Calm the H*ck Down: How to Let Go and Lighten Up About Parenting

In this amusing work, Dale (It’s Not Fair), a podcaster and mother of three, urges fellow parents to lighten up, warns against “competitive parenting,” and recommends setting realistic goals. For instance, rather than spending precious time on homemade lunches, Dale lets her kids purchase their meal at school: “What happens with the food they buy is between them, their mouths, and the garbage can.” Likewise, parents can get carried away with kids’ craft projects, but Dale suggests “cheating,” such as purchasing a prefab gingerbread house kit (her go-to during the Christmas season). For birthday parties, Dale’s theme is “zero clean-up,” which, depending on a child’s age, could mean a movie or a trip to a fast food restaurant, rather than an elaborate, parent-executed celebration at home. Though Dale is funny and lighthearted, she offers valuable tips on talking to kids about sex, inspiring them to do chores, and encouraging them to read (she’s not above bribery) among other subjects. Dale’s humorous outlook is a refreshing change from the more somber parenting books out there. Laughter is important in Dale’s family, and readers of her entertaining guide will find it’s contagious, too. Agent: Kathryn Helmers, Creative Trust. (Dec.)