5 comments about Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections.

1. I bought this book because I am interested in adopting from the foster care system in the US and I was looking for advice and information about dealing with trauma and attachment issues. While this book certainly contains a lot of information, most of the chapters focus explicitly on children adopted internationally. Some of it might be applicable to foster care adoption, but most of the information seemed pretty un-useful. I found other books much more useful, particularly "Adopting and Advocating for Your Special Needs Child".



2. This is a great book!!! If I had to pick one adoption book from the huge stack I have, it would be this one. I recommend this book to anyone that is adopting or has already adopted.



3. Egads, what is Alan Pertman doing hanging around with this bunch of fringe psychotherapy promoters?
   
   Brain Gym, EMDR, Sensory Integration, Attachment Therapy, Federici methods ("belt-loop parenting"), forced age regression, Neurofeedback, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and Foster Cline's Love and Logic parenting!
   
   These practices range from silly and worthless to abusive and dangerous.
   
   Alas, Pertman has given the well-respected Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute a black eye by legitimizing these unvalidated practices and in many instances, leading trusting parents to practices known to be abusive and dangerous. The APA and APSAC have, for example, condemned Attachment Therapy, which is mentioned frequently in this book. It has been connected with numerous criminal child abuse and death cases in recent years.
   
   Readers will be often mislead by unconventional beliefs about child development and directed to sources which contend that their abusive parenting and therapy methods are the only hope for adopted and foster children (e.g. Attachment Disorder Network)
   
   Look up the BBC programs on Brain Gym to see how idiotic it is having kids tap their "brain buttons" and the like. Pure nonsense.
   
   EMDR is just about as silly. The therapist waves a finger in front of the child's face or taps the child's head while the child is directed to think about traumatic memories. The practice has been shown to be no improvement on simply thinking about traumatic incidents.
   
   Love and Logic claims to be evidence-based, but no study of its effect on children has ever been published.
   
   Like most books that promote quackery, there's some common sense advice added to look plausible.



4. This book is very helpful for anyone interested in adoption. It covers everything you'd like to know.



5. This compendium is top-notch. A couple of criticisms: The content is highly useful, but the editing needs help. Random and incorrect comma usage was distracting, and there are more than a few typos. This book could use a revised edition (already). Also, read this book to be prepared, but be aware that it is slanted towards the belief that adoptees WILL NECESSARILY HAVE certain issues, feelings, problems, and I think it is dangerous to make such generalizations. It is good to be informed, but put these potential issues in perspective. Your child will also have plenty of issues that have nothing to do with adoption. All that being said, this book was sorely needed and is quite informative.

5 comments about Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies.

1. Helpfully reminds us that our grieving process is as unique as we are unique as people. Provides a reassurange hat where we are and what we feel in this loss is acceptable and will continually change and return to the moment as the time goes on.



2. After reading these reviews, I selected this book to give to my mother in the weeks after my father died. She said it was extremely comforting and helpful. She plans to use it as a resource in the coming months.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It has helped me in a lot of ways.



4. The book and the seller met my expectations.



5. The thoughtful daily meditations full of gentle encouraging words are extremely helpful and uplifting as one meanders slowly through the grief process.

5 comments about The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language.

1. The authors do a great job of explaining the research in plain terms and debunking odd mythgs. It's an easy read (not "researchy") and talks about different strategies for bringing up a bilingual child. My daughter is 7 weeks from her due date and I feel very well informed about how to teach her English and Spanish in the years to come.



2. I bought this book because my wife are expecting a child and were wondering how to deal with the language issue in our family. We live in an English language environment, our mother tongue is Spanish, yet we are in an equally good position to talk to the child in German. The question was how to approach this "dilemma".
   
   The book gave us many answers. Read it. And even if you decide not to, do not deprive your children of the opportunity to learn languages from the start. They have, as the book explains, nothing to lose and, as I can assure you personally, everything to gain from it.



