Why Personal Development Matters to Me as a Parent (and the Books That Changed Everything)

I used to only read for escape — fiction that helped me unwind after long days filled with meltdowns, meals, and messy rooms. And honestly? That kind of reading still matters. But over the years, I’ve started reaching for books that do more than entertain. I’ve started reaching for growth.

Parenting a neurodivergent child has pushed me to confront every part of myself — the impatient parts, the reactive parts, the tired and unsure parts. I realized that if I wanted to parent differently, I needed to keep learning. Not just about ADHD or anxiety, but about myself.

So I started reading non-fiction — slowly, inconsistently at first. But the more I read, the more I noticed something shifting. I began responding instead of reacting. I caught myself mid-pattern and made a different choice. I started leading with curiosity instead of control.

📖 A Few Pages a Day Changed Everything

I don’t have hours to read. Sometimes I only get ten minutes before my son wakes up. But as Atomic Habits reminded me — small changes compound. Ten pages a day might not sound like much, but over time, it’s changed my mindset, my routines, and my self-talk.

And I show up differently because of it — not just as a mom, but as a friend, a partner, a daughter, a person. The kind of growth I used to think I had to earn by reaching rock bottom? Now I realize it can come from gentle, consistent effort.

💡 We Don’t Outgrow the Need to Grow

Somewhere along the way, adults are sold the idea that learning stops after school. That personal development is for people who are “broken” or “stuck.”

But I don’t believe that anymore. I think it’s for anyone who’s trying — trying to live more intentionally, parent with more presence, or just understand themselves a little better.

Growth doesn’t have to look like retreats or certifications or full life overhauls. Sometimes it’s just picking up a book that makes you feel seen — or challenged — or quietly inspired to keep going.

📚 The Books That Changed My Perspective

I’ve put together a list of the books I’ve read (and loved) on this journey. It’s a mix of parenting, habits, mindfulness, relationships, emotional regulation — anything that helped me become more of the person I want to be.

👉 You can check out my current personal development book list here.

I’ll update it as I go — and I’d love to know what’s on your list, too.

💬 Let’s Talk

What book has made a difference in your life recently? What’s something you learned recently that stuck with you?

Drop it in the comments or message me — I love hearing how other parents are growing in the middle of all this mess.