East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Act natural, a cultural history of misadventures in parenting, Jennifer Traig

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Act natural

bibliography

1031341868

Jennifer Traig

a cultural history of misadventures in parenting

"From a distinctive, inimitable voice, a wickedly funny and fascinating romp through the strange, and often contradictory history of Western parenting"--, Provided by publisherWhy do we read our kids fairy tales about homicidal stepparents? Exhausted, frazzled, and at sea after the birth of her two children, Traig began to interrogate the traditional parenting advice she'd been conditioned to accept at face value. The result is a deft-- and hilarious-- dissection of the history of Western parenting, moving from ancient Rome to Puritan New England to the Dr. Spock craze of mid-century America. Have our techniques actually evolved into something better? Or are we still just scrambling in the dark? -- adapted from jacket"Why do we read our kids fairy tales about homicidal stepparents? How did helicopter parenting develop if it used to be perfectly socially acceptable to abandon your children? Why do we encourage our babies to crawl if crawling won't help them learn to walk? These are just some of the questions that came to Jennifer Traig when--exhausted, frazzled, and at sea after the birth of her two children--she began to interrogate the traditional parenting advice she'd been conditioned to accept at face value. The result is Act Natural, hilarious and deft dissection of the history of Western parenting, written with the signature biting wit and deep insights Traig has become known for. Moving from ancient Rome to Puritan New England to the Dr. Spock craze of mid-century America, Traig cheerfully explores historic and present-day parenting techniques ranging from the misguided, to the nonsensical, to the truly horrifying. Be it childbirth, breastfeeding, or the ways in which we teach children how to sleep, walk, eat, and talk, she leaves no stone unturned in her quest for answers: Have our techniques actually evolved into something better? Or are we still just scrambling in the dark?"--Dust jacket

Introduction: Act natural -- Look busy: on outsourcing -- The second coming: on childbirth -- You're doing it wrong: advice manuals through the ages -- Nasty, brutish, and short: the first three years -- Tooth and nail: feeding and fighting -- All the world's a stage: acting your age -- I know you are but what am I?: sibling conflict -- Kids today: on discipline -- Use your words: children's books -- Lullaby and good night: sleep -- Afterword: Second nature