Makes you feel like a terrible parent.
345232
As a mother with children and all the things that come with that; the author really needs to make it an easier read. I don't have the time to read a huge book with a toddler and a newborn already dealing with conflict. I am mid-way through chapter 2 and so far all the author has done is made me feel like a lousy parent who doesn't deserve children. She has pretty much gone through and said why each discipline method I've ever heard of is horrible and wrong. She has yet to show me anything to actually help me. I'm sure she's getting to that. But in the meantime I am exhausted with dealing with my brat of a 2-year-old, a newborn who refuses to sleep, daily chores that never seem to go away, and issues with breastfeeding. NOW I'm told I'm a lousy mother and nothing to help in the meantime? Thanks I guess. I have no way to discipline my 2-year-old before she shows me how...when I get to that page in the book. God knows when that will happen for all the reasons I discussed above. Maybe a shorter cliff notes version is necessary. I'll update upon completion of the book.
2125356
It's fun, and does highlight that tantrums don't help anything.  But I don't like the fact that it makes tantrums seem normal and somewhat acceptable.  We are more old-school in raising our kids.
1482999
This is my first review on here and I felt compelled to post about this book.  When I started it I loved it, got pulled in just from the expert at the beginning.  then reading about all the tragedy and what people do to others in our world today I got soo depressed.  I have two kids under 3 and when reading about the mom jumping from the building holding her son and about the little toy truck all the details just hit too close to home and it made me want to stop reading.  Reading about the camera man who didn't even lend a hand to a burning person in a car just made me soo mad.  Then when you read about the two kids who drowned, I was like I cant handle this book. It has too much tragedy happening to kids in it. I can read about adult tragedy but when the details are about kids it gets to me.  I stuck to it though and the author did a fine job at showing the point of the story and it didn't hurt so bad inside.  I too Cried, Laughed, was disgusted, etc with this book but by the end I felt happy again.  I know this book wouldnt of been the book without the tragedy but I wish it could of been without the kids.  All in All She did an awesome job at writing a book but you have to read it all in one sitting or else you will feel depressed until you finish.
3352387
This book is based on making mothers feel GUILTY and like what we do is NEVER ENOUGH. The author suggests that all mothers who care about their children should not work while they are raising their kids, ideally beyond the first three years of life, but if you can't do that- then just take at least 3 years off. Really? Did my sense of self worth exit my body along with the placenta? She actually says that every time a mother leaves her less-than-3-year old, we are "fraying the mother-child bond" by another thread, much like a blanket is unraveled by pulling threads out of it. Oh, and according to her that happens even if we try to go grocery shopping alone and leave kiddo with dad. WHAT???? She also posits that children who are left without their mothers always experience it as a profound loss- even at the age of 3- and don't understand the concept that their mother will ever come back.  No.  Object permanence develops well before then.  This doesn't give children, and the caregiver-child bond, enough credit.  This book completely discounts the role of fathers, same-sex male couples, grandparents, and other loving caregivers.  ONLY THE MOTHER is the most vital person to the child's life, and she is IRREPLACEABLE - NO PRESSURE MOMS!!! She completely ignores the fact that most mothers HAVE to work, we don't have the financial luxury of staying at home with our young children.  Because we actually have to feed and clothe them. Please do yourself a favour and don't get this book - there are plenty of good reads out there about being present in your child's life. My husband took this book away from me before I was half-way done because it made me so upset and full of self-doubt. Don't doubt yourself, moms.  You are a hero in your kiddo's eyes- yes, even if (and maybe even because) you work so hard to support him/her.
1063778
I picked up this book in hopes that it would shed some light on my situation. At first it seemed like it was trying to help. But then, it just heaped on the guilt! This book wants you to keep your abusive family in your life because they are family! They should be allowed to berate you and you should shut down and take it! You have to take care of you first. This book made me realize that as I closed it a quarter through. No one deserves respect if they can't dish it out. I don't care how lonely or old they are. Their life is their responsibility and yours is yours. Don't patronize their hurt and abuse.
3434704
Even if  my own kid was in this I would have to tell him how much it sucked.
3414418
It's a rollercoaster ride deciding if the main characters are likable or not.  Found myself wanting to slap the parents for raising such brats.  I guess a good ending makes up for the frustration along the way. :)
2834258
As a mother of a mentally ill child who is now 40 years old I don't want to be too hard on any woman who tries to tell her story. The book is really more about the mother's journey than the daughter though. I finished the book without a clear picture of the daughter at all other than her diagnosis. I was also left feeling dissatisfied and a lot angry. But maybe that is part of the journey.

