Neuro-Lingusitic Programming of the brain would agree to this.
This Book comprises of small chapters - each covering a topic on how we can work on ourselves day by day. I loved how there is an exercise at the end of the chapter to Reflect on certain situations. We can use these as Journaling prompts (I am doing so) to reflect on ourselves. I have already completed a few and it really helps to understand yourself and analyse our thinking
There are also Affirmations given throughout the book which are very helpful.
In the end I would say that this book is for those Parents looking to heal their own selves inorder to have a better relationship with their child.
A child always copies your action rather than grasping what we teach them. Pratibha Malhotra’s “Parenting: A Relationship with your Child” is one excellent guide which teaches you on understanding a child’s physical and emotional need along with you understanding your own self on what is required as a parent.
The book focuses on how a safe and stable environment helps in cultivating the proper emotional need of a child. It also states on how strict rules will only make the kid dwell in the trauma of fear and the child will fail to be their own self. The book also guides on how kids see parents as their source of learning and how letting them being at ease sets the stage for the upliftment of the children.
The author gives an insight on how kids learn by trials and error and how it is important as a parent to give them the confidence to trust their decision. The author also reflects as an parent what we should be aiming and practising for ourselves as well. One of the key nature being human behaviour which sets the tone for any relationship the author emphasizes on how parents should reflect their own behaviour and act rightly as they would want others to act in place of them.
The book has short affirmations and summary after end of every section to reflect on the teachings shared in the book. This book is a good healing journey for a Parent themselves which teaches us on how to treat ourselves and treat kids during the life phase of Parenting.
Having picked up this book, I assumed it was going to be some easy guide on how to cope with a child's behavior or the day-to-day challenges. But very soon, I realized it was something much deeper. It is not just about understanding your child; it is also about understanding yourself. The book gently reminds you that children learn more from who you are than what you say. Your kindness, patience, empathy, and clarity of emotions have become the foundation for their world.
The writing is calm, thoughtful, and filled with meaningful insights. The author speaks about how childhood experiences shape a person's whole life and how parents play the most important role in creating those experiences. What really touched my heart is this thought that parenting is not about perfection but presence; it's about awareness, involvement, and being open to growth as an individual so that your child learns to do the same.
This book encourages and shows parents how to create an environment that allows a child to be themselves without fear of judgment. It made me reflect on my reactions, habits, and emotional patterns and how they silently influence my child.
This is a valuable guide for anyone looking to parent with intention, warmth, and self-awareness. A comforting and insightful read.
✨A gentle and insightful guide that encourages parents to grow along with their children.
Parenting by Pratibha Malhotra is a gentle and insightful guide for parents that focuses on fostering a healthy and nurturing relationship with their children. The book emphasizes parenting as an opportunity to create a supportive environment where children can grow and blossom naturally. It encourages parents to grow and evolve alongside their children, recognizing parenting as a continuous learning process.
The author’s approach is caring and thoughtful, making the book feel like a comforting companion for any parent. However, the book may feel a bit philosophical and reflective for those looking for straightforward parenting tactics or step-by-step instructions. Despite this, its focus on emotional connection and mutual growth stands out as its strongest point.
This book suits parents who want to deepen their relationship with their child and are open to a reflective, thoughtful approach to parenting.
Key takeaways: •Parenting is about creating a nurturing environment for your child’s growth. •It encourages parents to evolve and learn with their children. •Building a strong emotional relationship is more important than rigid rules. •Parent and child both benefit from understanding and respect.
This book feels like a warm reminder of something we parents often forget that raising a child isn’t just about meeting their physical needs or ticking off milestones. It’s about the quieter, softer things too: kindness, empathy, patience, gratitude… all those qualities that we try (and sometimes struggle!) to model every day.
What I loved about this book is how it brings focus back to the emotional environment we create at home. As a parent myself, I felt that pinch of recognition how our own behaviour, reactions, even our silences become part of a child’s inner world. It’s a little scary, honestly, but also comforting, because it means every small effort matters.
The book seems to highlight something I strongly believe in: children learn more from what we do than what we say. And that nurturing a child isn’t about perfection, but intention. Even on my most tired, “no-more-patience-left” days, knowing that showing consistency, empathy, and involvement builds the foundation of their problem-solving and emotional maturity gives me hope.
The idea that parents need to become “the best they can be” for the sake of creating a space where the child can bloom? It’s simple, but powerful. No pressure to be superhuman just to grow alongside them.
