A good read, whether you have kids or not!
342221
I love this book. It has some really touching moments and some dry humor that I like. For me, as a 23 year old, it is nice to know that people who made the same choices I am making right now, are living happy lives. I do think that Daum is right to mention that all of the contributors in the book are writers, because I do think that colors the stories for non-artist types. As someone with a 9 to 5, I don't relate as much with the writer lifestyle, even though I have a degree in writing (ironic much?). Regardless of the perspective, this book is still great. Its the first book I've read outside of a class assignment in four plus years. Even if you have or want kids, its still a good read.
336105
As someone who doesn't yet have kids, but is considering them in the near future, this was a great read. As a feminist, I've had conflicting ideas about motherhood and the expectations society puts on mothers. It's so easy to get overwhelmed with mommy-blogs, and people telling you how you should raise your kids.
This was a really easy, quick read. I feel like I have more reasonable expectations for what to expect from having kids, and it helped me be less judgmental when I see my friend's parenting choices.
3298822
I love this book.

Expectant parents are the target audience, but I'm glad I had an opportunity to read it before conceiving; some suggestions take time and energy to implement.  If you already have kids, it's never too late to read this and take steps to improve your family's financial future (but everything gets harder the longer you wait).

This book covers all financial aspects of parenthood: maternity leave, taxes, health costs, college savings accounts, your retirement (important!), wills, trusts, life insurance, disability insurance.  It also gives a fresh perspective on choices for daycare, where to live, etc.  Rather than forcing one-size-fits-all dogma, the author provides the information you need to make informed decisions.

The information in this book is easy to digest, so it's actually fun to read.  It has the perfect amount of detail.  After reading this book, you'll be able to take some steps immediately, and you'll also be motivated to do additional research on other topics that directly apply to your situation.

I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to have kids.
4036076
I have really enjoyed other books on parenting by Peter Mayle so I looked forward to this one with interest.  It is really for raising babies, and since my youngest is 11, I didn't buy it for myself, but for some friends.  Told with humor and a relaxed manner, it helps drive home the point that kids crave structure, not necessarily getting their way, andif you give them structure, you will also be much happier.
4484349
The chapter on children is really good. It sounds very "obvious", but are we actually raising kids in that fashion? It's not just ideas, it's a workable technology. Really good.
3297873
I think most kids my age remember being told, "Life isn't fair," at some point! As irritating as hearing it was, I have to admit how true it is. There are a lot of things that Mom said that I didn't appreciate until I was older, and several of those pithy sayings are included in this book. You'll find a bit of a "tough love" approach to parenting in this book, but it's not necessarily a bad thing to step back and let kids learn from the consequences of their actions.

The book can come off as sounding a bit harsh, so I'd suggest keeping in mind that we need to balance these little lessons with building relationships with our kids and making sure that they know we love them. Overall, it's a pretty solid book though.

Note: I received a complementary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
4644416
Love the book! I don't have kids, but I remember being one. It shows that parent's don't always make the right decisions either. But you just have to do the best you can while they're young and know that the decisions of a teenager are NOT always in your hands. They HAVE to learn from their own experiences.
373991
This humorous book lets you remember (or find out) all those lovely stages your children go through in response to their age and your parenting style. It also looks at the marital/parenting relationship, and let me know that my husband really did almost at much house work and child care as I did, he just did it differently.

It wasn't able to solve the "Mom gets to do diapers, potty training, [bad] school parent meetings, and Dad gets to take the kids to the Zoo, hand out candy and watch the Three Stooges with the kid, and both counts as equal child care time." dilemma. I think it will take more than a book, it will take a miracle. (only kidding)

Really Moms, part of the exhaustion you get from raising kids isn't just the time spent with them, trying vainly to turn them from adorable blobs to productive, well-mannered and successful adults; it's all the stuff in your head: Doctor's appointments, homework help, worry about everything. I don't know if it's completely gender-tied, but Men just don't freak over these things until they actually come up. I wish I could do the same thing.

Back to the book:  I inhaled it, even though my child-rearing days are long behind me. It kept me laughing, remembering and seething about some of the perceived (and real) unfairness  that parents go through as they raise the little monsters and turn them into nice employed people. It's a great book for any parent of young children who isn't too exhausted to read it.
3756803
An entertaining read, I know my kids will enjoy this book!
2482440
If you have, then this book is for you! If your child is in the terrible twos-or threes, then you will both like this book! It is amusing for the toddler to be in the grown-up role. There is a message for parent and child alike.
819297
I wish that I had read this book when I first became a parent. I wish that I had read this book as a young adult. Running through a wild ride of real life stories, the author shares his clear, practical outline for a happy, rewarding life. The book is peppered with delicious nuggets of wisdom, some obvious, some surprising, all useful. Easy to read, easy to remember, the book is tasty and filling. Do you want to be a better parent? Do you want to guide your children to their best potential? Read this book. Now.
930313
I enjoyed this book, mainly because I agree with the author about most things, having experienced many of those things myself. (I don't agree with her about cloth diapers, though. I will happily make friends with anyone who cloth diaper(ed) his/her kid(s), even if we have nothing else in common. If you don't understand, you clearly don't love the fluff! IT'S FLUFFY! Erhrm.) I like that she points out that breast milk is great all on its own without trying to turn it into a magical superpower--I have even said something similar in my own Amazon reviews. I like that she pointed out that vaccination is a totally separate issue from all of the other parenting issues, because it's the only one that tends to have a direct effect on other people. I liked a lot of things she said, really. In the end, though, it comes out as being too judgmental against judgment--like while trying to point out how an individual's experience can't be universalized, she kind of seems to universalize her own experience. Besides, there are a lot of books on this topic already, and although this one is good, it isn't ground-breaking. I could write one myself and it probably wouldn't be ground-breaking either. In conclusion, this is a decent read, but not a required one.
4112814
You know how you feel about a friend who is solid, wise, and forgiving? That's the sense I got when I was reading this book. We can't control everything -- our children will have days when they are happy and days when they are sad. They will master some skills and others will never come easy to them. They will have friends who make them better people and some who are not the best influences. What this book does is give us plenty of food for thought as we parent these children so they can make their way in the world, as imperfect as they, and the world, are.

