Parenting With Grace: Catholic Parent's Guide to Raising Almost Perfect Kids

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Summary: So faithful and practical!
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.

Rating:
Summary: the BEST parenting book out there!!!
Review: This book is my parenting BIBLE!! I can't say enough good things about it--each and every chapter is INVALUABLE. I am so glad I found something that can help me figure out how to handle my kids at every bend in the road, in virtually every situation. It advocates attachment parenting and loving-guidance discipline, and also gives you a plethora of techniques and tells exactly when and how to use them (i.e. "everyday discipline" vs. bigger, more stubborn issues). He clarified the reality that family life is not just a mundane distraction--a family should have goals, a vision of where they are going in life, etc. He talks extensively about how all family members must have a solid rapport between them for discipline to be effective, for love to be felt, etc. He clarifies the question of spanking from both a spiritual and a scientific perspective. He goes into detail about how to handle the various stages of childhood, from loving the infant to "taming" the toddler to handling the teenager--gracefully. He outlines how to foster virtues, morals, a love for religion and a love for Jesus in your children; he tells how to make your family into the "domestic church" Pope John Paul calls it to be. I wouldn't even waste time with any other parenting or discipline book--this one more than covers all your questions and worries. I refer to it at least once a week, and it gives me the guidance I need to be an effective yet loving parent to my kids. It wil literally change your outlook on family life; it will give you new hope and make parenting a truly gratifying experience. The title couldn't be more appropriate--now I really have the information I need to raise "perfect" kids! If you REALLY unconditionally love your children and want them to be the best they can be, you will be thrilled to have this book!

Rating:
Summary: the BEST parenting book out there!!!
Review: This book is my parenting BIBLE!! I can't say enough good things about it--each and every chapter is INVALUABLE. I am so glad I found something that can help me figure out how to handle my kids at every bend in the road, in virtually every situation. It advocates attachment parenting and loving-guidance discipline, and also gives you a plethora of techniques and tells exactly when and how to use them (i.e. "everyday discipline" vs. bigger, more stubborn issues). He clarified the reality that family life is not just a mundane distraction--a family should have goals, a vision of where they are going in life, etc. He talks extensively about how all family members must have a solid rapport between them for discipline to be effective, for love to be felt, etc. He clarifies the question of spanking from both a spiritual and a scientific perspective. He goes into detail about how to handle the various stages of childhood, from loving the infant to "taming" the toddler to handling the teenager--gracefully. He outlines how to foster virtues, morals, a love for religion and a love for Jesus in your children; he tells how to make your family into the "domestic church" Pope John Paul calls it to be. I wouldn't even waste time with any other parenting or discipline book--this one more than covers all your questions and worries. I refer to it at least once a week, and it gives me the guidance I need to be an effective yet loving parent to my kids. It wil literally change your outlook on family life; it will give you new hope and make parenting a truly gratifying experience. The title couldn't be more appropriate--now I really have the information I need to raise "perfect" kids! If you REALLY unconditionally love your children and want them to be the best they can be, you will be thrilled to have this book!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful resource
Review: This book is wonderful. Although it is a Catholic book, and is written from a Catholic perspective (which, being Catholic, made me love the book even more!), the book provides a philosophy of parenting that would benefit ALL children. This book supported a lot of what I felt in my heart was the right way to parent and provided a LOT more information to more effectively raise my children. It describes the childhood I wish I had had! Loving, yet firm. I plan on buying it for new parents-to-be, so they can read and learn from the book BEFORE the children arrive.

Rating:
Summary: Great Guide for Catholic Parents
Review: This is a great book. It is well written and flows well. The material is very relevant. You can get a lot of good ideas or at least somewhere to start. He recommends the same parenting methods that Dr. Sears and his sons do. He gives you insight in how you should be a Catholic parent, not just in faith instruction, but in how you should treat and discipline your children. I read a passage in there about how to treat your children. I don't remember the page. "You should treat your children as if Jesus or the Virgin Mary were there watching. Would you be embarrassed or proud of your behavior as a parent? Do you think they would approve?" This is not a book about just letting your children go. He is a believer in discipline, but not overdoing it by being too strict or too lenient.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book but...
Review: This is a very informative Christian book with a plethora of excellent advice.My only quibble is the unwarranted arrogance that insinuates only Catholic parents are capable of good parenting. It is time to remove the wedge between Catholics and Protestants! Even Pope John Paul says so! Let us just share our wealth of ideas and refrain from throwing barbs at our Protestant brothers and sisters.Though we disagree with most of their ideas we still have to respect their opinions just as we expect them to respect ours.

Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for every parent
Review: Whether you're Catholic or not, if you are a parent you will benefit tremendously from this book. I'm a Catholic parent and I'm really thankful that someone took the time and trouble to organize the vast plethora of parenting techniques out there so that it is easy to see their place within the structure of a Catholic parenting paradigm. The author is very knowledgeable of both scripture and church doctrine and explains their relevance to raising children. The step by step techniques for dealing with the various stages of a person's maturation are excellent. He also has little quizzes that you can use to help elucidate the areas where your parent-child relationship may need help. He has a superb treatise on why spanking is not a suitable discipline technique. I can't say enough about the excellent blend of philosophy, practical application and religion that the author has put together in this book. He is an organizational genius. Read this book!