Help me pick a book for 2 woman in their mid 20s and just now starting to stand on their own 2 feet.
I have a new daughter-in-law, 23, who just graduated college but us still trying to find her way through jobs and basically everything "Adult" & the other, 25, former daughter-in-law and the mother to my 4 yr old grandson. She just jow finding stability in both house and job.
I'd like the book to be entertaining, funny or commonsense based. Neither of them have good relationships with their mothers, so if it ends up being a "here's everything your mother should have told you" type of boom, that's perfect.
Tysm for your help!
by slap_n_tickle77
7 Comments
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. It has a lot of great financial info to help them get started in their lives.
I’d actually recommend the website bitchesgetriches.com. They are internet aunties that provide financial advice and resources, specifically tackling the issues that women and people of color may face the navigating workplace and personal finances.
How to Manage your home without losing your mind by Dana K white.
This helped me so much in keeping my house in order and learning how to actually clean it. I loved the stories and loved the audiobook version of this.
It’s not exactly this, but I found four thousand weeks scratched this itch for me. It’s less didactic (less this is what you should do) and more how to think about what to prioritize so you can lead the big and beautiful life you want to lead.
I also don’t know your relationship with either, but something that is more didactic (like this is how to life) from my MIL if I was struggling could come across as a bit patronising or condescending. Especially if it’s a long book that I don’t have the time or inclination to read. This may not be the case in the context of your relationship though. If I were in their shoes I’d want to know that you are proud of me for getting where I am, and that you trust my ability to find my way, and that you are there to help when I need it. So maybe a fictional book with a character that positively reminds you of each of their personalities would be appropriate. Something that screams this protagonist is awesome and she reminds me of you.
Another thing could be to lean into a strength. Maybe if the new DIL is trying to start a career in x field, you find a biography of a titan in that field. If a dil is really good at y skill, maybe you find a book that helps her lean hard into that skill (ive given brene brown books to friends with high EQ for a similar reason).
If it’s a true how ti adult book (like how to manage a household, and do taxes etc) maybe best to give it to both your child and new dil as a combined gift too.
The Twentysomething Treatment by Meg Jay!
Rich af by Vivian Tu. Super practical easy to digest financial advice that every young person needs to know
For the younger one:
The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery – a young woman realizes that everything she was taught by her family is holding her down so she strikes out to find happiness
Devolution by Max Brooks – a very vapid and shallow young woman moves to a remote worker community of yuppies, then discovers her strengths when the group has to come together to fight a cryptid
For the one with kids:
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver – follows three protagonists (a young widow, an middle aged woman who lives alone, and a crotchety old man) as they reflect on what they want in life, their ties to others and their communities, and what makes them feel happy and needed
I Don’t Know How She Does It (forget the author) – humorous story of a working mom trying to do everything