From parents perspective
358660
This will be a valuable resource for those preparing to adopt. It will help you gain insight into what to expect from and how to deal with the professionals.
4818891
All parents start with grand expectations for their children.  However, many parents are not specifically clear what characters they really want their children to have.  Not knowing where to go and how to get there, it results in frustration, friction, conflict, mistrust, ... between the generations.  Dr. Dyer's book is an invaluable guide for all serious parents to set the correct goal, make the goal approachable, and make every day of the parent-child relationship a deep enjoyment.

This book is not an easy book.  As other readers have pointed out, this book is not just about raising kids, but also (perhaps more importantly) about changing the parents themselves.  As I read through some of the paragraphs, I often felt my regret for things that I should have not done to my kids (I hope I can be better next time...).

Not only did the author set the goals that were founded on sound human development theory (mostly Maslow), but he also gave numerous detailed daily advices that are well organized around these goals.  Examples include as simple of an advice as "Do not create monsters in the minds of young children to temporarily quiet them" to the more thoughtful "Try making your adolescent right rather than arguing with them any longer."  Another observation worthing everybody's thought is "If you use guilt on children on a regular basis, it will not be long before they start using it on you."

I also enjoy the many profound sayings that the author quoted.  One is "A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary." The other is "The greatest evil that can befall man is that he should come to think ill of himself."
3064412
The greatest joy for christian parents is  knowing their children have a strong faith in Jesus. We know that such a faith will sustain them through difficult times, frustrations, and disappointments. Perhaps the greatest fear of christian parents is that even though you take your kids to church their entire lives, send them to youth events, pray for them, and give them every opportunity, in the end, they may have only been relying on your faith, not their own.

A challenge for the church is helping youth transition from their parents faith to their own. It is this challenge that Ryan and Josh Shook address in their book Firsthand. Having four teenagers, this book directly relates to the hope I have for my children.

As young adults move away from the influence of their parents they must find their own path and their faith must become their own. A second hand faith will only let them down. Sadly, for many parents the hope of a first hand faith will go unfulfilled. Too many parents stand by helplessly as they watch their children walk away from a faith that means so much to them.

Ryan and Josh know what it is like to grow up with a second hand faith. Being the children of pastors is never easy. Ryan and Josh grew up living a seemingly christian life, but never made faith their own. As they moved into the world they discovered that second hand faith is not enough. Ryan and Josh share their journey as pastor's kids with a second hand faith that left them empty, to a firsthand faith that sustains, encourages, and transforms them for God's glory.

They share their journey hoping that their story might encourage others who are struggling because they are living a secondhand faith. The book is well written and is easy to read. It addresses issues those growing up in the church may experience. They encourage their readers to reflect and not settle for their parent's faith, but embrace Jesus for themselves.
122370
Fantastic Book from a Parents Perspective

I experienced many of the same challenges with my child and their addiction.

Recently I recommended the book to a gal who's son is an addict and is suffering from Guilt!
3826455
Written by a licensed Christian counselor/social worker, The Parenting Business provides a lot of valuable insight as to why a child might grow up having emotional and social problems if they are not given enough parental love, guidance, and care.  Each chapter begins with a quote from scripture.  It is followed by examples of real life cases of young men and women that Ms. Esparza counceled during her career as a social worker.  She also includes lessons that she learned from raising her own children as a single mother.

Probably one of the most useful chapters in the book is the one entitled, "Solidifying Common Ground."  As many of us know, it is often times difficult for families to get together and connect.  Our lives lead us on a whirlwind of activities that seldom give us time to really get to know each other.  This chapter gives several ideas to help families do just that.  Some of those ideas include: Ride a city bus together, cook together, do a family project, schedule a regular family playtime, and go to an event like a high school football game where nobody in the family is a member of either team.

Ms. Esparza also emphasizes using care in the way we talk to our children.  We need to listen without being judgemental or overly emotional, and we need to encourage them rather than criticize or belittle them.  This is all common sense for diligent, concerned parents, but it is interesting to see case studies of children who were verbally abused and became juvenile offenders.  For those who have teenagers that are becoming difficult to comunicate with, there are examples of situations and dialog that could help keep the lines of communication open.

