Another review for Active Christian Media (AKA Blog for Books). The author, Barbara Curtis, is a parent of 12 children from ages 35 down to some young ones. She's been through a divorce and didn't become a Christian until she'd had about 5-6 kids. Basically, she's seen it all and is someone that has earned my ears. She's even done it all in terms of eduction from home school, private school and public school.
One of the great things about reading this book is the authenticity of the author. She talks about personal successes and failures without any sugar coating. In many Christian parenting books you get the "darn-right" formulas but not in this one. The points of views of the kids are important in this book and the author allows disagreements but focuses on what is major (sex, drugs, drinking, etc.) instead of minor (male earrings, dances, entertainment). In the minor areas the kids need to be provided with enough parenting to trust that the kids can make good decisions. The setting of limits is something that is established as important but so is the respect a parent needs to also have for their children.
The primary focus of the book is two-fold; "to present a realistic picture of challenges faced by today's teens" and "to equip parents to empower their teens to meet those challenges". This is not a book about whether to spank your child or not but discusses, in frank terms, some of the difficult challenges kids do face. Some of those things include mocking of other students, parents and teachers of Christianity, keeping Christian standards in difficult circumstances and "dirty dancing at the prom".
Even if you don't have children this book is a good read as it gives a great view of what parenting is about. Here's a great quote from the book to leave you with:
"I'm not as concerned with what they grow up to be career-wise as I am with who they grow up to be. I want them to become faithful wives and husbands, loving parents, brave believers, good friends, and committed citizens."
Posted by Tim at May 14, 2006 11:21 PM
