3. Recommended Reading

Let Them by Mel Robbins - This is a splendid read for those of you who think you can control others - through love - or whenever you think you know what is BEST for someone else. A great reminder to allow life…to flow.

Staring at the Sun (overcoming the dread of death) by Irvin D. Yalom - At the core of 99.9% of all anxiety is the fear of death.

Development Through the Lifespan (7th Edition) by Laura E. Berk - This is an academic book and such a great resource to have on hand for parents of newborns, toddlers, teenagers, and elderly parents. I refer to this book more often than I ever thought I would. It is a true gem - a wealth of information. Timelines are provided for ‘around the time’ your child should be meeting milestones; of course, every child does not ‘hit’ every marker but it does provide parents with good indicators.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Redifines our understanding of trauma and how our body ‘holds’ it and how bodies are transformed by trauma - you will come away with a good understanding of how trauma changes brain processes. ‘Only by confronting and accepting the past…can we learn to live in the present.’ NOTE: There is controversy surrounding a former war veteran who commits many atrocities due to the loss of his entire platoon, however, hurt we are - we are still accountable for our actions and many readers do not care for the outcome of this particular veteran’s present life.