Description:
It's easy to get stuck in an unpleasant parenting rut--daily frustrations have a way of building walls between kids and parents that lead to ineffective communication and further frustrations. Sometimes an objective step back and a fresh set of reminders are just the ticket to get family life back on track. A welcome combination of theory and practical suggestions, The Encouraging Parent first presents a general overview of typical parenting systems of punishment and reward. Examples like "If you make straight A's, I'll give you fifty dollars" and "You will sit here all night if it takes that long" may be embarrassingly familiar to some readers, but not to worry; author Rod Kennedy promises that he is out to break the cycle of blame for all involved. He proceeds to do just that by showing surprisingly simple suggestions for discipline that is effective and loving at the same time. Practical ideas are listed with bullet points, followed by short explanations, a definite boon for busy parents who find their reading time to be limited. Lists cover topics like "verbal bombs to avoid," "nine characteristics of the emotionally mature parent," and personal traits of responsible people. Lots of real-life stories are included from the author's personal experiences, and these stories serve nicely to illustrate the 14 different communication skills Kennedy feels are necessary for good parenting. One short tale of his wife's bad day that is greeted with "start from the beginning and tell me everything," instead of "you think you had a bad day," is an easy lesson that can make a world of difference in an exhausted family. If you're ready to make a few positive changes at home, The Encouraging Parent is an excellent place to start. --Jill Lightner
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