This is really a very good book not only for parents, but also for other counselors and social workers.  The "Christian" aspect of the book was not terribly overwhelming, so I do not believe that those of other faiths would be uncomfortable reading it.  The insights form Ms. Esparza's hindsights are good for everyone regardless of religious background.
1364447
Parent's book about his experiences as a caseworker give us a first hand look at some of the extreme situations people find themselves in as well as how fragile a child is in these situations.  Parent connects with children  and gives us a clear door that we can use to see through their eyes as well  as their parents' eyes. He speaks from the heart and helps us learn from  his experiences in this great book.
2910698
In Trifles, author Kuir  Garang shows us parenting from a perspective that many who
are born in North America may not consider: multiculturalism. That is, parents who want
the best for their children in their new country, and who seek to embrace new traditions,
but who also struggle with keeping alive the established traditions of their homeland.
This is difficult for parents who have emigrated and are raising their children here. As for
the children, it can seem quite overwhelming, as they are born into a multicultural
society and must strive to fit in, while on the other hand, their parents find it important to
teach them the ways of their homeland.

Consider the main character of the book, Angelina, and her family: Father Oliver and
Mother Jacqueline. We see early on that Angelina is a child who is prone to speaking her
mind and asking things that we, as adults, may consider odd or downright
uncomfortable. In fact, Angelina, it seems, speaks as one much older than her tender
years. This, of course, has her father trying to understand exactly why she is this way.

What makes this book unique is that we are made to feel a part of the family from the
opening chapter. It deftly weaves the family's history around a present day narrative.
Authentically written, the reader feels as though he/she is actually there, whether it is at
the breakfast table, with Angelina being tutored, or even in conversation with Angelina
and her tutors. The author's style is very relaxed and successfully draws the reader into
the story, and while there are several larger issues at play (school troubles, police
involvement, sudden illness), the story is grounded with the more mundane side of
things, such as a family breakfast for instance.

This allows the reader to identify with the family, as everyone has had these
experiences. Finally, Trifles is written in such a way that anyone can pick it up and
immediately be drawn into the story--anticipating each subsequent scene.
3967278
Interesting information for all - parents, educators et al
4267104
As a counselor I see parents who are trying to do the best for their children. This book gives tools and insights on how to be a strong and consistent parent with out without the help of the co-parent. It is a good read for all parents.
3218966
Parents wonder why the attitude of their teens. They wonder why their kids are not motivated to do anything. They wonder what in the world is going on! This book can help them understand.
4907562
This book portrays how easily a teen, even with good parents can make one wrong choice and end up destroying thier life. A glimpse into the thought process and feeling of a good teen going down the wrong road without even realizing it. A great read for parents.
1960219
As a new parent, this book title really caught my eye as I'm sure new parents would agree that we all want to give our kids the best opportunities right from the start.

The research and studies made for some very interesting reading and I don't doubt the findings.  However, as an expat living in Hong Kong and seeing how kids are competitive right from pre-nursery I would have liked to see if there are correlations in behavioral patterns across other countries and cultures.

A good read nonetheless.
3832110
It was a great read. As a new parent, I found it veery helpful. Great eye opener for parents to read.
810515
Really good info for parents concerned with giving their kids the best of their parenting abilities. Kind of a technical read in some spots. Very interesting.
4606219
This is my first "perspectives" book and I found it to be very interesting. I think having different perspectives, with coinciding pros and cons, proves to be a valuable guide for a parent or student to start the research process.
573986
Helps parents to understand how toddlers process events and view situations. It gave me a new perspective on the world and how frustrating it can be. Now I am able to handle meltdowns in a more rational way that helps my child feel more secure and valued. Great for those parents who feel that CIO and time outs aren't the best methods for dealing with their children's behavior.
3883893
It's wonderful to read a story about the complexities that children have to deal with as their parents age.  We have so much information about raising children, but not enough about dealing with our parents as they age.  Thank you for sharing your story.