In the introduction, this book touts itself as being different from other parenting books because it doesn’t try to “convince you that something is wrong with your child’s behavior” and instead views parenting struggles as problems that can be solved with some self-awareness and coping strategies on the part of the parent. For what it’s worth, that’s a pretty accurate summary and certainly a useful perspective, especially for parents who already know that they don’t want to emulate their own parents’ parenting style. But a lot of the information and tips in this book are redundant, not to mention easier-said-than-done. If you have time on your hands, this book is worth reading, but otherwise, save yourself some time while still reaping the benefits by understanding the basic concept that your parenting “triggers” are influenced by your childhood and that it will benefit your children if you can learn to work through those triggers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This is such a useful lens to take on preparing for parenthood and really spoke to me as someone who has been working on myself for years due to a difficult parental relationship.

As someone who did not have the best role models for parents growing up, I appreciate any book that is aimed toward ensuring better parenting for the generations to come. I, myself, want to be better for my daughter.

"Parent Yourself First" by Bryana Kappadakunnel offers a refreshing and insightful approach to parenting by encouraging self-reflection and inner healing for parents. Through relatable examples and practical exercises, Kappadakunnel emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and emotional awareness in creating a nurturing environment for children. While some sections feel repetitive, the overall message is empowering, making it a valuable resource for parents who want to break generational cycles and foster both their own growth and their children's. A solid 4-star read for those open to introspection and mindful parenting.

***Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for gifting me an eARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion

Wonderful book for parents (or caregivers) of small children, or future parents-to-be!

“ Many of us didn’t have a perfect childhood. But it’s never too late (or too early!) to transform into the parent you were always meant to be—grounded, present, intentional, compassionate, and confident. In Parent Yourself First, licensed marriage and family therapist Bryana Kappadakunnel argues that the secret to successful parenting is to UN-learn the wounded patterns you grew up with and create new ways to connect with your child. Parenting from a place of connection may feel unlike anything you experienced as a child or what you thought parenting was meant to be. But the results can be remarkable—and transformative.” — Publisher

I believe that this book is going to be so helpful for so many parents. It is difficult to find a book dedicated to how our history impacts our parenting. You might find snippets here and there, but not a dedicated book. It's also hard to find a book that can be educational. understanding and helpful versus a book that leads parents to feel more shame about their behavior or give them expectations of parenting that is just too high. Bryana Kappadakunnel provides how our history can have an impact, shares cases that are helpful and gives helpful tools with acronyms that can be remembered. Well written and well informed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A parenting book that definitely delivers on its promise -- which is that so often we struggle with parenting because we are carrying baggage from our own childhoods and passing it on to our children. The author encourages parents to remember and reflect on their own childhoods and their less than perfect upbringings to provide a clue as to why we have the relationship we have with our own children. It's very enlightening and thought provoking. The author provides lots of gentle guidance and is very non judgmental. She uses lots of stories and examples from the families she has counseled. I think that most parents would welcome and benefit from this book.

Really enjoyed this one as a new parent in the process of adopting. I enjoyed the prompts and the exercises throughout. I enjoyed that it made me think about the areas that I need to work on as I continue this ever evolving thing called parenthood.

WARNING
-This book might be hard to read.
-This book might make you cry.
-This book isn't an "easy solution" to fix all parenting problems.

HOWEVER
-This book will help you identify behaviors of your child's that are triggering to you and offer methods to break the cycle of any negative reactions you have.
-This book will give you insight on your relationship with your parents and how their parenting style affected your parenting style.
-This book will help you figure out how to co-parent more efficiently.
-This book will provide strategies to help you through tough interactions with your child.
-This book will help you accept accountability for your role in your child's behavior, thus paving a path for mutual growth.
-This book may help you better understand yourself.
-This book will help you learn and grow not only as a parent but also as a person.
-This book may help you heal.

Parent Yourself First is a MUST read for all parents. I would also recommend this book to grandparents, teachers, and family therapists because I think it would be helpful to all who interact with kids.

The strategies and insights that Bryana Kappadakunnel lays out in this book are completely eye-opening and life changing. Some of the concepts I could see before reading but couldn't verbalize or quite put my finger on, and some were completely new to me. All were extremely helpful. The format that this book is laid out in makes the information easy to understand and not overwhelming.

Thank you, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an advanced copy of Parent Yourself First in exchange for an honest review. Truly, I can't say enough good this about this book.

Parent Yourself First is a very helpful guide that is able to succinctly capture the how and why parenting is improved when you direct your attention and efforts into self instead of insisting your children change to satisfy you. The aim of this book is to parent from a place of connection as an alternative to parenting from a place of control. When I started therapy, my aim was to work on my mental health and well being, but I did not expect how that journey might impact my parenting. It’s always tricky for me to articulate why it had such an impact, but Bryana is able to pull back the curtain in this book and describe how doing the work on yourself can have a lasting and profound impact for the better on your children because truly, as humans, we thrive in connection. Children, though developmentally younger, are no different. Connection is far more powerful in the long run than control.

If you are a cycle breaker and are looking to parent the next generation better, this is a great book to add to your library of resources.

I’d like to thank Penguin Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly, I had misread the subtitle on this one and thought that it was just about reparenting/inner child work, not about actual parenting as well. However, there is a ton of good info in here, and although I am not a parent I can say that I wish my own parents could have read this book!

Wow, this one hit home. Truly amazing and deep moments that may feel tough, but help you heal your inner child and grow to be the best you (and best parent) you can be. I love the prompts and exercises throughout each section. I also truly enjoyed how the author keeps it real with you, no sugarcoating it. She also brings he own real like experiences (as well as some of her patients with fake names into it). This truly helped me open my eyes to things I wasn't aware of, but also heal parts of me I knew needed healing but didn't know how to heal them. I plan to do this again and pick it up anytime I need a refresh to continue healing my inner child. This was truly thought-provoking and life changing. I didn't expect it to hit me as hard as it did, I'm so thankful I got to read this book.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam to read/review. All of the statements are my true opinions after fully reading this book and doing the exercises throughout the book.

I never read any book to become a parent because it comes immediately after I have kids. But, being a parent needs a lot of effort and sometimes, I cannot handle it well. This book from Bryana, Parent Yourself First, really helpful for me and you to become a good parent by parenting yourself first.