“Parenting by the Book” Changed my Parenting Paradigm

I am excited our church is offering the Parenting by the Book series with John Rosemond again this Fall.  I thought I would share with you my take and what you can expect from the series.  We would love for you to participate even if you are not a member at River Community Church.  It is open to ALL parents!

If you are a parent I know you struggle at times like I do with what is best for your children.  I felt like I received some key benefits personally from this study and learned alot that as a counselor I can pass on to other parents.  There are so many diverse views about parenting that it is hard to know what to recommend.  However, when I read Parenting by the Book I was changed.  I was reading a biblical view on childrearing and for me, if it is in scripture, I can be confident that it is a timeless truth.  I loved the book and how John Rosemond directly handles the topic of how we as parents in this century have really become confused.  As a mother of three, I know I was at a minimum “not consistent”.

To keep from rewriting the book, here is a list of:

What you can expect –

1. Direct, nothing held back communication from John Rosemond.  I think his style, although very direct, simplifies the concepts and helps us cut through the clutter to what is important for our children.
2. Understand how parent’s got where we are today.  Rosemond shows us how we went from pre-industrial parenting where “grandma” was able to manage raising ten kids to current times where it is all we can do to keep up with our two or three children where we try to ensure their self-esteem, development, and good behavior.
3. To see you in the examples and issues that face today’s parents.  I think my face was red the first half of the book seeing so many areas where I could improve.  By the second half of the book I felt confident that it wasn’t too late, I could start now.
4. To have your philosophies and beliefs challenged.  Dad’s really like the course, because although they don’t get away with their stuff, us Mom’s and especially people like me who are counselors too, get a big paradigm shift.
5. To be challenged to think about and define your goals for your children.  This was really great as my husband and I did this together, helping us to be more on the same page than ever before.
6. To learn what the bible says about parenting and the parent/child relationship.  All of the coddling and tiptoeing around disciplining our kids is NOT what the bible says.  It was comforting to know that structure and discipline are a benefit to our kids and the bible reinforces that this is “showing love” to our kids to hold them accountable.
7. To learn practical ways to re-define your parenting, regardless of the age of your children.  My kids are teenagers and this course helped me a lot.  I only wish it had been available when they were younger.
8. To share and discuss issues with other parents and find you are not alone.  The small groups are wonderful because no two families are the same, yet we have similar issues in parenting.  It was great to hear from people who had been there before, and it was fun helping those with younger kids navigate their age range.
9. It’s not too late and, the good thing is, it takes a change in you the parent!   We at least have control of that!

I didn’t want to reveal any of John Rosemond’s wisdom or great tips because I am hoping you can come to the series.  It begins on Sunday, September 20 from 4:30 – 6:00 pm.  We have free childcare at River Community Church which is only minutes from my house where the series is being hosted!  The only cost is $15.00 for each book – your spouse may want their own!  Just email me at [email protected] and I will get you signed up and send you directions to the house.  And if you can’t come, I still highly recommend that you and your spouse pick up a copy of John Rosemond’s Parenting by the Book and read it together!