Grace-based Parenting :

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I am so keen on raising a perfect child - this helped me realize that what I really want is a perfect relationship with my child -and that too much criticism of my sensitive daughter's implusiveness could make her feel unloved and insecure - also made me realize that I need to help her see her greatest talents and encourage her in that - so I don't see her when she's older just wondering from one thing to the next - but that I need to help her find her niche. I wish I had been parented like this.


Rating:
Summary: Grace of the parents
Review: I have not read this book, YET, but I have read others that Tim Kimmel has written. And I have the advantage of knowing how his parents raised their children. When he was a child, we went to the same fundamental, independent Bible-believing church in Western PA. Everybody loved to go to their home because there was always something happening. His parents were strict, but accepting and gracious to all who visited them. So my comments have to be that Dr. Kimmel knows that of which he writes because he lives it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book that I would highly recommend
Review: I just finished reading this book and I would highly recommend it. It is directed toward Christian parents but has principles that non-Christian parents can use. My favorite suggestion from his book,which he used in his own family, is the "What's Your Beef?" night.(pages 206-208) To promote respectful candidness in his family, this night allowed his children an opportunity to tell their parents anything that either of them had said or done to hurt them. "The qualification was that they couldn't bring up positions we had taken because of our moral standards(which they might have disagreed with) or consequences that we might have had to bring their way because of things they had done wrong...The key rule for Darcy and me when they shared these things from their hearts was that we were not permitted to defend ourselves...I might have been able to justify my words and actions from my perspective of the facts, but it would have only done harm. The point was, we had hurt them somehow, regardless of the facts."
He also gives an overall matrix that is very useful (what your child's three driving inner needs are and the four basic things you need to do to maintain a grace based environment)and uses many examples from his own family and others.
He also communicates grace for you as a parent, since we all fall short. This book gave me hope and a great start to create a grace based home without compromising moral standards I want to uphold. He does a great job of balancing the two since often we as parents go to either extreme of legalism or anything goes.

Rating:
Summary: Helps you sort out what's really important in parenting
Review: I think every parent would benefit from reading Kimmel's book. One of the best aspects is his discussion of his own failures with his own children, but also his description of how he recovered from some of his mistakes.

This would be a good book for heavy disciplinarians to read, but I wonder if they would be able to take on board what he says.

A good aspect of the book is his discussion of how often parents base their discipline of their children on ensuring that other parents approve of them! How true!

There are many amusing and provocative anecdotes, which will make you think.

I also recommend H Norman Wright's "How to Talk So your Kids will Listen."


Rating:
Summary: Author of Survival Meditations for Parents of Teens
Review: Kids need guidelines. Parents need permission to parent. This book gives us both with the spirit of grace infused within.

Rating:
Summary: A necessary tool to being a balanced parent!
Review: Tim Kimmel has done a good job of explaining how many conventional parenting styles fall apart later in a child's life & ultimately lead children to rebellion. It was hard for me to read many of his observations at first, as I myself was parenting with a heavy hand. I sort of felt chastised by him for the first half of the book! I guess I deserved it. I'm glad I hung in there though as he showed me how to lighten up by treating my children with the same grace that God extended to me through Christ. I truly believe I will be a better parent for having read this book! The results have already started to unfold with my three kids. I have been able to let go of some of the small issues I was making such a big deal over & focus more on important issues that matter. Since I rebelled hard as a teen, I was worried about how to handle that later in life when my kids are teens. I feel I am better equipped to deal with those unavoidable years of rebellion as my kids (hopefully) find their own way into the arms of God. I suppose before reading this I just thought I could push them into God's arms & maybe they'd stay there. Thanks Tim, you've lighted my path via your use of God's Word & your experience. I highly recommend this book to parents, grandparents, counselors and teachers.