The book over all struck me as the story of "I'm madly in love with a emotionally distant looser and oh, by the way my daughter had a schizophrenic breakdown at 15. Sure, she hears 20 voices at a time and is swimming in a lake of fire, but no, she doesn't need to be hospitalized because she's a vegetarian." Say what? I have whiplash. A long tortuous journey through horrible jobs, wracking up debt, getting evicted, loosing jobs at the worst possible times, fighting with the mental healthcare system. I felt her pain. I really did. Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic at all. But I found myself wanting to shake her until her teeth rattled most of the way through the book.

One part of the book that stymied me was her description of finally checking her daughter into a psychiatric facility (at the daughters request)one afternoon and then a few hours later has all kinds of graphically detailed sex with her boyfriend in the shower. I was getting to the point of wanting to spit pea soup.

She took her child of all medications cold turkey and then got furious because no one told her that people can **die** from abruptly stopping anti psychotic medications. Uh well, maybe she could have asked someone before doing this? The author over all seems to be strongly against psychiatric medications. There is a tiny disclaimer at the end of the book to the effect of "yeah, yea some people may need medication, but not my daughter." The publisher probably insisted on that for legal reasons.

This book is a harrowing tale of one woman's journey of dealing with a child with a severe mental illness. But I hope and pray that this is not the first book picked up by a parent when they first discover they are caring for a child with mental illness.
2595492
A friend loaned us a (different) book entitled OUR NEW BABY written by Beth Atchison, and while browsing in [local store], this book caught my eye.  Wanting a similar book to keep for ourselves, I picked up this book and read it.  I was extremely disappointed not only in  this books content but that someone would write such a negative book for children.  A new baby can be a delicate situation in the minds of little ones and it is my opinion that books which reassure the child and help them to feel positively about the new baby would be best.  The first half of this book, left me with a very negative feeling, with such lines as "my new baby is a pest....  Mom likes him the best.  It wasn't until the final pages that this book turned those negative images into positive ones.  I felt that the damage had already been done.  Please find this book and read it for your self, before you decide to buy it.  It may work for your child, but I put it back on the shelf, not willing to take that chance with ours.
4931995
Having to deal with a mother-in-law who has the same mentality as this author, I can say how much pain this kind of "grandmothering" has caused our family.  The kind of self-centered, boundless, and mean-spirited behavior this book suggests has caused a rift between my husband and his mother and we have decided to remove her from our family dynamic.  Very very sad as it could have been so different.  Every child deserves to learn healthy relationship patterns and this author clearly has no regard for her grandchildren's development - only her own, selfish, devious,  and lonely needs.

If anything, this is a great example of what not to do for a grandma.
2196993
as a mother I read this book looking for answers- how can you tell if your son is in trouble. Her account of the events and her son's behavior prior to committig such a terrible act is so raw and frightenjng. As parents we must be hyper vigilant of our kids' behaviors and moods. I truly feel for her family and obviously for those who lost their lives as well as their families. What a tragedy all around.
1703706
This book requires a bath to follow you will feel so dirty. Its not about empowering yourself. Its about screwing over your ex. I do not recommend it for anyone with a backbone and self-esteem.
1565817
Mind numbing depression that just drags on and on. Maybe it is really how some families live. The parents were unbelievably immature and irresponsible. I just could not keep going on and on with such stupid parents. They had chances to do better but each time they defeated themselves. Ugh. Seriously depressing. Could not get through it.
1822488
If you are a parent, your heart will be pulled and torn at the decisions that are made by these people.  Life is not fair, but life is good.
4348746
Return window closed or I would return. After a month with the collar on I found fleas not just a couple but hundreds. Had that feeling of what a horrible parent. Not sure how anyone can give this product more than one star.
3984184
I am furious.  I found this book sitting on my ex-husband's counter in full view of my son.  The cover and back couldn't be more negative about an ADD child.  They may be institutionalized! OCD! ODD! It assumes the ADD child has behavioral problems and rage.  Of course you, parent, are at the end of your rope, because your child is SO terrible, you can be forgiven for ... whatever.  That's just the cover.  Some of it in huge (spot across re room) text.  If you're going to read this thing do it in a closet with the light off where no one who can be hurt by the cast stones can see you; then burn it.  Excuse me now, I have to run off and have my cheery, adorable hyperactive 11-year-old committed to a mental hospital, you understand right? But first maybe I should beat him a little.  All these ADD kids are just soooo bad.
642713
I use a form of this on my 3 year old son when things are really falling apart in the listening department, and only when absolutely necessary.  This system is used about once a week, if that. But there's nothing more annoying than being in a room with a parent that counts, "1.2.." every three seconds to their children.  I don't think that's the point of this book.  I hear parents abusing this system CONSTANTLY for EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING.  "Dylan, pick up your sippy cup. Okay, 1....2......  Dylan put on your jacket.  1.....2......  Dylan, sit down here.  1....2........  Dylan, let's go now.  1......2....... Dylan, put that down now.  1....2......." and ON and ON and ON. Hey parents, if you wanted a robot, you should have purchased a robot.