3. I enjoyed reading this book, It was very informative. If you plan on raising your child/children bilingual buy this



4. I absolutely love this book. It is an excellent resource. I recommend it to anyone who is raising a bilingual child.



5. These days there is a great deal of interest in raising children with bilingual skill. "The Bilingual Edge" is a great resource for parents who want to give their children the gift of bilingualism and to prepare them for the ever more connected world of the future.
   
   The two authors are professor of linguistics specialize in second language learning. They give the book a scientific favor and much of the materials are backed by research data. Nevertheless it is written in everyday language and is not at all academic. Moreover the authors are parents themselves. They are walking their talk by raising their kids bilingually. Despite their credentials, they face many of the same parenting and social issues like we do and they also share their struggles in the book.
   
   Just why do we want our children to become bilingual? Contrary to conventional thinking, learning a second language does not compete with the mother tongue. People who are good in a second language are actually more likely to be good in their first language. Besides the inherent advantage of speaking more than one language, studies have also shown that there is cognitive, academic and social edge in bilingual kids. In short, it makes you children smarter. I think this is more than enough motivation for most parents to consider bilingualism.
   
   Some families are naturally more concern about bilingualism because they have emigrated to another country or they are bilingual themselves. But the authors make it clear that raising bilingual kids are not restricted to them. Indeed it is very much attainable for monolingual parents too. They guide the readers in choosing a second language by understanding the language strength in themselves, their family members and the resources available in their community.
   
   I find their scientific approach especially relevant when dealing with the myriad of learning products being pushed to the parents. Just consider if there is any research to back the claim they make in the advertisements? Is it the product really more effective compares with other approaches, such as simply reading and talking to your children? The authors are skeptical about the claim of some popular products like Baby Einstein. Yet their opinions are actually nuanced. For example, they suggest you to watch the video with you children so that you can guide them, thereby turning a passive activity into an active learning process!
   
   All in all this is a short and well researched book. It should answer many questions regarding learning a second language and help prepare our children into the amazing world of language learning.

5 comments about How To Teach Your Baby Math: The Gentle Revolution.

1. I hated math after 6th grade and didn't want my 16 month old son to 'catch' my frustration. I taught my son math so easily. His favorite subject is math!



2. I bought this along with Teach Your Baby to Read and I can't say whether or not it's working yet, but if nothing else you spend some time with your children. So much of the book is reprinted from Teach Your Baby to Read, and I haven't had much luck finding the cards they suggest to use. But the books are valuable in that they advocate a respect for the learning potential of young children and offer specific instructions on how to develop that potential.



3. Doman's books are a must read. I already suggested that one should start with How to Teach Your Baby to Read, because it has the philosophical underpinnings of their theory, but that book is a little time consuming to implement because you have to write words in a cardboard (see cover).
   How to Teach Math should be the second, but it is much easier to implement the program because you can purchase an inexpensive kit from the author's institute (see cover).
   I also recommend you to take the author's courses, in Philadelphia, but they are a couple of thousand dollars or more. Do it all before your baby is born.
   I read How to Multiply your Baby's Intelligence 10 years before my wife got pregnant and it changed my life... and my daughter's (I hope). It changed how I saw child's development. Now she is 3.
   But don't get too carried away. Believe me, some parents do get carried away. The ones in Philadelphia seem to belong to a sect. Just enjoy your children and add this program to the fun.
   Although I spend a large amount of money with the course, I really don't do much of the program. Still, I raise my daughter differently from what I would otherwise have done without having read this book or taken the course. You will not be the same person after you read it. And it is not about teaching your baby to read. It is about learning how to teach your baby about life.
   You will have more respect for your child and will not let your baby grow "by accident." Instead, you will be able to actively participate in the learning process and challenge your child to fulfill his or her intellectual potential. If you have a child, or if you don't but you love someone, this is the only book that you must read. Remember, read it before the baby is born. This collection is a wonderful present for an expecting mother.



