How to Be The Grown-Up

Why Good Parenting Starts with You

Dr Martha Deiros Collado author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd

Publishing:27th Feb '25

£16.99

This title is due to be published on 27th February, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

This paperback is available in another edition too:

How to Be The Grown-Up cover

INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but if it did, it would be this one.’ Myleene Klass

‘Brilliant … Dr Martha has guidance for almost every sticky moment.’ i Paper

Drawing on her years of experience as a clinical psychologist, Dr Martha understands the questions all parents face:


  • How can I make my child listen to me?
  • How can I stop a tantrum in its tracks?
  • What can I do when my child feels sad?
  • Why is my child a picky eater and what can I do about it?
  • What should I do when I lose my temper?


With humour, boundless energy, wit and warmth, Dr Martha tackles it all; from how to talk about honesty and lies, death, co-parenting, consent, gender, attachment, boundaries, and tantrums, as well as the small but critical daily challenges parents face. She explains why beneath each dilemma, it's the behaviours and scripts we learned as children that shape the parents we become.

This deceptively simple and always empathetic guide is a must-have toolkit for parents or any grown-up interested in what makes a healthy, happy, confident parent and child.

‘Martha is my go-to expert for parenting. This book is full of real-life examples, lived experiences, useful strategies and so much reassurance.’ Charlotte Stirling-Reed, bestselling author of How to Wean Your Baby

‘A must-read… written in a supportive, non-judgemental tone which encourages the reader not to give up. I would highly recommend this book to anyone trying to navigate parenthood – through love, patience and dedication.’ * Dr Aziza Sesay @talkswithdrsesay *
Will help you truly understand your child’s behaviours, and rethink your own too… This book will change how you parent for the better. * Nichola Ludlam-Raine, Registered Dietitian, @mummynutrition *
Grateful to have this on my bookshelf. I’ll be using it for years to come. * Dr Faye Begeti @the_brain_doctor *
Oh the times I’ve looked around for a ‘real adult’ to tell me how to parent! In this warm, powerful book, Dr Martha is exactly that compassionate, confident voice that we all need. Dr Martha supports us in exploring the narratives we learnt within our own childhood, and gently challenges them so that we can feel empowered and equipped to raise confident children…as confident parents. This book needs to take a firm place on the bedside table of every parent. It will powerfully shape the ways we parent our children… and ourselves. Step away from Googling for parenting tips and step towards Dr Martha’s words. The warm, confident guidance all parents crave. * Anna Mathur, bestselling author of Mind Over Mother *
This is a helpful and supportive guide that encourages and facilitates self-reflection, and offers detailed, practical help with parenting. * Juno *
Focuses on how you can be the best mother or father, by ditching tired family scripts, respecting your child for who and where they are, and controlling your own behaviour. * Psychologies *
Brilliant ... From taming tantrums to why tears matter, making mistakes and managing your child's disappointment, all the way through to talking to children about sex, war and mobile phone use, Dr Martha has guidance for almost every sticky moment. * The i Paper *
The scripts and behaviours we learned ourselves as children are bound to make certain areas feel tricky and her calm,no-nonsense advice is a soothing antidote to self blame. * The Psychologist *

ISBN: 9780857506818

Dimensions: 234mm x 153mm x 28mm

Weight: 446g

368 pages