Swings and Roundabouts

Agnes Bamford, as a working mother of three children, can relate to the challenges and roller-coaster of emotions faced by most parents. Agnes has experienced the difference coaching can make for parents and families and she believes strongly in empowering parents to generate the relationship with their children that they dream of having. Irvine Gersch is a professor of educational and child psychology at the University of East London. Following his first degree in psychology, he went on to qualify as a teacher and educational psychologist, and complete a PhD on child behaviour and school leadership. Anna Golawski is a dedicated mum to two young children and successfully manages to run her own coaching business. After spending many years in the corporate world she totally understands the tears and triumphs that go hand-in-hand with being a working parent.

• Disclaimer , Copyright Permissions , Series Editor’s Foreword , Foreword , Introduction , Choosing to have a baby or not , Pregnancy , Birth , The first year of your child’s life , Next steps , Where to Find Help , Useful Contacts and Websites

'This is a great workbook that presents a symbiosis of coaching and cognitive behavioural approaches in a simple and practical format. A wide range of issues are covered that we, as parents, don't often get time to think about, yet are fundamentally important in gaining the balance needed to raise our children well, as well as in thinking about our own life balance, goals, and ambitions. Allowing ourselves to reflect, plan, communicate, and understand are fundamental skills that will make parenthood manageable. This book provides an opportunity to navigate that swing park so we get fewer bruised knees along our parenting journey. Enjoy!'- Marc James, parenting trainer, London'In this thoughtful and practical workbook, Anna Golawski, Agnes Bamford, and Irvine Gersch provide a refreshing approach to parenting books, which facilitates the reader to go on a journey of self-reflection. It combines relevant research, workbook exercises, and inspiring quotations in a way that seeks to empower parents to find a solution. By embracing the importance of parents' self-reflection, the authors have the power to ignite parents' ability to physically and emotionally prepare, therefore promoting their resilience skills.'- Dr Becky Essex, educational and child psychologist working for Somerset County Council'In Swings and Roundabouts Anna Golawski, Agnes Bamford, and Professor Irvine Gersch will help you unpack the emotional and practical ups and downs of parenting and clarify your own vision and plans. They do this with inclusivity, compassion, a good dose of reality, and humour (I love the "Parent Job Description" and the "I Was a Parent" poem). In my experience of parenting and working with people balancing parenthood with careers in City firms and multinationals, we all need a combination of planning, fresh insights, humour, and then flexibility. So do follow the authors' advice about writing it all down and then take forward the bits that fit, one phase at a time.'- Jennifer Liston-Smith, Director, Head of Coaching and Consultancy, My Family Care'I am delighted to recommend this book. It is a treasure of inspiration and meaningful challenges for parents at all stages. Read it, use it, and join the millions of other parents who are facing the unique historical challenge of reinventing child rearing, rooted in their own personalities, values, and boundaries. No method can fix our lives with children but, with the right amount of awareness of yourself, you will be ready for building wholesome relationships with your children.'- Jesper Juul, family therapist, former CEO of the Kempler Institute of Scandinavia, and author of Your Competent Child