The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You

I first read Elaine Aron’s The Highly Sensitive Person when I was about fourteen. I recognized after reading a few chapters that I was a highly sensitive person, but it took me years to accept that about myself. So when I saw that Aron had written a book called The Highly Sensitive Parent, I immediately wanted to read it. Especially since the pandemic was creating a new level of stress, and my emotional and mental margin for my family was rapidly decreasing.

Aron has a very matter-of-fact writing style that cuts through all the muck that parents, especially sensitive mothers, often feel about addressing their own needs. Basically her philosophy is this: “You are going to feel everything more, so you have to take care of yourself more. Otherwise you will suffer.” I found the last two chapters that focus on sensitive parents and their partners especially helpful. Aron gives practical recommendations for better listening and working through conflict with your partner, why HSP and non-HSPs have some value differences in parenting, and how to work through those.

I also appreciated that her book was short. At 245 pages, it was very manageable and easy to read. It’s fairly jargon-free, and if jargon is used, it’s explained well. Ultimately, this book helped me give myself permission to do what I needed to do, and my whole family feels better in the process.