Hellobee

With the subzero temperatures, it’s great to have a few good books to read. I’ve been on an autobiography kick lately, and I seem to find some interesting parent perspectives in each one. Here are a few books I enjoyed about life choices and parenting.

Kickflip Boys: A Memoir of Freedom, Rebellion, and the Chaos of Fatherhood by Neal Thompson. The author shares his and his wife’s experience raising their two sons. It almost serves as a cautionary tale between the thin line of encouraging independence in your kids and permissive parenting. It follows their boys from a young age entering into the skateboard culture, and their later troubles with the law, getting kicked out of school, and their drug use. The dad’s perspective is relatable because he’s an engaged, loving, supportive parent, and only later questions how their parenting choices may have enabled their boys’ behavior. He also delves into how the brothers’ personality differences played a role in how they engaged in the skate culture.

The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy – The author recounts her experience as a pregnant writer, travelling the world when she gives birth prematurely in Mongolia, and her baby dies. She shares her heart-breaking perspective on the guilt women feel when you lose a pregnancy or a child, and how her life choices to that point affected her fertility. She shares and revisits the quote from the writer Maureen Down “everybody doesn’t get everything,” as a theme in her book. The author does engage in some truly self-damaging behavior, which she owns up to. If you can get past some of her terrible behavior, it’s an interesting read.

Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly – This was written by the NASA astronaut who spent a year in space, but he also recounts his experience with his parent’s domestic violence, alcohol abuse, and the stable factors in his life. He shares how he overcame his ADHD and terrible student track record to become an astronaut.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi –  This is a beautifully written book about a neurosurgeon facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. Part of his story is the decision he and his wife made to have a baby knowing he was dying. The letter to his baby is moving. But it was how he choose to spend his remaining time that was insightful. He was in his mid-thirties when he became sick, and his perspective on achieving his life goals shifts as he confronts his limited energy and declining health.

I’m eager to turn my attention back to fiction now. I’ve heard great reviews and looking forward to reading The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore and Artemis by Andy Weir. But I do love to hear about different parenting experiences through autobiographies and non – fiction titles.