How Not to F*** Them Up

Areyouconfusedbyparentingadvicefromexpertswhocontradicteachother?Concernedaboutthepossibleeffectsofbeingaworkingmother?Terrifiedofturningintoyourownparents?Parentstodayareoverwhelmedwithelaborateadviceonhowtoraisebabies.InHowNottoF***ThemUpleadingchildpsychologistOliverJamesarguesthatit'snotourchildrenthatmustbetrained...it'sus.Meticulouslyresearched,inspiringandyetprovocative,HowNottoF***ThemUpraisesimportantquestionsaboutthewayinwhichwebringupourchildren:dowe,asasociety,provideenoughsupportforparents;howhastheroleofthefatherchangedinrecentyears;and,canaworkingmumeverreconcilehercareerwithherfamilylife?Drawingonextensiveinterviews,Jamesidentifiesthreebasictypesofmum:theHugger,theOrganiserandtheFleximum.Outliningthebenefitsandpitfallsofeach,Jamesofferssimplestrategiestoreconcileparents'personalambitionanddesireforacareerwiththeneedsofthefamilyandmaintainingawork/lifebalance.Bychallengingouringrainedandoftenflawedbeliefs,Jamesshowsushowourownchildhoodexperiencescanimpactonourperceptionof'thefamily',andhowultimatelywecanprovidethehappy,andstable,environmentthatallbabiesandtoddlersneed,regardlessofourownupbringing.