Happy Mother's Day!

There are a lot of events to honor in May! International Day of the Midwife was May 5th and Mother's Day is rapidly approaching on May 9th. May is also International Doula Month and Pregnancy Awareness Month. And, Birth Activist is having a Mother's Day blog carnival.

So, I found it fitting this week to share a book review about a nurturing little book for mothers:

Book Review: 25 Ways to Joy & Inner Peace for Mothers
By Danette Watson & Stephanie Corkhill Hyles
Watson & Corkhill Hyles, 2006
ISBN 0646-46588-0
84 page hardcover book & 60 minute CD set, $24.95
http://www.awakenyourbirthpower.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

Consisting of a book and CD, 25 Ways to Joy & Inner Peace for Mothers contains 25 short breathing meditations with accompanying whimsical, colorful drawings. The meditations are on topics such as “surround yourself with mother energy,” “embrace change,” “feel reverence,” and “trust the rhythm of your baby.”

The final third of the book contains breathing tips, tips for using the meditations in life, and then “10 Healing Practices for Mothers” that are a very nice addition. This segment is followed by “Questions for Inner Exploration” that include journaling questions and prompts based on each of the meditations.

It is not clear at first glance, but 25 Ways is designed for mothers of newborns and infants, not mothers of older children (though, of course, most of the meditations could be adapted to apply to older children). The addition of “new” to the title would have been a useful clarifier.

Inspiring, empowering, and renewing, 25 Ways to Joy & Inner Peace for Mothers is a lovely and nurturing little manual that would make a nice blessingway gift for a pregnant or a congratulations gift for a special new mother.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.
Review originally published in the CAPPA Quarterly, April 2010.