Long Live the Pumpkin Queen

This is my first read by Ms. Ernshaw. 

The writing and plot are solid. Plenty of detail and references to The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was why I picked this book up as I'm a fan of the film. 

New worlds to explore. Perils to face. A villain to triumph over. 

All the elements were there, but I wasn't engaged, and the story fell flat. I would surmise this was due to the slow pacing. 

Perhaps one of her other stories would be more to my liking. 

AMAZON

Jack and Sally are "truly meant to be" ... or are they?

Sally Skellington is the official, newly-minted Pumpkin Queen after a whirlwind courtship with her true love, Jack, who Sally adores with every inch of her fabric seams-- if only she could say the same for her new role as Queen of Halloween Town. Cast into the spotlight and tasked with all sorts of queenly duties, Sally can't help but wonder if all she's done is trade her captivity under Dr. Finkelstein for a different cage. But when Sally and Zero accidentally uncover a long-hidden doorway to an ancient realm called Dream Town, she'll unknowingly set into motion a chain of sinister events that put her future as Pumpkin Queen, and the future of Halloween Town itself, into jeopardy. Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she's learned to call home, or will her future turn into her worst... well, nightmare?

ADHD 2.0

Dr. Halowell and Dr. Ratey know what they're talking about in this book about ADHD. 

More importantly, they make it clear what ADHD is and what it's not. How it does have its downsides and is also a superpower once its channeled. And they show you ways to harness this superpower to achieve your potential. 

This factual and accessible explanation of ADHD helped me understand better those around me who manage this challenge and how I can support them. 

It's a short succinct read that cuts through the noise of this misrepresented diagnosis and brings a positive spin to our perception of ADHD. 

A must read for those with ADHD and those who interact with those with it. 

AMAZON

Now, most people have heard of ADHD and know someone who may have it. But lost in the discussion of both childhood and adult diagnosis of ADHD is the potential upside: Many hugely successful entrepreneurs and highly creative people attribute their achievements to ADHD. Also unknown to most are the recent research developments, including innovations that give a clearer understanding of the ADHD brain in action. In ADHD 2.0, Drs. Hallowell and Ratey, both of whom have this “variable attention trait,” draw on the latest science to provide both parents and adults with ADHD a plan for minimizing the downside and maximizing the benefits of ADHD at any age. They offer an arsenal of new strategies and lifestyle hacks for thriving with ADHD, including

• Find the right kind of difficult. Use these behavior assessments to discover the work, activity, or creative outlet best suited to an individual’s unique strengths.
• Reimagine environment. What specific elements to look for—at home, at school, or in the workplace—to enhance the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit inherent in the ADHD mind.
• Embrace innate neurological tendencies. Take advantage of new findings about the brain’s default mode network and cerebellum, which confer major benefits for people with ADHD.
• Tap into the healing power of connection. Tips for establishing and maintaining positive connection “the other Vitamind C” and the best antidote to the negativity that plagues so many people with ADHD.
• Consider medication. Gets the facts about the underlying chemistry, side effects, and proven benefits of all the pharmaceutical options.

As inspiring as it is practical, ADHD 2.0 will help you tap into the power of this mercurial condition and find the key that unlocks potential.

How to Raise an Adult

Ms. Lythcott-Haims has a lot to say on the subject of parenting. 

And you should be open-minded about her approach, because she gives a lot of good advice. 

While my children are nearly past most of the milestones she speaks to, I still found solid wisdom in her words that were immediately applicable. 

And I was reassured that some of the parenting choices I made were inline with her recommendations, particularly regarding college, and keeping the stress of high school to a minimum. Yes, I've actually told my children to take the B sometimes, because it instantly lowered their stress and often times the release of pressure allowed them to excel. We chose to limit clubs and activities to give our kids downtime, friend time, and family time. Nor did I worry over how other parents would perceive my choices. These are my kids, not theirs. Everyone parents differently. 

Teaching our kids life skills beyond how to get grades to get into college is imperative, and often overlooked by today's parents. 

Ms. L-H puts the bigger picture in perspective while being grounded, and has statistics to back up her recommendations. 

Definitely worth the read, preferably before your kids are in high school. 

AMAZON

In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.

Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of twentysomethings-and of special value to parents of teens-this book is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence.

The Four Agreements

Don Miguel Ruiz wrote The Four Agreements, and a friend shared that I would benefit from reading this book. 

I grabbed an audiobook that turned out to be a summary of the original book and only took an hour to listen to. It hit the main highlights in clear and concise languaget so I could understand the material without doing the deep dive the original goes through. 

The text was all Mr. Ruiz's work, only shortened. 

I found the concept of the four agreements an interesting point of view that crosses cultures and unites all as a global people. The trick is to see how these shape my own world view and if I want to reshape it with Mr. Ruiz's added insight. 

The link below is to the original full-length work. 

AMAZON

In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.

The Self-Driven Child

I wish I'd had this book when my children were younger. I would've changed so much of the way I parented. 

But even if your kids are older, there are still plenty of good takeaways you can implement to help them turn into successful, well-adjusted adults. 

If I could only recommend one parenting book, it would be this one. 

AMAZON
A few years ago, Bill Stixrud and Ned Johnson started noticing the same problem from different angles: Even high-performing kids were coming to them acutely stressed and lacking motivation. Many complained they had no control over their lives. Some stumbled in high school or hit college and unraveled. Bill is a clinical neuropsychologist who helps kids gripped by anxiety or struggling to learn. Ned is a motivational coach who runs an elite tutoring service. Together they discovered that the best antidote to stress is to give kids more of a sense of control over their lives. But this doesn't mean giving up your authority as a parent. In this groundbreaking book they reveal how you can actively help your child to sculpt a brain that is resilient, and ready to take on new challenges.

The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies drawn from the thousands of kids and teens Bill and Ned have helped over the years to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success. As parents, we can only drive our kids so far. At some point, they will have to take the wheel and map out their own path. But there is a lot you can do before then to help them tackle the road ahead with resilience and imagination.