4. Bought this book for my daughter to use in teaching her son. It is a great reference book.



5. Babies don't come with instructions so every piece of information helps,
   what I learned in this book applies to many areas of every day teaching, learning and understanding. Short enough to find time to read, and interesting.

5 comments about Starting Sensory Integration Therapy: Fun Activities That Won't Destroy Your Home or Classroom.

1. this is a great book for parents who have autistic kids.the activities are easy to do. I highly recomend it



2. WHO would know that just simple things around the house along with some brilliant ideas can help you get your child throw a sometimes ruff difficult day. What an "EXCEPTIONAL BOOK" when in your heart of hearts your seaching for answeres and need HELP this book offers a wealth of information.
   Ardith



3. This book has great ideas for activities that are simple to do at home! It's straight forward and a must have for anyone wanting to help their child with sensory issues.



4. I have found this book handy for coming up with new ideas for a "sensory diet" for my son. Most of the materials are easy to find if you don't already have them around the home. I recommend it for parents who are their child's primary "therapist." Does not replace a good occupational therapist, but I consult with one and once I learned about my son's sensory profile, we picked some activities together that would be helpful.



5. my grandson is not at a level for most of the ideas but we will use them as he gets there.

5 comments about Red Hot Touch: A head-to-toe handbook for mind-blowing orgasms.

1. This is a wonderful and sexy book that would be a great gift for your partner, especially if your guy is a little clueless like mine.
   
   Here's why I love it:
   1. I like the cute, straightforward and playful language/approach to sex. For example, "hedonistic humping" or "...try letting your hands drift over to her Grand Tetons...".
   2. I love the diagrams, not only because I am visual, (diagrams make it abudantly clear how to execute some of these moves), it's really the best compromise of clarity and class. They're hand drawn (so even though they're depicting sex acts, they look tasteful and classy, like a WSJ portrait (LOL). I think color photographs would have been a little too much for me.
   3. I like that it covers what I had considered basics (like how to uncloak the clit) to more advanced concepts and finally even things I consider avante garde (such as fisting and anal entry).
   4. The best part about this book is everything is included. LOL. (Don't you hate getting something that needs batteries but they're not included?!). While you're reading about these techniques, you get so excited to try them. And because all you need are your hands and the rest of your body, you can start right away.
   5. Finally, I really like that there are tips for how to pleasure both guys and gals.
   6. The diagrams are pretty circumized-penis centric, but it was very comprehensive of them to also include a diagram of a non-circumized penis as well as instructions on the different kinds of pleasures you can give to one. As for females, I really liked that they had pubic hair (instead of a brazilian wax, which I find unrealistic/demeaning/painful/infantile).
   
   My one itty bitty change about the book: I would have preferred a non-erotic, even mis-leading intellectual cover (like Sarte, maybe? LOL) so I can keep the book in plain view any time anywhere.
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this book for better sex and orgasms!!! It's chock full of ideas and you can try a different one for every night for a year (or longer).



2. This book pulls out all the stops, and tells it like it is. Unlike most "how-to" books, this one does NOT read like stereo instructions, and yet manages to be very thorough and clear in its instruction. I love that it has sections on both male and female genital massage, as well as anal massage techniques. Oh, and did I mention the fabulous sexual position instruction? There are even exercises that teach you how to develop more sensitivity in your hands, so that your touch becomes more pleasurable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants learn to explore deeper ecstasy in the bedroom!



3. The authors have put together an incredibly useful and informative book on the use of the hands to create and intensify sexual feelings. I judge a book on sex instruction on whether it teaches me things and gives me ideas that I would not have thought of on my own...and this book passes with flying colors. From hand and finger flexability...to massage...to intensifying the feelings of other techniques, the ideas are presented in a fun and enjoyable way that leaves you with a smile on your face (among other things)! :)



4. This is a fun, easy to read book packed full of practical instruction on how to use your hands and touch to pleasure a body.
   