Overall, this book feels like it would be a grounding, reassuring read for any parent. Not preachy, not judgemental just a reminder that parenting is a journey shaped by love, attention, and a willingness to do our best… even when we’re learning as we go.
This book feels like a calm and reassuring conversation with someone who truly understands the emotional journey of being a parent. Instead of presenting parenting as a set of strict rules, it focuses more on understanding children as individuals with their own feelings, fears, and strengths. That approach makes the book feel very relatable and comforting.
What I appreciated most is how the author highlights that parenting is not about being perfect, but about being present. The examples shared in the book reflect real-life situations that most families go through, making the advice practical and easy to apply. From handling tantrums to building trust and communication, the guidance feels gentle, realistic, and supportive rather than overwhelming.
The language is simple and clear, which makes it an easy read even for first-time parents. It encourages patience, empathy, and self-reflection, reminding readers that children learn more from how we behave than from what we say.
Overall, this book is a thoughtful and heartwarming guide that helps parents feel understood instead of judged. It’s a reassuring companion for anyone trying to raise children with love, balance, and awareness.
Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child by Pratibha Malhotra is a reflective and heartfelt guide that reframes parenting as a deep, ongoing relationship rather than a set of instructions. The core message focuses on nurturing a child’s emotional and physical development through presence, empathy, and intentional living. Malhotra emphasizes that parenting offers a unique opportunity to foster qualities such as kindness, patience, gratitude, and understanding not by enforcing rules, but by embodying these values in everyday interactions.
Rather than a technical manual of steps, the book presents parenting as a creative and solution-seeking partnership between caregiver and child. It underscores that experiences in childhood shape lifelong patterns of relationship and trust, and urges parents to engage with awareness and involvement rather than perfection.
While the tone is gentle and philosophical, some readers might find the reflective approach less actionable if they are seeking specific behavioural strategies. However, for parents interested in deepening their understanding of their role and strengthening emotional bonds with their children, Malhotra’s work serves as a thoughtful and inspiring resource.
This book frames parenting as a precious opportunity offered by the universe,a chance to nurture not only a child’s physical and emotional development but also their understanding of life’s deeper values. Pratibha highlights qualities like kindness, empathy, patience, and gratitude, stressing that children learn them best when parents embody these traits in everyday life. Goes beyond conventional parenting advice to include the spiritual and emotional dimensions of raising a child. At less than 70 pages, it’s a short read packed with reflections rather than overwhelming detail. Encourages parents to focus on intangible like love, gratitude, rather than material comforts. The tone of writing is warm, nurturing, and reflective, making it feel more like a conversation than a manual.
This book is aptly suited for parents who want to reframe parenting as a relationship rather than a responsibility. It’s not about strict methods but about cultivating values and presence. If you’re seeking a short, soulful read that reminds you of the deeper purpose of parenting, Pratibha's work is a thoughtful choice.
This book about parenting is not a rulebook. It looks at parenting as a living relationship. Pratibha Malhotra explores how a child’s emotional, mental, and spiritual growth is shaped by everyday experiences, observations, and the behavior of caregivers. The book features lessons in parenting along with overly cute pictures of animals and their younger ones. That's seriously a delight to look at.
The book says that children learn values like empathy, patience, gratitude, and kindness not through instruction but through example. Parenting here is shown as an ongoing process of awareness, intention, self-growth. The tender writing feels calm and thoughtful, encouraging mindful involvement. It's a peaceful read and a delight to look at. The book respects the child as an emotional being and also honors the parent’s growth and struggles.
The quotes are reflective and moving. They're meant to leave the readers thinking about a lot even after finishing the book. It says a lot of things in the least number of words possible. The pictures included act as the cherry on the cake. They're adorable and immensely sweet.
Reading "Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child" by Pratibha Malhotra felt like a soft reminder of something that is undertone misleading ie raising a child is only about food, school, routines, or milestones. But rather it's more about the quiet things we practice every day: being kind, being patient, showing empathy, and showing gratitude through our own behaviour.
What touched me most was how the book brings attention to the emotional atmosphere that a child gets at home. The author’s message is simple: children learn more from what we do than what we say. And parenting doesn’t require perfection but only intention.
I appreciated how the book encourages parents to grow with their children instead of trying to be perfect. It reminds me that taking small, honest steps is more than enough.
Overall, 'Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child' felt like a gentle read. It doesn’t preach or pressure — it simply highlights that parenting is shaped by love, mindful presence, and the courage to keep learning along the way.
