Rating: 
Summary: A title that delivers the truth
Review: "Skinned Knee" is more than just a blessing. This is a book that will challenge parents of young children to examine the nature and basis of their parenting skills. Dr. Mogel has crafted an amazing book. One that is completely accessible and honest and, at the same time, one that may rock your own understanding of what it takes to be a good and effective parent.I came away from my first reading of this book with a profound sense of what was missing in my relationship to my two daughters. As a Jew slowly returning to practice of Judaism, I was asking my children to believe in things that I wasn't completely comfortable with-and they could see it in my actions and hear it in my voice. The wisdom of Jewish thought through the ages can be a remarkable tool in raising your children. Like most tools, though, this is a challenging one to learn and a difficult one to master. Dr. Mogel has shown in this book to be a wonderful rebbe (teacher) -- one with the head, heart and soul necessary to set each parent on the right path. I look forward to re-reading this book many times. I know the strength of this 'blessing' will not diminish over time.
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Summary: Not just for Jewish parents...
Review: A (Catholic) friend gave me this book a few days ago, and I devoured it within 24 hours. It is absolutely wonderful -- straightforward, wise, and warm without being remotely preachy. Wendy Mogel is a terrific writer, to be sure -- the book is truly a joy to read -- but more important, the wisdom and clarity her book imparts is invaluable. I intend to recommend this book to everyone I know -- Jewish or no, parents or no.
Rating: 
Summary: Use common sense as you read it
Review: A friend of mine recommended this book to me when I had spoken to her about battling feelings of guilt as a new parent. This book is splendid for helping parents to feel secure in their parental authority and confident about setting boundaries. I suspect that some people could misread this book as encouraging tyrannical behavior or giving permission to disconnect from involvement in your child's daily concerns. In fact, the book encourages parents to remember that, ultimately, they are the decision makers and not every decision requires "buy in" from your child. Likewise, a child must learn responsibility, which involves being allowed to make some mistakes. Both of these concepts are presented gently and with careful consideration of the needs of both child and parent. As a parenting book, I can highly recommend this for any reader able to take what is wanted and leave the rest. If you tend to be an all or nothing thinker, this may not be the ideal read for you. As a book on Jewish teachings, I can not judge as I am not Jewish and am not educated in Jewish theology. I found the considerations of Jewish teachings in the book to be useful and thought provoking, and I think any Christian would find it so.
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Summary: Finally! Respect is important!
Review: After seeing the recent trend in families that I know trying to let their kids "become individuals", a book to remind you that it is okay to be a parent to your kids! Too many of the parents I know are so busy trying to not stiffle their kids, that they neglect to teach them common courtesy and respect for their elders. This book is not the solution to all behavioral problems with kids, only an insightful reminder to look at our own interaction with our children. It is a reminder that before you can teach children self-respect they need to learn how to respect others.
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Summary: A Real Problem Solver
Review: Fabulous, funny and to the point! This book has literally changed the manner in which I relate to my children in a very positive way. Wendy Mogel provides contemporary examples that describe how parental behaviour influences the thoughts and reactions of children. And most importantly...how to chnage it. I find that the author's opinions and suggestions are, without a doubt, applicable to parents of all faiths. After reading it through I've continued to use it as a reference guide.
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Summary: What a Relief!
Review: Finally a book that real people can relate to. These teachings are simple to use on a daily basis. Lost values that our parents and grandparents grew up with, updated to modern times. Very easy reading! I recomend this to all parents who are looking for a way to instill proper values to their children.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for parents
Review: I am not Jewish, but still found this book extremely relevant to my own parenting. Although Dr. Mogel uses Judaism and Hebrew as a basis for the underlying structure of her presentation, the issues she raises can be applied to any children and any faith.
I found it refreshing to read a parenting book that actually tells you that your child may not be above average and as a parent it is your responsibility to nurture your child's own unique traits and talents--not try to mold them into the next nobel laureate. As she quotes a Hassidic saying, "If your child has a talent to be a baker, don't tell him to be a doctor."
As the title of the book implies, Dr. Mogel also suggests that it's okay for your children to be exposed to hurt and other unpleasantries of life. She chooses to call these "blessings" and her chapters include titles such as " The Blessing of Longing, The Blessing of Work, The Blessing of Self-Control, and The Blessing of Time."
The book also heavily emphasizes the importance of tradition in family. Dr. Mogel does this through the practice of Judaism and using the traditions of Judaism to bind her family together. I think this concept can be applied to any religion, or if not a religion than a series of ongoing family traditions that bind your family together.
I found this book to be very thought provoking and much of it resonated with me at a very basic level, "Yes. This makes sense!"
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Summary: For every parent - not just Jewish ones
Review: I bought this book because the last book I read on raising children was Dr. Spock. My grandson was two at the time and going through the usual age problems. I don't like to interfere with how my children raise their own, but this book was so outstanding and sensible I gave it to my daughter. She read it and said it had the best advice she had gotten from any book. She now includes this book with every baby shower gift. But, best of all, the advice actually works!
Rating: 
Summary: very mixed feelings
Review: I had very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I agree with the author's premise that parents should be parents, and not try to be their child's best friend. On the other hand, some of her other arguments were very troubling to me. Among these were the idea that you should never be an advocate for your child, and that you should allow him to handle all his problems himself. The author fails to account for the fact that young children lack the experience and the skills necessary to cope with every situation; that's why they HAVE parents! Not every bad experience is a "learning experience," and I think some of the advice in this book advocates a parenting style that borders on neglect. Perhaps this is because Dr. Mogel is a therapist in an affluent Beverly Hills neighborhood, and she simply doesn't see kids with "real problems." Additionally, she states that parents should not expect their children to be good at everything. This is obviously good advice, but then she goes on to talk about how terrible it is that girls in the modern era are supposed to be good at math and science. Exactly what is she trying to get at here? That girls shouldn't be encouraged to do well in "non-traditional" subjects? Indeed, this does seem to be what she is saying. Finally, one of the most disturbing anecdotes in this book is about a young girl who is so anxious about going away to camp that she repeatedly throws up all night long. Dr. Mogel holds this up as a great example, because the parents make her go anyway. If you are making your kid so anxious and stressed that she throws up all night, YOU ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB AS A PARENT. THIS IS NOT OKAY. In sum, I would say that her underlying message, which is to parent your children and not let them run the show, is a good one. But many of her examples are distressing to say the least. And finally, she never gives any advice as to how to implement her philosophy. For example, if she says, "don't let your kid do X," she never gives any strategies for how to deal with it when your kid inevitably does X. In my opinion, if you want some real "no-nonsense" parenting advice, call up Grandma. There's not much here that's useful.
Rating:
Summary: Best Parenting Book I Have Ever Read
Review: I have been involved in child care for 25 years and a Director of a child care for 4. I have my Masters in Early Education and I am not Jewish. This book has straight forward advice which those of us who deal with children every day say continually. It is excellent.
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