   From the more commonly known erogenous zones, to body parts that we don't normally think of as erotic... the whole body is covered. From the nose, ears, arms, A-spot, C-spot, G-spot or U-spot... no part of the body is excluded from sensuality here.
   
   The techniques are specific, detailed, easy to understand, and many even have catchy names such as "testicle teaser", "tug the rug" and "bowing the violin" to mention a few. Helpful drawings illustrate anatomy, and hand and/or finger positioning for some of the more unusual touches.
   
   The last chapter "Putting it all together" provides ideas for hours of pleasurable partner practice.



5. They have done a great job on a very sensitive subject for many. This will put spice back into a dulled relationship and send it over the the top. There are so many options, you almost don't know where to start. But, start experimenting and I'm certain you will find a number of winners. Thanks for putting the sensitive stuff in writing. Maybe a few more illustrations or pictures would be helpful to make it even more understandable. Great Job.
   
   JJW

5 comments about Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy.

1. I can't believe how long it took me to finally get around to reading this superb book (is there a ranking higher than five stars). On a semi-long flight, I'd almost finished it off in one sitting, but I hesitated, not wanting to gobble it up in one go. It was precious, meant to be savoured, and absorbed very slowly into the bloodstream.
   
   I'd been meaning to read Rabbi Boteach's books for over five years now, ever since I heard Rabbi Boteach go toe-to-toe intellectually with Larry King (someone else whom I respect highly). Despite the long wait, I wasn't disappointed.
   
   Look, again (as I've said in numerous other spots in my Reviews), I'm not going to tell you what's inside this book. I don't have to, seeing as I'm positive the countless other reviews which you can find here under this listing describe the outline of this book thoroughly, and people have gone into the specifics of what to find inside. I don't wish to repeat what may already be here, and I imagine that I won't do as good of a job as they have -- admittedly, I haven't had a chance to read all of the reviews either. I'm going to laud the high quality of the reviews which I generally find here, and make the necessary presumption.
   
   I think all of us who pick up books like KOSHER SEX are essentially seeking answers. Answers to the things which may have troubled us with our relationships in the past, and we're seeking advice on how to place less of a personal emphasis on meaningless sexual encounters, or the constant state of one-upmanship we play with ourselves in our minds, rationalizing the corrosive things we might do sexually. We need to begin to see the harm it inevitably causes us, our selves, and Boteach points out a way. Not *the* way, but *a* way.
   
   I had many blessed "eureka" moments in reading his narrative, when my simply jaw dropped, saying things aloud like: "That's EXACTLY what I was thinking!" or "So I'm *not* the only person who feels this way?!" Reassuring in the extreme...
   
   Ultimately, my aim has been to learn to become a better father, husand, lover, and partner. While there isn't ONE single book that encapsulates the skills required to do so, I'd have to say in the breadth of titles I've already read on the subject (Jewish, non-Jewish, and everything else in between), this one ranks rather highly up there. In a nation (the US) which seems to pride itself on its soaring (over 50%) divorce rate, books like Boteach's just *scream* out to be read. There is something dreadfully wrong in society in which sexuality is a commodity, and in which -- as Boteach notes -- there is little difference today between the genders which essentially levels the playing field (one advantage), but to the deteriment of the family unit (an even greater disadvantage).
   
   I found myself dog-earing pages and note-taking during my read, something I generally avoid doing as it disrupts my flow. But like I said, Boteach's lines just pulled me in.
   
   Five-stars. Because of this, I'd now like to read the rest of Boteach's books. The time has come.



2. Rabbi Boteach takes a wonderful enlightened approach to this very sensitive subject. Beautifully written work with excellent sources, well documented and builds a terrific case. Having read his book, it has changed my relationship with my wife of 20 years, this is really great, wish I would have read this earlier. I passed it on to each of my teenage children as a must read.



