Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi: Cloth Diapers, Cosleeping, and My (Sometimes Successful) Quest for Conscious Parenting

There are tons and tons of parenting books out there written for women and by women, but not so many good ones written by men. And very few of those approach it from an “alternative” lifestyle. Brian Leaf’s Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi takes a great step toward remedying that imbalance. Leaf, a longtime yoga practitioner, tried from the very beginning to apply a sense of mindfulness to being a parent. This book chronicles his experiences. From cloth diapers to cosleeping, from homebirth to circumcision, Leaf tackles a variety of issues that are regular topics of conversation among many parents, but which can sometimes be difficult to discuss with those who aren’t of a similar mindset. Leaf discusses his quest to find a parenting “style” that embodies his ideals of conscious parenting, and outlines the principles of a number of very good parenting books. (Consequently, I have recently added a number of books to my reading list!) Interspersed between “bigger” issues are a bunch of everyday stories from his life as a parent. Every section is told with a sense of humor, and Leaf talks about his reasons for adopting certain practices without judgment for those who have taken a different route. This book is HIGHLY recommended for parents of all stripes!