Rating: 
Summary: Great guide for Catholic parents
Review: As new Catholics, we very much appreciate how Gregory Popcak bases parenting theory on Catholic theology. I'm not a big fan of parenting books, because most of them do not allow for the flexibility of a parent using his/her own style and adjusting to the child's individual personality, but Popcak's suggestions really do allow for this.Three caveats -- I found this book to be really, really Catholic, so a non-Catholic person may have trouble with it. Also, Mr. Popcak is apparently a typical baby boomer, so if you don't like droll humor, punned section headers that are supposed to be amusing, and lots of acronyms, you might as well forgive him for it before you ever sit down to read this book. Finally, though Mr. Popcak attempts to at least acknowledge what a dual-working family have to face in particular, he doesn't have the personal experience to really come through. I actually wrote and asked him if he'd consider writing a parenting book like this specifially for families in which both parents work, but he didn't seem too interested in the idea. Too bad, because there are a lot of us out there. Mr. Popcak, if you're reading this, I'd still be willing to help you -- at least get you in touch with AP parents who both work so you can interview them.
Rating: 
Summary: So, you want to raise (almost) perfect kids?
Review: Children are the most wonderful gift we can ever receive, and my wife, Lisa, and I hope that Parenting With Grace will help you celebrate that gift like never before. We have been overwhelmed with positive feedback about the book. Even Publisher's Weekly said Parenting with Grace was "uniquely Catholic... humorous and practical." But the comments that matter most to us are our reader's, and we have been truly touched by your positive response. Almost daily we hear from readers who tell us how the techniques and lessons offered in Parenting with Grace have changed their lives, helped them raise loving, godly children, and create families that are witnesses to faith, hope, and love. Thank you for your interest in our work. Let us know what you think. We look forward to hearing from YOU. And until then, may God give you and your family all the grace you need to raise (almost) perfect kids!
Rating: 
Summary: Practical book but I had serious reservations
Review: First the positive.....there were elements presented that I really enjoyed and found helpful being that I already practice a more positive discipline approach. The chapter on "Everyday Discipline That Makes a Difference" based on educating the child in virtue and building relationships was very good. I appreciate the concrete examples in illustrating a particular point; in parenting books, this is most helpful. And as a practicing Catholic, it was nice to read a parenting book that included words from the Holy Father. I also liked the Family Mission Statement idea in order to help foster the virtues (which don't get a lot of space in any parenting book) in our children. However, as I was reading the book, there were several sections that were particularly unsettling and I found that unless one is already naturally bent toward attachment parenting (or possibly latently), this book may prove a bit disconcerting. Understandibly, most parenting books claim to be the "preferred" way to parenting but this book, to me, goes beyond that because of the theological claims it seems to make. I found the following paragraph troubling.... "Lisa and I are not so foolish as to think that the methods we present are the only ways to parent. But it is our opinion that the methods we describe represent an invitation to enjoy "the next level" of parenting.....Just as other Christian denominations possess some truth, but the Catholic Church has "the fullness of truth" other parents are capable of having good relationships with their children, but we believe the parents who avail themselves of the parenting style we present here are capable of entering into the 'fullness of family life'."(pg. 137) It is obvious to anyone that there is not only one way to parent but I found it interesting that the authors left out any words from that sentence which would imply other parenting methods as also being **good and effective** in imparting Christian virtues and raising holy children. On the contrary, from the remaining sentences they instead strongly imply that anyone who chooses not to follow their method of parenting are falling short on "the fullness of family life" and are parenting on a "lower level". There is no Church authority or teaching that backs up such a claim and I find it unsettling that they took it upon themselves to assume it. I must admit, my impressions of the book were a bit marred from then on. Further on, the authors then strongly imply that unless one is practicing attachment parenting and the style chosen by the authors, one is failing to love their children with as much generosity as they. Quoting from the book: "As the parable of the ungrateful servant teaches, God calls us to model the same generosity He shows to us. Yes, it would be enough to be a good, loving conventional parent. But by God's own example, Catholic Christians are called to be more than "enough". We are called to be "perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect". That is, perfect in love."