3. The rabbi's pose is transparently hypocritical because Judaism's "holiest" book, the Talmud, teaches misogyny, the fundamental "orthodox" Judaic doctrine about women:
   
   "Though a woman be as a pitcher full of filth and her mouth be full of blood, yet all speed after her." ---Talmud, Shabbat 152b
   
   and also, "...a man may do whatever he pleases with his wife at intercourse: Meat which comes from the abbatoir may be eaten salted, roasted, cooked or seethed; so with fish from the fishmonger.... A woman came before Rab and complained [of her husband's sodomy with her], "Rabbi replied: 'Wherein does it differ from fish?" ---Talmud, Nedarim 20b, Soncino edition, p.58



4. The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know Everything
   As a positive psychologist extremely concerned with both the development of good values and also the preservation of strong self-esteem in each of us, I have to say I loved this book. I think it elevated intimacy in a way that adults, both Jewish and non-Jewish can really understand. And once you understand the sense of elevating ourselves in the most intimate parts of adult living, than it is also easier to begin to understand taking the time to elevate oneself in all areas of life. This book is an easy, but powerful read. Read it for yourself, your spouse and for creating a better and holier world for your kids.



5. i am a huge fan of the Rabbi but i felt let down and even somewhat betrayed by this book. the notion that one should STAY with an abusive man b/c one is married to him i find repugnant. verbal, emotional, or physical abuse, it matters not. and the devastating effects this will have on your child is most certainly of dire consequence. the Rabbi paeans for a time when all marriages are perfect fairy tales, for when his own parents were not divorced, and wistfully describes the idealization of having a united family--WITH NO IDEA OF WHAT IT IS LIKE to live in a violent, terrifying home watching one parent abuse another or both your parents abuse each other... the horror of listening to the screaming fights, the foul and filthy unholy language, the terrifying threats, the destructive criticism, the shame of bearing your secret and not being able to let other children play at your house or your teachers know how you live... not to mention the total lack of empathy for you, the child, or hope coming from either one the two most important role models in your life--your own mother and father-- is never mentioned. instead, women are ENCOURAGED to wait out an abusive man to "prove" their loyalty--and i suppose men in this situation are to do likewise. i wonder if schmuley would ever have BECOME a Rabbi if he had been forced to endure this type of family home and his parents had not had the wisdom to divorce one another and spare their child this torture. most children, esp. boys, who witness parental abuse remodel it in their own marriages. and he has the nerve to advocate indulging a bully or a loveless, absent spouse. i cannot abide by this. divorce is certainly not a wonderful invention, but to any terrified child who kneeled on their parents' kitchen floor and prayed for them to leave one another as the dishes flew and broke around their heads and the screaming escalated to the point that neighbors called the authorities i say FOR SHAME. this type of black and white thinking keeps our society in the dark ages and does UNTOLD DAMAGE. i loved the TLC documentary series "shalom in the home", i have enjoyed the author's other books, and i have great respect for my religious leaders, but i felt abandoned and betrayed by this advice. no person should endure an unloving, empty relationship just b/c they made a mistake in selecting a mate. ridiculous.

5 comments about The Man in the Mirror : Solving the 24 Problems Men Face.

1. I came accross the book at a men's retreat program and read a few pages from the middle of the book. I was impressed with what I read and ordered four copies of the book when I got home (to share with friends). The book is very practical and teaches on how to live a real christian life as compared to an expected life. One example is how to love when you don't have the emotional capacity.



2. This book is being used for a Men's group and although we are not even a quarter way through the book, it has been outstanding. It really causes us guys to examine ourselves.
   
   I was disappointed that the book itself was a small "pocket" paperback as the print is very small.



3. I don't like reviews like the one by Daniel L Edelen - sorry Daniel - which is the main review featured here. Not only does the phrase "been there, done that" sound naive and adolescent, it is reflective of the very thing Morley is condemning: Cultural Christianity. Which may explain why Mr. Edelen and his friends didn't like the book. He compares Man In The Mirror - which was one of the first Christian "Men's" books ever to be published (1992) - with later books, like John Eldredge's Wild At Heart, saying that if "you've read one, you've read them all." That just isn't true. His superficial understanding of the book gives me the impression that he never finished it. He at least admits that his group never finished discussing it. Well, mine did, and I can tell you that we all loved it.
   
