Lisa Newey
Whilst within the maelstrom that is parenting small children up until school age, many parents feel like they can barely put their head above water to take a breath before becoming submerged again in a never-ending nightmare of sleep deprivation, toddler tantrums and a complete lack of time for anything not involving children. Author Camille Blyth, a mother who has survived the journey, seeks to give some perspective to the experience she refers to as The Wilderness Years with a range of humourous and practical advice to fellow parents. With its focus on the parent rather than the child, The Wilderness Years is a refreshingly different take on the parenting self-help manual.
With a slightly Zen slant, Blyth likens a family unit of parents and small children to a “family beast”, which traverses the journey from babyhood to school, and steadfastly navigates the obstacles along the way. The Beast, like any animal, requires guidance, food, care and nurture, and Blyth reminds parents of the need to preserve their sanity by taking the time to look after themselves, and their relationships. The significance of the “tribe”, including family, friends and fellow parents, is also highlighted as a good source of advice and friendship during the expedition of parenthood.
Touching on mother’s intuition versus the influence of the media and marketing, and the numerous sources of advice that bombard every parent, Blyth uses gentle humour to show that when it comes down to it, no one has all the answers to being a good parent, and that many answers can only come from within. By being open during her own experience, with all its joys and trials, Blyth has distilled the wise knowledge that to embrace The Wilderness Years will create memories that make even the worst moments seem like something to be celebrated.
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