Between Interruptions: Top 5 MUST HAVE Books for New + Young Limitless Mothers

Between Interruptions:

Top 5 MUST HAVE Books for New + Young Limitless Mothers

By: Yasmin Razack

limitlesswomen.ca

I read like crazy when I was expecting my first child, all about pregnancy, how to be a ‘yummy mummy’, sleep training…blah blah blah.

Then I had the child. BAM! My whole life changed on April 24^th 8:16pm when my first daughter Kamea was born.

I was so frustrated that there was no ‘book lists’ for new mothers, so below is a list of MUST HAVE books for new and young mothers…and the list may surprise you!

5. Between Interruptions : Thirty Women Tell theTruth About Motherhood  - Editor,Cori Howard.

Wow. This book blew me away. If you are a mom to be or new mom this book will give you an in depth insight to the challenges of motherhood. Remember Monika Deol from Electric Circus (hyperlink)? She has 4 kids now, and her story of walking away from it all amazed me- in addition to what happened to her at the airport with 4 kids in tow. From high-powered fashion designers to Aboriginal women who choose to raise their kids on the water, this book shares stories about every topic imaginable to mothers and it is not censored. GREAT read.

4. The Naked Mom:  A Modern Mom’s Fearless Revelations, Savvy Advice, andSoulful Reflections - By Brooke Burke

Remember the show Wild On ? Brooke Burke was the host of a show that had my dream job: travelling all around the world to showcase the best beach, adventure and fun each destination could offer. What you don’t know is they had to shoot several episodes of her top half only because she was pregnant! And she tells you how she brought along her baby everywhere while she did the tapings in remote places all around the world….incredible! I would recommend reading this book around a year or so after you had the baby or when you feel that you have somewhat of a handle on things. Brooke is a mother of 4 and I just loved how modern and savvy she was in every aspect of her life. She gives you excellent tips on how to keep a positive and healthy identity as a woman, a partner and a professional while being a great mother. Her advice is more than savvy…its priceless!

3. The Incredible Years: A Trouble Shooting Guide for Parents with Children Aged 3 to 8- By CarolynWebster-Stratton

We don’t have to go to any classes, take any courses to become a parent. One day it just happens and when my child turned 2 I WAS LOST! I told one of my colleagues with older children what I was going through and she highly recommended this book.

Don’t know if I would be here today writing this blog if I didn’t get this book. It is that good period. Get it when your child turns 1 years old so you are prepared, the strategies WORK and they are so simple.

Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child- By John Gottman

Also read this one cover to cover, great insights and good strategies for communication. How do you talk to a 2 year old? A 3 year old? Furthermore, how do you want your children to treat others? This book allows you to understand how you can build a positive character within your children. I use these strategies DAILY.

2.The Glass Castle – By Jeanette Walls

By far one of the most gripping, heart wrenching memoirs I have ever read. It left me speechless, I read it in one day. Stayed up all night Googling the author when I was finished and debated writing her, and even going to see her speak in person. Once you become a mom, everything you read is from the lens of being a mom. After reading this heartfelt novel you will lose the guilt of not giving your child vegetables every meal or thinking you don’t ‘do enough’ as a parent. It will teach you things about parenting that you would never EVER think of if you didn’t read this book. This book was an eye-opener and not a week goes by that I not reminded of what was said in The Glass Castle.

1.    TheBook of Negroes – By Lawrence Hill

I gave birth to my second son Khyam on May 5^th and 1:01pm in the afternoon and stayed up until 4:30am that same day to finished this book. I cried out loud at several points and will never forget how this book made me feel about being a mother….the deepest fears we have as mothers come true for the amazing woman telling the story in The Book of Negroes. This book is by far the best book I have ever read, OF ALL TIME. Reading it as a mother affirmed my belief that once you make a decision to become a mother NOTHING in life takes precedence over the force within you to always to love and protect your children. I am still not over it. You will be amazed at the tenacity and resilience of the mother telling this inconceivable story.

Books that almost made the list:

Battle Hymm of the Tiger Mother – Amy Chua

Secret Daughter –Somya Kishmore

Fabulousity – Kimora Lee Simmons

Baby Wise – Gary Ezzo

What books do you recommend for new and young mothers?

 Yasmin Razack is a Personal + Professional Life Coach who works with for women in transition to unlock their limitless potential in all aspects of life. For more information please visit limitlesswomen.ca or email her at yasmin@limitlesswomen.ca.

What Every Limitless Woman Should Know About Making the BEST Career Decisions

“What? I just told you I’m resigning and you are offering me a raise?!”