(pg.162) Isn't this similar to saying that if we don't all give up everything we own and go to India to serve the poor as Mother Teresa did we aren't being generous enough. Personal holiness or "perfection" is not confined to any method of parenting any more than it is to a particular vocation, career, spirituality, or devotion. To a Catholic, being perfected in love consists in lovingly and generously doing the will of God, and God's will varies for each individual. Perfection in generosity does not consist in how long one nurses a child, whether or not one has a family bed or wears a sling. Athough the book has some good practical tips for any parent, especially for those who already espouse attachment parenting, I respectfully disagree with their extraneous theological assertions. I also was turned off completely by the arrogant (for lack of a better word) undertones. I would also recommend the authors to read "Story of a Family" to see how the parents, who themselves are up for canonization, raised the greatest saint of modern times. It's interesting to note that they were a dual-income family, complete with servants, who sent their children to boarding school. (St. Therese was sent away to live with a wet nurse for several months b/c of health problems). Recently canonized St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a physician so it seems highly unlikely that she practiced attachment parenting either
Rating:
Summary: Practical book but I had serious reservations
Review: First the positive.....there were elements presented that I really enjoyed and found helpful being that I already practice a more positive discipline approach. The chapter on "Everyday Discipline That Makes a Difference" based on educating the child in virtue and building relationships was very good. I appreciate the concrete examples in illustrating a particular point; in parenting books, this is most helpful. And as a practicing Catholic, it was nice to read a parenting book that included words from the Holy Father. I also liked the Family Mission Statement idea in order to help foster the virtues (which don't get a lot of space in any parenting book) in our children. However, as I was reading the book, there were several sections that were particularly unsettling and I found that unless one is already naturally bent toward attachment parenting (or possibly latently), this book may prove a bit disconcerting. Understandibly, most parenting books claim to be the "preferred" way to parenting but this book, to me, goes beyond that because of the theological claims it seems to make. I found the following paragraph troubling.... "Lisa and I are not so foolish as to think that the methods we present are the only ways to parent. But it is our opinion that the methods we describe represent an invitation to enjoy "the next level" of parenting.....Just as other Christian denominations possess some truth, but the Catholic Church has "the fullness of truth" other parents are capable of having good relationships with their children, but we believe the parents who avail themselves of the parenting style we present here are capable of entering into the 'fullness of family life'."(pg. 137) It is obvious to anyone that there is not only one way to parent but I found it interesting that the authors left out any words from that sentence which would imply other parenting methods as also being **good and effective** in imparting Christian virtues and raising holy children. On the contrary, from the remaining sentences they instead strongly imply that anyone who chooses not to follow their method of parenting are falling short on "the fullness of family life" and are parenting on a "lower level". There is no Church authority or teaching that backs up such a claim and I find it unsettling that they took it upon themselves to assume it. I must admit, my impressions of the book were a bit marred from then on. Further on, the authors then strongly imply that unless one is practicing attachment parenting and the style chosen by the authors, one is failing to love their children with as much generosity as they. Quoting from the book: "As the parable of the ungrateful servant teaches, God calls us to model the same generosity He shows to us. Yes, it would be enough to be a good, loving conventional parent. But by God's own example, Catholic Christians are called to be more than "enough". We are called to be "perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect". That is, perfect in love."(pg.162) Isn't this similar to saying that if we don't all give up everything we own and go to India to serve the poor as Mother Teresa did we aren't being generous enough. Personal holiness or "perfection" is not confined to any method of parenting any more than it is to a particular vocation, career, spirituality, or devotion. To a Catholic, being perfected in love consists in lovingly and generously doing the will of God, and God's will varies for each individual. Perfection in generosity does not consist in how long one nurses a child, whether or not one has a family bed or wears a sling. Athough the book has some good practical tips for any parent, especially for those who already espouse attachment parenting, I respectfully disagree with their extraneous theological assertions. I also was turned off completely by the arrogant (for lack of a better word) undertones. I would also recommend the authors to read "Story of a Family" to see how the parents, who themselves are up for canonization, raised the greatest saint of modern times. It's interesting to note that they were a dual-income family, complete with servants, who sent their children to boarding school. (St. Therese was sent away to live with a wet nurse for several months b/c of health problems). Recently canonized St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a physician so it seems highly unlikely that she practiced attachment parenting either
Rating: 
Summary: Great Parenting!
Review: I truthfully enjoyed reading every page of this book! It is so true to the Catholic faith and is an excellent resource for any parent or parent-to-be! I highly recommend it for anyone trying to better themselves as parents and as a family while staying close to their faith.
Rating:
Summary: The Best book on Christian parenting (next to Dr. Sears)!