Parenting is not about how perfect you are, it’s about how Present you are and in this book Pratibha very gently conveys this message. It’s not one of those books that will give you a step by step guide on how to be a good parent but very gently nudge you towards it. Tell you how it’s not about control but connection, not about how difficult it is but how beautiful it is to grow with your child while you both make mistakes and learn from it together.
The book also emphasizes on the values of kindness, empathy, gratitude and patience but only when it’s learned by a parent first because a child learns not by advice but by example, by what they see their parents doing. The book removes all the unrealistic expectations from the society replacing it with the raw flaws and intents of the parents in their journey to be a good parent.
This book is a really good pick for those who felt overwhelmed by other parenting guides. It’s short, sweet, very gentle and guides you to deepen your relationship with your child without over emphasizing it.
*Book Review: "Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child" by Pratibha*
*The Good News:* Pratibha's book is like a warm hug for frazzled parents. It's all about building a relationship with your tiny human, and it's full of practical tips and real-life examples. Much needed!
*The Not-So-Surprising News:* Parenting is hard. But Pratibha's got your back. She dishes out advice on communication, discipline, and emotional intelligence with a side of empathy and understanding.
*The Real MVP:* This book reminds you that parenting isn't about being perfect; it's about being present. Pratibha's writing is engaging, relatable, and laugh-out-loud funny (because, let's be real, parenting is a comedy of errors).
*The Verdict:* If you're looking for a parenting book that won't judge you for eating cereal for dinner (again), "Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child" is the perfect read. Trust me, your relationship with your child (and your sanity) will thank you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book gently reminds us that parenting is not about control or perfection, but about connection. Parenting – A Relationship with Your Child focuses on building a deep, respectful bond where children feel seen, heard, and understood.
This book encourages parents to reflect on their approach, emphasizing patience, empathy, and emotional awareness as the core of healthy parenting, and fosters trust and open communication rather than adhering to strict rules.
Why I liked this book:-
- Emphasis on parenting as a relationship, not a role - Practical wisdom rooted in emotional understanding - Calm, reassuring approach for modern parents
A thoroughly supportive and introspective read that profoundly changes one's perspective, transforming the journey of raising a child into a beautiful evolution alongside them.
Parenting is a very important part of one's own life. A part of one's own life which need to be taken care of with crucial care
This book revolves around the journey where parents learn with the child and provides the best of their own capacity
This is a well organised book written with the objective of understanding children and uplift them in the proper way . Here we understand children through qualities of kindness empathy, patience and genuine gratitude refining these qualities within them in a detailed way
This book will help the parents to nurture children with goal oriented attention, involvement a creative and solution making perspective
A book to enhance parent child bonding in the best possible way
Parenting: A Relationship with your Child by Pratibha Malhotra is an insightful and thought-provoking read that helps new parents to understand a child's physical and emotional needs. The role of parent requires great attention and involvement.
Such a valuable guide to give a nurturing environment for children. This book teaches us about the connection between a parent and the child. Being a parent, we need to teach the kids about kindness, empathy, gratitude and patience.
The writing is crisp and unique. The language used is simple and easy to understand. Such a useful read for parents who want a deeper relationship with their child. The author has beautifully shown us how everyday interaction with children is important. This book offers practical insights on parenting.
The author teaches us how childhood experiences build the child's character and the importance of our attention and time towards them. I loved the pictures and quotes, which make this book more interesting and engaging to read. This is a short, simple yet powerful read. This book teaches us to heal ourselves first, so that the relationship with our child will get better in all ways. Overall, I loved this book and would strongly recommend it to all.
The author, Pratiba Malhotra, has taken us over a gentle reminder of what it is to raise a child. The book, Parenting: A Relationship with Your Child is all about what it means to have a healthy relationship with the child every single day.
The author expresses empathy, patience, gratitude, and kindness in the book as a behavior for getting better. Having those values as a parent will make your child reflect on the same and, in turn, make them a better person. I was able to relate the same with my own parents and how their actions shape our value system.
The book is a quick, short read, making it simpler to quickly grasp and understand what the author is conveying. It’s a soft, warm read that reminds you that parenting isn’t about control or perfection. It’s about connection. And that connection begins with who you choose to be.
What stood out to me is how she shifts the focus from doing things for your child to becoming someone your child can grow with. The core message is simple but powerful. It’s not about being a “perfect parent,” but it’s all about being a conscious, self-aware human who shows up with love.