   Mr. Edelen makes a comment about the "endpiece bio on Morley" (at least he did read that) that "Morley comes off as being your standard 'plastic and Brylcreme' Christian rather than as a real person." Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Edelen does Morley a great injustice. Man In The Mirror contains many, many nuggets of truth that will help anyone - CEO or average working stiff - in their walk with Christ. This book is a classic that has been quoted often by most Christian writers and speakers, so naturally the material is going to sound somewhat familiar. Shouldn't the man be credited for his original ideas, rather than written off because he has so many imitators?
   
   One quote - one - is worth the price of the book, because it defines the number one problem facing our age and ourselves individually, and has become one of my favorite quotes:
   
   "There is a God we want and there is a God who is, and they are not the same God. The turning point of our lives will come when we stop seeking the God we want, and start seeking the God who is." - Patrick Morley
   
   Now, does that sound like a "'plastic and Brylcreme' Christian?" I don't think so. This is practical Christianity - not feel-good philosophy, although there is a place for that as well. If you're a practical, thinking Christian, and you're interested in reading a Christian classic, you'll LOVE this book. I would also recommend Morley's The Seven Seasons Of A Man's Life - another wonderful classic.
   
   Waitsel Smith



4. Man in the Mirror, by Patrick Morley, is an excellent resource for men's groups with practical application to daily issues in life. It provides biblical principles for 24 problems men face as they search for meaning and purpose in life. A list of discussion questions in included following each chapter and additional resources are available at recommended web sites.



5. fit for the choir...nothing for a thinking rational person...fodder for sheep...self help book for those with an invisible friend..

5 comments about For Parents Only: Getting Inside the Head of Your Kid.

1. I only have to look to my 13 year old and know we speak a different language. Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa A Rice who brought us the best-selling books For Women Only, For Men Only, and For Young Women Only now brings us For Parents Only: Getting Inside the head of your kid. In this book they share the results of a nationwide survey and personal interviews they did with more than 1,000 real-life teens and tweens to tackle those things parents often don't "get" about their kids. I am a relatively young Mom of a 13 year old so I figured it has not been that long since I was a teen. I have to admit this book opened my eyes. This book does a great job defining what "We Think is Happening" versus "What's Really Happening."
   
   What is the most intoxicating and addictive thing your teenager seeks?
   
   What is the best way to parent?
   
   What can we do as parents so they don't emotionally shut us out, but actually seek our advice?
   
   What do they really mean when they tell you to "stop freaking out?"
   
   These are all subjects that are addressed in this book, along with so much more. I highly recommend it,



2. This book is apparently the third or fourth volume in a series of "For X Only" (as in: For Men Only, For Women Only, etc.), and now comes a volume that is specifically oriented towards parents with teenage kids.
   
   In "For Parents Only: Getting Inside The Head of Your Kid" (183 pages), authors Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa Rice set the table nicely by going over the essentials of what is going on with our teenage kids and providing multiple real-life examples as well as suggestions along the way on how to tackle various situations. I was impressed with the way the authors kept both feet on the ground, and they do not come across patronizing, fully realizing that every parent is facing his or her own specific situation. The introductory chapter is essential for the reader, as the authors set forth the ground rules of the book, such as "We are not endorsing the behavior or excusing the poor choices described by some kids in these pages" and "Our finding are nationally representative but we personally approach parenting from a Christian worldview".
   
   At 183 pages, this is a quick read, and nothing revolutionary is set forth in this little book, but then again nothing is quite as aself-evident either and this book does a great job providing insights and/or reminders how we can better approach/understand/appreciate our teenage kids.



