Book Review: Parenting through the Eyes of Lollipops
A Book By Jacqueline Pirtle
Jacqueline Pirtle, Author of 365 Days of Happiness
The Author
I don’t know Jacqueline Pirtle personally. But after reading her first book, 365 Days of Happiness book, I felt like I got to know a happy, inspiring, genuine person. You can find out more about her on her website. www.freakyhealer.com.
In her recent book, she starts off with an introduction of herself. She references her role as a mom to both young-adult humans and furry ones as “Pirtle Kids University.”
She writes about herself with a sense of awe and whimsy and clearly states that her intentions in writing the book are to help other parents shift their perspective and see the whole parenting thing as soul lessons in love and expansion.
The Book
Parenting through the Eyes of Lollipops by Jacqueline Pirtle
This book isn’t really a parenting book. I mean it is, but it isn’t. It is really a perspective changer. A way to change your lenses about yourself and and the roles you and your child play with each other.
In the third chapter she explains the title of the book, Parenting through the Eyes of Lollipops, was titled this way as a way to shift this view point into playfulness. You really could change the title to anything you find pure joy out of thinking about. She talks about the fact that everything is energy and she was harnessing the playful, child-like, light and fun nature of a lollipop to help bring that energy into the book and your perceptions. It works too!
This book is lined up to be a super, quick easy read. Although with my crazy schedule and all the books on my list, it did take me a bit to read it. But each chapter is short, outlined and easy to get through and covers a whole range of topics. It introduces three pillars to use as a framework to thinking about each topic. You can pick it up at any time and not forget where you left off. It could even be read but opening to any chapter and reading straight from there.
I know as parents you always want to do your best and really this book is relevant for any stage of parenting a child, but reading it earlier in your parenting journey would be beneficial. I imagine that if you are new to energy work and the concept of soul contracts, you might want to read it more than once to let it synch in that we are all here to expand each other.
This book opens new doors for you to dive into parenthood with fresh zest, plenty of fun, and infinite love for yourself and for your children by teaching you these 3 important pillars to better parenting:
The Harmonious Dance
It Is Never The Child
The Love Cycle of Parenthood
My Take
This book would make a great gift for a new, open-minded parent. I could definitely find myself giving this as a gift at a baby shower or even suggesting it to a friend who is struggling with parenting. It is playful and gives a much needed reframe on the child-parent relationship and approach to parenting.
This book does require that you to shift your focus from being the one in charge to the idea that you and your child are equal in the lessons you have for each other. It is such an easy read and light-hearted, so it is and enjoyable read, if you let it be.
I liked the little notes that she wrote in as if the child was talking. It breaks up the flow and is really sweet to think of your child saying to you these things.
Example: “You teach me everything in this physical world right - eating, smiling, hearing and making pleasant noises - and fill me with feelings of safety, being cared for and being loved. In return, I am initiating and growing in you a new love - you have never loved this purely, this deeply, and this beautifully before.” ~ Your Child
My Favorite Parts
“This book is playful and gives a much needed reframe on the child-parent relationship and approach to parenting.
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Some of this book lit me up a bit. I have teenagers and she talks about giving your teenagers money as a way of connecting, because money is an energy they like. I get what she is saying, but not exactly how I would approach it. Ha!
But there were some awesome reminders in this book. As an energy healer myself I know many of these things, but still need to be reminded to refocus.
For example I could remember that neither the parent or the child is bigger or better. And when you feel like your child isn’t respecting you, shifting into disrespecting them back does nothing for anyone and being patient and loving is still what is being asked for at that moment.
In her chapter about teenagers (which I can really relate to now) she reminds us that our children don’t mean to take things out on us, but when they do, they are hurting inside and don’t know how to express it. In this chapter, she reminds us to connect well with ourselves and resource ourselves before trying to dive into something with our children who might be lighting us up at the moment.
In the chapter titled Go to Bed, Shower, Brush Your Teeth, she offers a gentle suggestion to have expectations of the child, but also remember that they have their own little agendas and desires going on, She recommends first taking responsibility for your own feelings before asserting your will onto them.
In the chapter title The Beauty of only Caring About Themselves, she normalizes self-absorbed behavior and reframes it, as I often to do my clients, as a way to imagine how great the world would be if everyone put themselves first, in a whole, mindful way. She reminds us that being self-absorbed and taking exceptional care of themselves is exactly what we want for our children. Resisting that behavior can only cause suffering for us both.
I hope you found this review helpful and you are finding yourself connected to your inner wisdom and authentic self.
