January 2024 MBR The Parenting Shelf

The Parenting Shelf

Small Moments, Big Impact: The MicroStep Method for the Overwhelmed Parent
Mary Willcox Smith, CMLC
Independently Published
9798988693017, $19.99, PB, 209pp

https://www.amazon.com/MicroStep-Method-Overwhelmed-Parent-moments/dp/B0CK3=
ZX95G

Synopsis: Parents today seem to inhabit high-speed whirlwinds, where time i=
s scarce and stress runs high. But what if there's a proven way to navigate=
 the chaos, a way to strengthen connections with your children while suppor=
ting their personal growth -- all through the power of small, actionable st=
eps?

With the publication of "Small Moments, Big Impact: The MicroStep Method fo=
r the Overwhelmed Parent", parenting coach Mary Willcox Smith guides you on=
 a transformative journey, showing you how to chart a straight course throu=
gh the commotion and, at the same time, how to rediscover the simple joys o=
f parenting.

Imagine: it's long past your child's bedtime. Pleas for "one more story" or=
 "some more water" seem endless. Your frustration looms large, and you are =
not inclined to indulge your child further. But in a pivotal moment, you st=
op to try a new approach that involves showing sincere interest and curiosi=
ty. And that brief pause, for a newly shared experience as you honor your c=
hild's perspective, transforms the bedtime battle into a bonding moment.

How can such a tiny change hold such transformative potential? This is the =
essence of the MicroStep Method, where seemingly small shifts can empower t=
he overwhelmed parent and Mary Willcox Smith provides you with the know-how=
 and actionable tools that can shift everyday parenting struggles into oppo=
rtunities to create moments of meaningful connection -- while simultaneousl=
y increasing children's cooperation and fostering their self-efficacy.

Integrating 25 years of experience, the best of child development research,=
 and neuroscience, "Small Moments, Big Impact: The MicroStep Method for the=
 Overwhelmed Parent" fully equips parents with easy-to-implement and custom=
izable scripts for connection and growth. Your alliance with your child wil=
l deepen as you learn to nurture your child's social-emotional strength, se=
lf-esteem, and resilience, while you continue on the profound journey of he=
lping to make your child feel truly whole.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the benef=
it and accessability for the non-specialist general reader, "Small Moments,=
 Big Impact: The MicroStep Method for the Overwhelmed Parent" should be con=
sidered essential reading for parents wanting their children to achieve suc=
cess as they grow from childhood into young adulthood in these undeniably s=
tressful times for any family. Especially and unreservedly recommended for =
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contempor=
ary Parenting collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it sho=
uld be noted that "Small Moments, Big Impact: The MicroStep Method for the =
Overwhelmed Parent" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11=
.99).

Editorial Note: Mary Willcox Smith is a Parent Coach, Speaker, and Author. =
A mom to four daughters, Mary's passion for neuroscience, mindfulness, and =
child development inspired her book, Small Moments, Big Impact: The MicroSt=
ep Method for the Overwhelmed Parent. Mary holds an MBA from INSEAD Busines=
s School and is a Master Certified Life Coach and a Certified Positive Disc=
ipline Expert. She provides coaching to an exclusive roster of parents and =
frequently speaks with schools, corporations, and parent groups.

Doing It All
Whitney Casares, MD
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760386996, $19.99, PB, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Doing-All-Over-Functioning-Become-Person/dp/07603869=
94

Synopsis: With the publication of "Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and =
Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be", Dr. Whitney Casares (author,=
 pediatrician, and mother of two girls), shares the step-by-step plan she d=
eveloped as a modern working mom to help her stop over-functioning at work =
and home, stop blaming herself for everything that went wrong, and start li=
ving a balanced and intentional life.

Today's working moms are burned-out, overwhelmed, and just plain stuck. Cau=
ght amid the endless, conflicting demands of motherhood, work, household ma=
nagement, and a million-and-one everyday tasks, chores, and responsibilitie=
s, they truly are doing it all -- but getting nowhere. They think they're o=
ut of options -- but they are wrong!

Dr. Whitney tried to do it all for years, until one particularly bad week b=
rought her to knees, and then, to a revelation: It wasn't her that was brok=
en, it was her system. She needed a new system, a plan of action that would=
 look squarely at all the common problems of working mom life (over-schedul=
ing, inequitable partnerships, lack of boundaries, lack of support), recogn=
ize the social and cultural causes behind them, and give her the tools and =
structure she needed to tackle the chaos, find her work-life balance, and s=
tart living a life that worked for her.

In the pages of "Doing It All", she shares that system with you, a system t=
hat will help you prioritize what really matters and where everything (even=
 laundry!) has its place. Work calls? Yep. Time with your kids? Absolutely.=
 Time for yourself? A top priority.

Doing It All features Dr. Whitney's complete step-by-step plan to achieving=
 your Centered Life, that is, a life centered on you, as well as over forty=
 targeted exercises, prompts, and activities to help you to: Create a visio=
n of your life that aligns with your values and goals and then break that v=
ision into actionable priorities so you can start making it a reality; Impl=
ement systems to deal with the annoying-but-necessary "have-tos" in your li=
fe quickly and efficiently; Develop equity in your relationship with your p=
arenting partner; Create and maintain boundaries around emotionally laden c=
alls on your attention; Give your kids what they need to be healthy, happy,=
 and successful - without giving away too much of yourself; Prioritize your=
 own mental health and emotional well-being with intentional scheduling and=
 rest -- And more!

Featuring powerful personal stories from real working moms, as well as quot=
es and interview excerpts from parenting experts, medical professionals, an=
d mental health advocates, Doing It All meets working moms where they are, =
recognizes the personal and systemic challenges they face, and offers solut=
ions that really work. It's time to stop merely "surviving" motherhood. Joi=
n Dr. Whitney and thousands of other working moms across the country and di=
scover the tools, systems, and support you need to parent, work, and thrive=
 in your daily life.

Critique: An effective, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'user friendly' combi=
nation of instructional guide and 'how-to' manual for stressed out moms, "D=
oing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Mea=
nt to Be" by pediatrician and mother-of-two. Dr. Whitney Casares must be co=
nsidered essential reading for all mothers (and most especially to those ne=
w to motherhood) and a core acquisition for personal, professional, communi=
ty, and college/university library collections on parenting. Impressively w=
ell written, organized and presented, it should be noted for personal readi=
ng lists that "Doing It All" is also readily available in a digital book fo=
rmat (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Whitney Casares (www.modernmommydoc.com) is a practicing, b=
oard-certified pediatrician, author, speaker, podcaster, and full-time work=
ing mom, as well as the CEO and founder of Modern Mommy Doc and The Modern =
Mamas Club App. She is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric=
s (AAP), for whom she has authored two books, The New Baby Blueprint: Carin=
g for You and Your Little One and The Working Mom Blueprint: Winning at Par=
enting Without Losing Yourself. Dr. Whitney practices pediatrics in Portlan=
d, Oregon. You can find her on Instagram @modernmommydoc

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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 (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal=
muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review