Teach Your Children Well is more than a how-to. It's well-written and thought provoking. You'll see in other reviews that not everyone agrees with all of the author's views. That brings me back to the solid, wise, and forgiving friend -- do you agree with that friend about everything? Probably not, but what an advantage to have his or her counsel. The author is a psychologist with years of clinical experience and children of her own. Whatever your style of parenting, I believe this book will speak to you.

Highly recommended, no matter what your children's ages. I'm going to suggest it for my book club. A lot to discuss!
2835608
I will start off by saying I really enjoyed reading this book.  I am not a big "reader" so I usually only read to develop and learn for my faith and my job, this book being related to my personal life was a breath of fresh air for me.

As I read Ben's observations and personal experiences surrounding his own kids, his victories and his frustrations, I felt like I was reading my own inner thoughts.  It brought great comfort to me realizing that I am not alone in my feelings as I raise young kids.  From mourning my pre-kid life, to the packed schedules, the family meals, and the funny conversations I felt like Ben was inviting me onto a team with him as we both strive for a win as parents.

A highlight for me in the book was the questions for reflection at the end of each chapter.  They are great questions and really help to move my mind from Ben's stories to my own experiences.

I did feel like the book was a bit of a slow starter, but stick with it through the last few chapters of section one.  Once you make it to section two and through the end it moves quicker and is very practical.

Overall this book is definitely worth your time, if you have young kids join the team!
723320
This book has a lot of helpful information for teens and twenty-somethings with a style that is light and fun to read.  If my kids were still at home, I think I would read this book myself, then bring up the book's topics in conversation with them.  By creating a dialogue on the book's many helpful subjects, I would ensure that my kids would benefit from it's wisdom without expecting them to sit down and read the book in its entirety...at least not for a few years.  The book will perfectly fit parents' ideas of what kids should know, but the kids may not be ready for all of this information at once, unless of course, you read the book TOGETHER.
Might I suggest&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/50-Ways-to-Leave-Your-Mother/dp/097781789X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">50 Ways to Leave Your Mother</a>&nbsp;if you are looking for a basic book of advice for kids newly out on their own or thinking about a move?  It is easy to read and funny and the helpful advice is laid out plainly and painlessly.  Then follow that with Out on My Own...Now What? You as parents could read the book at any time and start subtley indoctrinating your kids with its oh-so-helpful information.  You may also get some ideas about life lessons you personally should  be giving your kids, like adding oil to the car, cooking basic foods, and finance 101. This is one of the better books on this subject out there today.
1854143
What a coincidence; I happened to come across this book just after embarking on researching my own family tree. I picked it up, thinking it might give my kids a better idea of what a family history was. They liked it, I liked it. Interesting and inspiring. The authors ancestors may not have been perfect, but he doesnt apologize for them or rewrite their lives. He simply tells who they were and what they did. History is what it is. Admire the good and learn from the bad. The illustrations are great too. If you want to get your kids interested in personal family history, this may do the trick.
1549021
In the endless flood of the parenting books, "Instinctive Parenting" is a nice breath of fresh air. Ada Calhoun writes about all the issues most parents nowadays worry about to the point of panic, but she manages to find balance. Additionally, her light pen makes the book a fast, enjoyable read. It is not a reference book neither does it contain medical/developmental advice (for this please refer to the specialist ho will see your child, not to any kind of books) so some critical reviews are surprising.

If you read this book as an opinion book from a parent for other parents, it is a warm, reassuring, fun piece. Do not take everything literally! The whole point of this book is to tell you you can relax, stop comparing your family to others and stop panicking about the way you bring up your child. Admittedly, the author must have used it to reassure herself (there are a lot of chapters, which are just justifications of what she did differently from other people and it was a tad annoying), but there is a lot of common sense. It is true that many people (apparently, generation X, where I belong, too) are trying to be perfectionists (not only in parenting), finevitably failing, and getting massively frustrated (especially in parenting - a very bad outcome). So, Ada Calhoun's book can, at least for a while, let these people diminish their guilt.

The chapters are grouped in three parts: Shelter, Food an Love. However, the topics vary from annoying parents at the playground and birthday parties, to abuse, vaccination and circumcision (incidentally, although the author`s personal choice in the latter differed from mine, like in a lot of other issues, the chapter was really reasonable). There are also many references, if anyone wants to dig deeper into a particular subject and do their own research.