Book Review by Dr. Angela Hunt ND
BOOK: The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Shefali Tsabary
I was told about this book, ‘The Conscious Parent’ by Shefali Tsabary, a while ago and it sat in my “To Be Read” pile for a couple of years. It wasn’t until I heard her interview on Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations podcast that I finally picked it up. I am happy I did. The book dives into a deep philosophical conversation about parenting and raising children unlike any other book I have read. She doesn’t dive into the science of children behavior and development but takes a different, more spiritual, approach. You won’t find the classic “how tos” that saturate most parenting books but you will find ideas about your mindset as a parent. I found this refreshing and inspiring. It provoked some thoughtful conversations between my partner and I about our beliefs around parenting our young girls.
For what the book lacks in practical tips it makes up for in deep understanding. Like so many other books on consciousness, it is strong in theory but not ideal for the pragmatic thinker. Abstract terms and intangible ideas are frequently discussed which may leave the reader asking “Okay, but how do I do this?”. It reminded me of some of Eckart Tolle’s work (The Power of Now), which is heavy on theory but not easy to directly apply. Although, if the reader is open to this way of thinking, then the book can be quite powerful. I imagine myself reading it again when I feel I am being a less mindful parent.
Who would like this book?
This book is perfect for those parents already on the path of mindfulness and conscious thinking. If you have already read the work of other mindfulness thinkers then you will feel right at home with this book. It will have you thinking about your own believes towards parenting and help you bring your mindfulness practices into your interactions with your children.
Who may want to skip it?
Topics such as consciousness, mindfulness, and presence are throughout this book. If the reader has never encountered these terms before it could be quite overwhelming to digest and follow along. If a parent is looking for a step-by-step how-to manual, this is not it. That said, I have yet to find a truly step-by-step parenting manual. If you know of one, can you let me borrow it?
To sum up.
‘The Conscious Parent’ was an insightful read that really got me thinking. The lessons throughout the book are powerful and I am sure I will be reading it again in the future.
