Hearing Is Believing: How Words Can Make or Break Our Kids

by Elisa Medhus

HEARING IS BELIEVING demonstrates that the words we say to children can have a profound positive – or negative – effect and it goes on to show readers how a few simple changes in parenting language can reward them with family harmony, turn parenting into a joy rather than a burden, and help them rear children with healthy self-esteem. This book suggests we can teach children how to think for themselves and learn to be rewarded with acceptance as a consequence of their contribution rather than needing acceptance and conforming. Dr. Medhus offers changes in language and parent/child communication that are simple to implement and continue to use. The results are immediately gratifying—many who have made these changes say they see profound effects in their children and their families within two weeks.
Once these harmful phrases and their effects are exposed for what they really are, they’re easy to eliminate from our daily dialogue. HEARING IS BELIEVING offers better and more empowering alternatives for each phrase, as well as stories that illustrate the results. Parents will be rewarded with a fulfilling and harmonious relationship with all children.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2004

About the author

Dr. Elisa Medhus is a family physician with over twenty years experience dealing with the issues that today’s families face. Although she retired from medicine to homeschool and be a full time mother to her children, she still has a large following of former patients who frequently call or drop by her home for medical advice, comfort or help. She has a gift for communicating with others, making them feel comfortable and sensing their emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

Being a mother of five children, (Kristina, Michelle, Erik, Lukas, and Annika) and wife to Rune, Dr. Medhus is uniquely suited to discuss issues concerning parents. In Raising Children Who Think for Themselves, her passion to change the world for the better by teaching children how to make self-directed choices is palpable, sincere and deep. Her work has been featured on national broadcast and print outlets including Good Morning America, The Houston Chronicle, a Seattle morning show, The Houston Post. She resides in Houston, Texas with her husband, her five children, their three dogs, and other transients from the plant and animal worlds.

Reviews

[Meghann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, so I did not finish this book. However- that being said I learned a HUGE lesson in just a FEW pages:

We need to be careful with the words we use around our children: don't victimize them, "You this, and you are that" is a BIG no, no. Make things objective, for example: "In this house, we all help clean."

It's really made me think about the words I use when disciplining my children. Any book that makes you try to be better is a winner!!!!

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly amazing book that has changed my life forever. Dr. Elisa Medhus showed me how little things I say create and shape the attitude of communication between myself and others (I've found this applies to everyone, not just when talking to kids). She's hilarious, gives great points, and as always, involves real life stories from others and elicits expert advice from those in the field as well. She's a gem of an author, it's a shame she isn't more recognized.

[Sean Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent look at things that we often say to our kids and how certain words or patterns of communication can harm them. Medhus' book also includes plenty of examples of alternative ways to communicate or to discipline. Very practical

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got annoyed with the authors writing style after just a couple chapters. The book also seemed poorly organized and like it would have taken 30 or so pages to make her points. I wasn't impressed and felt like I didn't learn much.

[Arren Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda a keeper... but I guess I should read more than one book before I decide what I really like.