Children today live in an unpredictable, disruptive, and often violent world. Many of them live in two different homes with different sets of expectations. They face bullying at school and online. They hear news of school shootings, and racially or religiously motivated violence. They may have lost a friend or a loved one. 

As parents, the impulse to protect our children is strong, but that very protection can end up handicapping them for life. Rather than seek to save them from the hard things, parents must teach their kids how to cope with and rise above their problems. In one of his most important books to date, internationally known psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman shows parents how to

– be good listeners 
– tell the truth, even when it’s difficult
– find balance between being protective and being overprotective
– approach hurt and injustice as a learning experience rather than fostering a victim mentality
– and much more

Whether your child is dealing with a difficult family situation, bullies, the loss of friends, the death of a loved one, discrimination, abuse, a teen pregnancy, or even just trying to make sense of what they see in the news, this compassionate and practical book will help parents equip them to process, learn from, and rise above their situation.

MY THOUGHTS:

I received the book version of this publication in exchange for my honest review.

In today’s times, this is a very needed book.  Because things are so different today than when I was growing up, parents are forced to face dealing with their children’s hurt in almost an unattainable capacity.  How are we to help with something that we don’t understand? We can love them no matter what, but is that enough?

Parenting today is fraught with so many adversaries, such as peer pressure, mass shootings, let alone shootings in schools… drugs and sex was always around and an issue for parents, but not in the capacity it is today.  Suicide among our children is escalating, and then there’s that openness toward other issues that were unheard of back in the day.  And, sadly things are going to get worse.

In a society so cruel and judgmental, always angry and intolerable with what is different, racism and prejudice against almost all ethnicities… hate crimes, kids killing kids, ineffectual gun laws to fit the crimes of today… I could go on, there is a sudden, gaping void where support and supportive materials needs to be and should be.

This book is full of useful advice and although it doesn’t hold all the answers, it does provide much insight that could help. I highly recommend it to all.

I gave this book: