When my kids were small, I would always tell people that my view on fatherhood was that it was the hardest job I'd ever love. Debby Carroll's book makes that job easier. It has everything you'd want from a book about parenting -- warmth, wisdom, encouragement, and, most importantly to my mind, a sense of forgiveness. No one is ever going to be a perfect parent, nor ever not make a mistake while being a father or mother. But that's not the goal, nor even realistic. The idea is to be yourself, to take seriously your role as a parent, to love you children, and have as much respect for them as you would like them to have for themselves and for you.

This book has practical examples to raise your kids to be responsible people, at the same time as you get the most out of being a parent and actually love doing it. Reading its pages you get the sense that parenting is no different from anything else you do in life. So much of it is instinctual, just having good common sense while always wanting the best for your kids.

This book is a must read for any parent of any child of whatever age, because, at bottom, parenting goes on, not only the part of continually trying to be an example for your kids, but also the unexpected fact that you learn so much more from them than you ever thought possible. They are our teachers as well as our pupils. "Raising Amazing Children" will help you to feel comfortable and capable in the most important role of your life. I highly recommend it.

There are so many things I love about this book, RAISING AMAZING CHILDREN (... WHILE HAVING A LIFE OF YOUR OWN) and it's philosophy. To name a few, the concept and practice of giving parents permission to continue living the life they have enjoyed before the kids came along, and invite their children to participate in that life is brilliant, yet so often overlooked. As a psychotherapist I see so many parents giving up their lives in order to accommodate their kids, which only creates resentment and puts a damper on any romantic promise between couples. You can tell the author, Deborah Drezon Carroll, a mother of three daughters, has great respect for children, and that she rightly encourages and gives practical advice on how to be real with them. She knows that kids pick up on everything no matter what age, so why pretend.

I also appreciate the fact that she encourages children and adolescents to master useful skills in life, and as they learn to master these skills they will feel better about themselves. The author holds a mirror to so many parents who feel they are being righteous when acting as a martyr to their children - for instance, by picking up after them and not expecting them to participate they are actually being short-changed as human beings, who inherently want to take responsibility and feel useful in their lives. Instead she encourages parents to show their kids how to be responsible for their own actions, and how to take steps along the way toward independence and self-esteem.

I agree that if your aim is to have your children adjust to your schedule and your life as much as possible, instead of changing your whole life to accommodate the children, then you will be a happier person, couple and family. The author's personal family, and all the great stories she shares, shows us that we needn't give up all we love to do; we just have to find a way to do the things we really enjoy - together with the kids.

I also thought the way the author talked about not protecting your kids from the realities in life was enlightening, and touching, especially when she wrote about how she brought her father into their home at the end of his life and how her three daughters grew from the experience, and gave their grandfather a great gift, as well.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who wants to feel closer to his or her family members, and be more fulfilled and authentic in their lives.

And more....

Blogger Dominique Goh found the book so useful. She wrote, "I'm always on the look out for books which can help me become a better parent and this book really does have lots of handy tips and examples. There are ways to involve the kids and have a great life doing so." Read the full review here.