Summary: Is a mother only as happy as her unhappiest child? In our experience, yeah, pretty much. And studies (referenced below) back that up– although they also suggest many parents also derive their greatest happiness from their child-raising.<br> So how do we separate out our own sense of well-being from our children’s struggles? And in a more everyday sense, how do we find happiness in the daily slog?<br> <a href="https://amzn.to/2wa796Y"></a>We talk it out with guest <a href="http://kjdellantonia.com">KJ Dell’Antonia</a>, former lead editor of The New York Times’ Motherlode blog and author of the brand-new book <a href="https://amzn.to/2wa796Y">How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute</a>. KJ says the key is finding simple, concrete solutions for what isn’t working– and letting go of some of the rest.<br> As KJ puts it:<br> <br> When we’re not putting all our energy into getting our kids to eat and study and do everything exactly the way we want them to, we can put it into a much more positive place.<br> <br> Nobody’s saying that you have to live in denial of your kids’ reality. But we think disengaging from our children’s struggles just enough so that our happiness isn’t directly pegged to theirs is the key to happier, more effective parenting.<br> Here’s links to other research and resources discussed in this episode:<br> Jordan Schrader for Alcalde: <a href="http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2011/08/parents-happiness-linked-to-their-least-happy-childs/">Parents’ Happiness Linked to Their Least Happy Child’s </a><br> Claire E. Ashton-James, Kostadin Kushlev, Elizabeth W. Dunn: <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550613479804?journalCode=sppa&">Parents Reap What They Sow: Child-Centrism and Parental Well-Being</a><br> Julie Beck for The Atlantic: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/study-parents-only-as-happy-as-their-unhappiest-child/281092/">Study: Parents Only as Happy as Their Unhappiest Child</a><br> <a href="https://www.google.com.jm/search?q=welcome+to+holland&oq=welcome+to+holland&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60l4j69i65.2757j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#">“Welcome to Holland,”</a> by Emily Perl Kingsley<br> and Shakespearean voice teacher Patsy Rodenburg’s book <a href="https://amzn.to/2OIO9Ea">The Second Circle</a>, which Amy says has influenced her more than any book she’s ever read. Read its <a href="https://books.google.com.jm/books?id=7UUwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT186&lpg=PT186&dq=patsy+rodenburg+second+circle+parenting&source=bl&ots=b-bcpeF6PG&sig=HfsyPv38Arzra3BnZddbHYfUwCw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiDkIrojPTcAhUOrlkKHeU8CTkQ6AEwGnoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=patsy%20rodenburg%20second%20circle%20parenting&f=false">excerpts on parenting here</a>.<br> We’re giving away a copy of <a href="https://amzn.to/2wa796Y">How to Be a Happier Parent</a>! To enter, just tell us something you’d like to hear discussed on the show. Here’s how to tell us:<br> <br> * leave us a comment below<br> * leave us a Speakpipe message (click the gray microphone button on the far right side of <a href="http://whatfreshhellpodcast.com">our website</a>)<br> * email us: info@whatfreshhellpodcast.com<br> <br> Special thanks to this week’s sponsors:<br> <a href="http://takecareof.com"></a><br> <br> <a href="http://takecareof.com">Care/of</a> is a monthly subscription vitamin service that delivers completely personalized vitamin and supplement packs right to your door. They’re personally tailored to your exact needs through an easy and fun online quiz. Based on your diet, health goals, and a few other guidelines, care/of tells you what vitamins and supplements you should be taking to get back on track. For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins,