What Every Limitless Woman Should Know About Making the BEST Career Decisions

By: Yasmin Razack

limitlesswomen.ca 

I was working at a non-profit organization for about a year and thought it was going nowhere. I was THE ONLY paid staff member and became very frustrated with the lack of structure, lack of direction from my  [volunteer- yes he was not paid] supervisor and most of all I just felt as though no matter how hard I worked to advance the overall mission of the organization – the resources to support my ideas were not there. I was ONE paid staff person, I constantly felt isolated, was constantly discouraged and overall felt hopeless.

So I looked elsewhere and got another job. I admit I was lukewarm about it because although it was related to my skills + experience it did not speak to my passion. What it did have was all the things the my current role lacked and it offered more money.

A lot more.

I set up a meeting to speak wit my [volunteer] supervisor at the time and in the kindest way possible told him I was leaving for another position; my heart was pumping and my body was filled with anxiety.

I wasn’t 100% sure about this.

He knew it, I could feel him sensing what I was feeling. What happened after that shocked me, he asked me what the salary was the new job was offering.

What? I nervously told him secretly embarrassed that money was the topic during my ‘resignation’ discussion with a volunteer supervisor working unpaid.

After I told him he responded with, “I will give you that, no problem. I will get approval from the Board but please don’t take that job. It’s not you”

OMG. WOW! The increase in pay was close to 12k and at 24 years old that was a lot of money to me- and still is!

He went on to tell that he was impressed with my work, initiative and what I can bring to advance the overall mission of the organization. Which honestly I needed to hear -44% of us leave our jobs because of lack of affirmation we are doing it well. 

What did I do?

The early days of Harmony Movement 

I stayed and it ended up being the best career decision I ever made. The NPO I am referring to is called Harmony Movement (www.harmony.ca), where I went on to become Program Director and manage a team of four people. It grew and is still growing and when I talk about my career, the experiences at Harmony have taught me invaluable lessons and allowed me to meet incredible people that still help me in my current role today.  The organization now has a team of 7 and delivers educational initiatives in over Canada. It still amazes me to think about where it was when I started to where it is now and I feel honoured to be a part of that growth…

When is it right time to move on?

I became somewhat obsessed with my role at Harmony, with no kids or husband I was in my twenties extremely passionate about my work. I was dreaming BIG, really BIG about the future of the organization then it happened….

I was co-facilitating a session with one of my colleagues and she just took it over; I watched her skillfully demonstrate the ability to do the work that I was doing alongside her, with a unique flavour in a way that made me think:

“Wow…she can not only do my job! She can also bring fresh ideas to Harmony”

The Limitless Woman I am referring too: the amazing Leticia Rose! 

Robin Sharma writes that leadership is “our ability to grow and develop leaders” and I knew at that moment she had what it takes to carry on the work I was so passionate about doing…I realized that in that moment I needed to move on.   BEFORE MADE A DECISION TO APPLY TO OTHER JOB OPPORTUNITIES I CONSIDERED THE FOLLWOING:

• I hit a point where I knew I needed to grow more professionally and my role at Harmony as Program Director was to grow others.
• I wanted to take my knowledge, skills and experiences to a higher level that would allow me to introduce new strategies to a different sector OUTSIDE of non-profit.
•  I felt that I had left a somewhat of a ‘legacy’ by developing sustainable initiatives that could only grow if I made a decision to leave with the right leadership- Leticia!
• I had reached the highest I could go in the organization…

Now what?

So I applied to multiple positions in addition to a PhD program at McGill University in Montreal; I was offered 3 jobs at the same time and got into the PhD program! All of them were fabulous jobs and I was SUPER excited about the PhD program…How did I make the decision and what did I choose?

I was at the point in my life where I considered the following:

• What sector did I want to work in and why?
• One offer was contract, did I want that instability even though the job was outstanding and a promise was made that it would become permanent?
• Where was I in life? I had just met the man of my dreams, we were dating for the past 10 months…did I want to go away to Montreal? Or was a family in the near horizon?
• Was a PhD necessary to advance my career goals?
• Would I be able to grow in my new role? What were the people like that I would be working with? Could they develop me professionally?
• The job I was most excited about would offer me $25,000 LESS than the other offer…how much did money matter to me at that time?

These are questions that guided my decision, and it was by far not only the most important career decision to date.

And the hardest.

Are you thinking about moving on from your current role?

Oh and one last thing: NEVER apply for a job you are not willing to take. 

Yasmin Razack is a Personal + Professional Life Coach who works with for women in transition to unlock their limitless potential in all aspects of life. For more information please visit limitlesswomen.ca or email her at yrazack@gmail.com.