The internet is flooded with parenting books but this one stands out the most. I bought the book, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry after I saw it recommended by a baby sleep consultant on Instagram.
I’m glad I accepted the recommendation and gave it a try.
I’m yet to finish it but I have read it more than half and I am absolutely loving it so far. Loving it so much that I started writing blog without finishing it.
I’m sure the last chapter is as interesting and helpful as the earlier ones.
One quote that caught my attention in the Introduction of the book itself and kept me hooked is this: “I am interested in how we can relate to our children rather than how we can manipulate them.”
There was a time when I had to resort to manipulation when my daughter refused to take her fever medicine. I had no option but to scare her and instill fear of several things in her.
I felt really bad but it got the job done.
This year, the manipulation didn’t work and I chose to get ideas from AI. It helped.
I was also reading this book then and it indirectly helped me.
When I asked AI to summarise this book, it said this:
“ The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Philippa Perry focuses on emotionally responsive parenting rather than perfection or strict discipline. The book explains how our own childhood experiences unconsciously shape how we react to our children, and why becoming aware of these patterns is essential. Perry emphasizes that children’s difficult behaviours are expressions of unmet needs or overwhelming emotions—not intentional misbehaviour—and that feelings should always be acknowledged, even when limits are needed on behaviour.
At its heart, the book argues that strong parent-child relationships are built through empathy, connection, and repair, not control or punishment. Parents will inevitably make mistakes, but apologizing and reconnecting after conflict teaches children emotional safety and resilience. Ultimately, the book is as much about healing the parent’s inner child as it is about raising emotionally secure, self-aware children.”
And it’s true. When I parent my child and end up yelling at them, I don’t ask what she did that made me yell, I wonder what inner child wound was triggered in me that made me react so harshly.
Being a parent also includes parenting yourself while you parent your child. And once you understand this concept, parenting becomes a hell lot manageable (it’s never easy though).
This book gently guides you towards a gentler approach to parenting.
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