Description:
What makes The Path of Parenting so supportive is that it focuses on the parent rather than the child. Vimala McClure reminds us that parenthood is a chosen task (whether consciously or unconsciously), and if performed with love and awareness it can inspire profound spiritual growth. Using the 12 principles of Tai Chi as her framework, McClure's chapter headings include "Slow Down," "Be Yourself," "Avoid Extremes," "Maintain Continuity," and "Accept and Validate." Since McClure addresses parents of babies all the way through parents of adult children, this book has a unique and timeless quality. The lessons here are not always esoteric or meditative, such as the author's gritty anecdote about a drug-abusing girl who assaulted her daughter. Herein lies McClure's strength--the ability to integrate lofty principles into the humbling and often fumbling acts of parenting. Occasionally the book falters, such as in the long-winded passage on writing a "mission statement." But for the most part, McClure is a concise and engaging writer who clearly values and understands the spiritual journey of parenthood. --Gail Hudson
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