The Joys and Sorrows of Parenting: 26 Essays to Reassure and Console

by The School of Life, Bronia Stewart (Photographer)

A playful gift book that explores the highs and lows of parenting in a series of compassionate, authentic and humorous mini essays. 
Full of colorful original photographs, The Joys and Sorrows of Parenting promises us a gentle way of staying calm around one of the most arduous yet deeply fulfilling jobs in the world. 
This playful adult board book distills 2,000 years of philosophy into 26 consoling mini essays that shed light on trials and pleasures of parenting. 

Genres: Parenting, Philosophy, Self Help, Nonfiction

56 pages, Board book

Published April 9, 2019

About the author

The School of Life is a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives.

We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.

Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.

That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.

Reviews

[Dani McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often wise and comforting. Even without children, it’s consoling about my upbringing and adult relationships.

4 stars because it doesn’t talk about whose cultural experience they’re drawing on.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite essay must be “Developmental milestones: (...) We’re not collectivelly attentive around the time a child is forgiving; when they learn to loose with good junior; when they first feel sorry for the hurt they have cause another; when they begin to daydream; when they can say a white lie to spare the feelings of another (...) Rather than track the external physical development of a child, an ideal society would track their steps on the long path to psychological maturity (...)”

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as the book’s subtitle suggests, these 26 essays do indeed reassure and console! As a veteran parent of an 8yo and a 5yo, I relate to about 98% of the content in a highly personal and emotionally charged way. These little essays are short and sweet and cut to the chase. Honest and raw, they speak straight to the heart of what it feels like to parent. Loved it.

[Tina Indrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every bit reassuring and comforting, this book provides depth and insight without the risk of drowing the reader. The fact that the author is the school of life and not a named individual somehow gave the essays a bit of a mystical quality, truths just as they are, not tied to any one person to make it so.

[Siti · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoughtful book, not just the essays, even the design of the books and the candid photos inside, just screams authenticity and gentleness. e.g. the hard paper print reflecting baby books, just shows that the adult parents reading this book are just babies in adult bodies. One of my best reads so far as a new mom. Love love love!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is not what I expected. The writIng seemed very clinical and I feel it didn't match the cover photo.

[Cathy Otty · Rating 5 out of 5]

One that I'll come back to time and again as I need a lift. Very kind and sensible reminders for parents, who are doing their best.

[Christina Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A set of concise but thought-provoking paragraphs on themes encountered in parenthood, which I plan to occasionally re-read as my kid grows.

[Tassos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very soothing. Just what I needed right now

[Tamara Atanasoska · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a calming, balanced read. I loved it. I think I will reread it very often.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Skyhard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book and a short read.

[Ratnayu Candra Kirana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and consoling. Preparing me for what’s to come 👍🏼

[Maui Rochell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be a short read but full of wisdom especially for first time parent like me. As I watch my mom parent me, I know we still have a lot of things to go through in this new season. I really appreciate my mom for raising me even though she's far away physically, she was never absent. I pray we could be like that for our current child and our future children to come.

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quaint little book from the school of life in their familiar and gentle way of writing. Easy to get through and recommended to all parents, especially perfectionistic and those that believe that good parenting is the corner stone of society and any deviation from the proper way will lead to less good parents and child.

The book has a nice format and includes fair “essays”, albeit too simplistic without much actual substance. The pictures within are placed haphazardly and show many aspects of child and parent at various stages in life, however it feels like the author has a hobbyist interest in shooting analog pictures and found various picture albums in thrift stores and placed each picture at random into the book

The book is trying to be reassuring but doesn’t give any real solid advice how to tackle the joys and sorrows of parenthood. It’s not a self-help book. It’s not a philosophical book. It’s not a book about children or parents. It’s a book that attempts to say: “it’s going to be alright; you will smile, you will cry; in the end, when all is said and done, you’ve done your best”.

[Bharadwaj G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had questions about myself if I really didn't like children but realized that I didn't like parenting as much and I love children.

Raising kids is a Full-time job. So, think of having to picking up another job if you want to raise a child