Review: If you want to do more than: raise an "okay" kid, in a grow-up, get-a-job, basically-decent-person sort of sense, then this book is for you! This book is about raising your children to be all God wants them to be (i.e. SAINTS!) and gives parents very practical suggestions on how to accomplish this. The author also cites numerous writings by our Holy Father and other esteemed Catholics that promote a parenting style in line with the values and ideals of the Catholic Church. This book specifically encourages the idea of attatchment parenting,(in a society that seems to practice de-tatchment parenting),which I found very gratifying since my husband and I try to do that anyway -and again the author cites specific Catholic sources to reinforce this viewpoint. I also think the author's appendix in the back about why he can't spank, and his critical examination of corporal punishment is one of the best Christian arguments against spanking that I have read. I can't say enough about how much I love this book! While the bookstores are stocked with many books on how not to let your children manipulate you (i.e. Babywise and others), and how to make your children fit into your lifestyle(instead of re-arranging yours to put your children first), this book is a refreshing and timely reminder that children are a gift from God and as such, deserve to be parented in a way fitting of their dignity as a human being! I intend to give it as a gift to the Catholic parents that I know. Do yourself a favor and buy one for yourself and one for a friend- they (and their children) will thank you for it!
Rating:
Summary: The Best book on Christian parenting (next to Dr. Sears)!
Review: If you want to do more than: raise an "okay" kid, in a grow-up, get-a-job, basically-decent-person sort of sense, then this book is for you! This book is about raising your children to be all God wants them to be (i.e. SAINTS!) and gives parents very practical suggestions on how to accomplish this. The author also cites numerous writings by our Holy Father and other esteemed Catholics that promote a parenting style in line with the values and ideals of the Catholic Church. This book specifically encourages the idea of attatchment parenting,(in a society that seems to practice de-tatchment parenting),which I found very gratifying since my husband and I try to do that anyway -and again the author cites specific Catholic sources to reinforce this viewpoint. I also think the author's appendix in the back about why he can't spank, and his critical examination of corporal punishment is one of the best Christian arguments against spanking that I have read. I can't say enough about how much I love this book! While the bookstores are stocked with many books on how not to let your children manipulate you (i.e. Babywise and others), and how to make your children fit into your lifestyle(instead of re-arranging yours to put your children first), this book is a refreshing and timely reminder that children are a gift from God and as such, deserve to be parented in a way fitting of their dignity as a human being! I intend to give it as a gift to the Catholic parents that I know. Do yourself a favor and buy one for yourself and one for a friend- they (and their children) will thank you for it!
Rating:
Summary: The Best book on Christian parenting (next to Dr. Sears)!
Review: If you want to do more than: raise an "okay" kid, in a grow-up, get-a-job, basically-decent-person sort of sense, then this book is for you! This book is about raising your children to be all God wants them to be (i.e. SAINTS!) and gives parents very practical suggestions on how to accomplish this. The author also cites numerous writings by our Holy Father and other esteemed Catholics that promote a parenting style in line with the values and ideals of the Catholic Church. This book specifically encourages the idea of attatchment parenting,(in a society that seems to practice de-tatchment parenting),which I found very gratifying since my husband and I try to do that anyway -and again the author cites specific Catholic sources to reinforce this viewpoint. I also think the author's appendix in the back about why he can't spank, and his critical examination of corporal punishment is one of the best Christian arguments against spanking that I have read. I can't say enough about how much I love this book! While the bookstores are stocked with many books on how not to let your children manipulate you (i.e. Babywise and others), and how to make your children fit into your lifestyle(instead of re-arranging yours to put your children first), this book is a refreshing and timely reminder that children are a gift from God and as such, deserve to be parented in a way fitting of their dignity as a human being! I intend to give it as a gift to the Catholic parents that I know. Do yourself a favor and buy one for yourself and one for a friend- they (and their children) will thank you for it!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent baby shower gift!
Review: This book is full of wonderful disciplining advice while always keeping your child's dignity intact. Everything from implementing "time-outs," handling tantrums, developing trust, modeling responsibility, creating a loving rapport with your child is included. It is a very detailed, how-to book - we started implementing his ideas immediately, and saw results immediately. This is a book that reminds us to love our children the same way Jesus loves us.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for every parent
Review: This book is great! I love the way it integrates authentic Church teaching with really practical parenting advice. I only got it two weeks ago, and the techniques are already making a huge differences in my childrens' behavior. I really look to it on those days when I'm not sure what to do to keep things on track. I only wish I knew about it sooner! I know what I'm giving as gifts to my mother's support group. Thanks for this great resource.
|
