I Fed My Kid To A Bird of Prey: Poems for overwhelmed parents (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9786299812272)

Parenting books telling you to try harder? This one tells you to laugh harder, lean in closer, and find your people. Because raising tiny humans is wild enough without doing it alone.

Parents are busy and often sleep deprived, constantly juggling the demands of multiple situations and yearning for a break, some encouragement, reassurance that 'this too, will pass', while secretly wondering how everyone else seems to be holding their shizzle together...

The reality of life in the parenting trenches calls out for a book that's accessible in short, digestible chunks. Something parents can dip in and out of when they need to, something that will make you feel less alone on this journey, something that will make you laugh and feel understood.

In her illustrated debut, I Fed My Kid to a Bird of Prey: Poems for overwhelmed parents, developmental psychologist Mel Schmitz offers both solidarity, support and humour to fellow parents. Drawing from her own experiences of intermittently failing, flailing, and flourishing in the parenting trenches, she's created a collection that feels like a warm, wise and lyrical conversation with a friend who truly understands. And yes, the title comes from an actual incident involving her child and a bird of prey!

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Praise for I Fed My Kid to a Bird of Prey:

"This is THE book to help parents stop parenting on autopilot. There are no shortcuts to the realisations needed for a better relationship with oneself and one's kids. It's an inside job."
Antonio Neves, bestselling author of Stop Living on Autopilot

"Rhythmic vignettes that draw on great wisdom. There are stanzas that you will want to frame and those that will keep running through your head. The advice is invaluable throughout."
Paul Dix, behaviour expert and bestselling author of When the Adults Change, Everything Changes

"Mel's wisdom couplets never fail to bring a smile to my face and fresh insights tickling my brain. What a brilliant way to convey such essential truths, in a form instantly accessible to anyone from ages one to 100!"
John David Mann, co-author of the global bestselling classic, The Go-Giver

"I'm always so very impressed with Mel; both with her work and, just as importantly...with her heart!"
Bob Burg, co-author of the global bestselling classic, The Go-Giver

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Tell me again... why should I read this book?

Your life's a mess, your house is a zoo,
Your kids will do anything but listen to you,
That white picket fence, it was all a lie,
Sometimes you'd like to just curl up and cry!
The parenting trenches are hard as all hell,
No one ever warned you, about the hard sell
Of explaining 'balance' to a tech-addicted kid
Or managing a toddler 'bout to blow their own lid!

The pity of others that feeds on your soul
Is the OPPOSITE of your parenting goal
You've picked up this book, are you looking for cheer?
Welcome, dear parent, so glad that you're here!
'Tis true, parent life can be brutal at times,
We need self-compassion, community and whimsical rhymes!

A light-hearted look at that rollercoaster ride
That makes us at times want to just run and hide,
But at others proves to be the most wondrous thing,
Which makes us laugh till we fart and our hearts start to sing!
We're not too old to grow (some wisdom can be earned),

For our kids teach us things we might never have learned
Are you looking for these lessons, this everyday gold?
Read on if you dare... come on parent, be bold!

Author: Mel Schmitz
ISBN-10: 6299812273
ISBN-13: 9786299812272
Publisher: Clarity Publishing
Language: English
Published: 03/19/2025
Pages: 110
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.26lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.26d