Dojo Wisdom for Mothers: 100 Simple Ways to Become a Calmer, Happier, More Loving Parent

As with her other Dojo books (Dojo Wisdom for Writers, etc.), Lawler takes her experiences as a black belt instructor in Tae Kwon Do and applies it to a specific area of life, distilling her wisdom into 100 pithy lessons, each followed by a short ""exercise"" that offers tips on how to put the lesson to use in real life. Some lessons, like ""The Way is different for every mother"" and ""Understand the nature of yin-yang,"" have a direct connection to martial arts, while others, like ""Teach appreciation in your family"" or ""Pick your battles wisely,"" seem to stem more from simple common sense. Regardless, Lawler's assured, straightforward writing helps each lesson go down smoothly, as do classy quotes from an array of celebrities and academics. Lawler's unique perspective as the mother of a special need's child also distinguishes this book from the pack of new mother gift books. Lawler candidly shares the conflicts and crises she experienced when she learned her daughter Jessica was born with tuberous sclerosis, a rare condition that rendered her brain damaged and made her constantly ill. Jessica's condition forced Lawler to rethink many of her goals for child rearing, and the lessons she has learned and recorded in this book will help all parents realize that their children are worthwhile no matter how they defy expectations.