Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How To Stop Yelling And Start Connecting (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Great book, solid and reasonable advice that is already making a difference only two days in. This book covers it all in a concrete and applicable fashion. A lot of other parenting books have made me feel like its impossible to be a good parent. This is the first one that has truly armed me with useful tools that might actually lead to feeling empowered as a parent and decrease altercations with my child at the same time. I was impressed. The idea of no consequences, no punishment, is kind of hard to accept, especially because time-outs and losing privileges is the only thing that seems to work in our house. However, in this book, Dr. Laura explains how bad behavior stems from emotions that need to be processed, and our kids need us to HELP them do that. As I was finishing the book, my 2- and 5-year-olds were fighting over a car. The 5-year-old was riding and her brother wanted a turn. He went over to hit her and grab it away, which normally would have resulted in a huge fight between the two of them and a LOT of yelling from me. Instead, I went over, got down on his level, and said, "You're mad because Bailey's riding the car and you want a turn, right? It's hard to wait." He launched himself into my arms, cried, "Yeah!" and then calmly asked his sister if he could have a turn next. Then he went off to play happily until she was done. MIRACULOUS.I felt pretty guilty about the yelling, time outs, and other punishments I have used, and I can't say I am able to do this "calm yourself, calm your child" technique 100% of the time, but I am trying and it does help. At the very least, I don't feel nearly as stressed out as I normally do, so that is a big plus.I probably would have rated it 5 stars but there is some not-helpful advice (like spacing your kids 4 years apart so that you don't have a baby and a toddler at the same time--kind of too late for that!) and the book only deals with kids up to age 9, which is fine for me but may not be helpful for some other readers.
What do You think about Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How To Stop Yelling And Start Connecting (2012)?
Its good to help a child/spouse/employee with emotional issues
—contempoifdc