3. This book is definitely worthwhile reading for parents of teens, or better yet, pre-teens, so you can get a head start! The authors present a lot of good information - right from the teens themselves, that should help parents learn about relating to their teenagers. I only wish I had read this sooner, my children are in their late teens, early twenties.



4. Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (6/08)
   
   "Happy the generation where the great listen to the small, for it follows that in such a generation the small will listen to the great."
   - An Ancient Hebrew Proverb
   
   Authors Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa Rice take a unique approach in "For Parents Only" by going straight to the subject matter experts on the minds of teens - teens! Combining results from their nationwide survey with their own real-life experiences they manage to bring the data to life in a way that can be almost revolutionary for some parents - not because of any earth-shattering finds; it is the subtle ah-ha moments that strike the reader.
   
   "For Parents Only" provides some strong, solid messages for deciphering what your teen is thinking versus what logic might dictate your teen might be thinking. Above all, however, the underlying message is to listen to your kids, try to understand what lies below their message, and understand they appreciate your boundaries no matter how often they test them.
   
   I like to think of "For Parents Only" as a field guide to the teenage years...one I will continue to reference again and again; sometimes for advice but mostly to remind myself to listen, to pay attention, and above all to ensure they feel the love and support they need to get through these confusing and often heartbreaking years.



5. "For Parents Only" is a great read for anyone who wants to know more about how to be a more effective parent. Among the topics covered include:
   
   1. Kids' desire for freedom.
   2. Why our children secretly hope we will stand firm on certain issues.
   3. How to help teens feel secure.
   4. How to get your teen to open up and talk to you.
   5. A teen's mood swings and how to help their confidence.
   
   Throughout the book are helpful survey results that show how teens would like to see their parents respond in a given situation. Many of the survey results and conclusions by the authors reinforced my belief that we are to be our kids' parents and not their friends.
   
   Coming from a Christian perspective, my point of view is to raise our kids in "the fear of the Lord" - a healthy and respectful fear, that is. Teaching our kids to respect us is far more important then winning their friendship. One kid mentioned in the book that if "I wanted friends I can get them at school, but at home I want my parents to be parents instead of my friends". Another conclusion in the book states that kids get more security and confidence when their parents state clear boundaries and are firm to their kids when needed. To that I say a hearty "AMEN!!!!!".
   
   While some folks may not agree with the book's conclusion, I dare say that many (and quite a few from a non-Christian background) will agree that a firm yet loving type of parent is far better than a parent who is more concerned with being the child's friend. Teach the children respect early and the friendship can come later.
   
   Whether or not you agree with the book, the authors present some conclusions that will challenge you to evaluate the effectiveness of your parenting style.
   
   Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Families Where Grace Is in Place.

1. This book has made an impact on my life and also my friends who have families. It has taught me to love with eyes of grace and not legalism or control.My family has benefited a great deal and I thank God and the author.



2. As a mother of two very young children, this book was recommended to me as I began my research on grace based discipline. I was excited to find it addresses not only the parent-child relationship but the husband-wife relationship as well. I learned so much from this book. I couldn't put it down. I definitely think that it should be read more than once, as it has some heavier parts and it can't all be truly digested in one read. Highly recommended!



3. This is a wonderful book to read and apply to your own life or give to others without having to worry that you will look pushy. It does have the "don't" section and the "do" section like a lot of other books of this type, but I found this book to have the most ideas and suggestions that stayed with me. Very inspirational without being holier-than-thou.



4. I believe this is the most insightful book of its type I have read and really poses questions and provides answers for parents and married couples that would not only improve all relationships, but more importantly it sets the basis for individual self confidence, happiness and satisfaction by substituting a win-win approach for the normal win-lose situation we find in families and society today. As a Christian, I found the book held the key to really building strong happy people and families. Unfortunately I followed the wrong formula when I was raising my family. I can't do as good a job now with my family but it's never too late to start to make things better. That's what the book is about.



5. I love this book. It taught me the shameful messages I received as a child and the ones I was dishing out to my children to get them to perform to my standards. Try it.