Winging It!: Parenting in the Middle of Life! - Hardcover

PRAISE FROM MUMSNET MUMS 'I wish this book had been released prior to me having my little one! A genuine and heartfelt pregnancy and parenting guide full of useful information and insights into how others have coped with such a life changing event. A great gift for soon to be mums and dads.' 'Fabulous book, totally loved it - very detailed about motherhood and funny too.' 'Loved it. A really amusing and detailed account of pregnancy and first year with a baby with a lot of 'that happened to me' moments. It flowed really well in a logical order with chapters dedicated to different aspects of parenthood. The anecdotal stories by the author and contributors felt real and reassuring. Some laugh out loud moments too. Got me through a few weeks of night feeds, very enjoyable.' 'So many hints and tips - a real life bible for any mother-to-be!' 'I laughed out loud, shed some tears, and nodded my head along in agreement throughout. Alex may be a celebrity, but it just goes to show parenting puts us all on a level playing field!' 'One of the most relatable books I have ever read when it comes to parenting, it's an honest account from start to finish. It has credible facts as well as handy lists to help you through the minefield of conception, pregnancy, labour and the early years. It's an easy read and it is hard to put down once you start reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it's something I could and would read more than once.' 'Alex is brilliantly honest in her quest to capture all the wonders and trials of pregnancy and being a new mum. Found myself nodding and smiling all the way through. I wish I had been given this book - answers a lot of questions and gets into the detail that other books gloss over. Joy to read, even for those mums who have already been there.' 'I liked how honest it was, I've not seen a book like it so it's unique!' 'I started reading with trepidation, hoping it would not be patronising or sickly. However, it gave a valuable insight into the authors' personal views and experiences without judgement or expectation that other parents must feel the same way. I did like the inserts showing comments from contributors. I felt that Alex and her husband were brave to 'bare all' and that this was done in a graceful way despite some parts being realistically gory. I would love Alex to write another book in the future; she really has a flair for writing in a kind of intimate-ish matey way that is very endearing.' 'I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. As a first time mum, I find that the book is brutally honest and does not sugar-coat advice as many parenting books do. In particular you imagine celebrities to have an easy time of it when it comes to children but Alex proves otherwise by describing all the struggles she has faced and how celebrities are human beings and relatable to the average person. Her style of writing is fantastic as it is light-hearted and keeps you wanting to read more whilst providing genuine practical advice. I wish there were more books out there in this particular style instead of just being countless books with lots of generic information. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, in particular first time mums like myself and especially those who like myself have been through fertility treatment.' 'I really enjoyed reading about her experiences. She was very candid and open about her situation. There was a lot of good tips and advice and it was written in a very logical format. I felt like I was listening to a friend. I love her humour and her personality really shone through.' -- . 'Winging it! is exactly the kind of book I wish had been available to me as a clueless first time Mum. Alex may have been superwoman to have produced it, but her account of pregnancy and early motherhood (interspersed with anecdotes and advice from other parents and experts) is refreshingly human compared to many pastel-tinted 'celebrity' baby memoirs.' -- Julia Llewllyn Smith, You magazine, Mail on Sunday

Real life parents talk real life parenting! Joining the parenting club in our thirties and beyond means that we are spinning an extraordinary amount of plates, often including a career at its peak. Most of us co-parent or fly solo in the true sense of the word, relying solely on our partners and/or friends when more often than not, extended family are too far away to help on a regular basis. Our parents could look to their parents for the usual guidance and extra support, but our situation is new, modern and unique. We are winging it! This book isn't a guide or a parenting manual - it's more of a support group for parents who are having their children in their thirties and forties to get together, to celebrate, share experiences, laugh and find joy in what is still the biggest life changing experience any of us will ever go through. It's the book I looked for when I was pregnant, that spoke to me as a working parent and that I couldn't find so I've had a go at writing one myself. Featuring: - Expert advice from Zita West, Clemmie Hooper, Dr Sarah Jarvis, Mother Pukka, Zoe Williams, Selfish Mother and more. - Hilarious and heart-warming anecdotes plus tips and tricks from parents winging it too. We're re-writing the rule book and winging it, but we are winging it together! Love, Alex