Why Can't I Be the Parent I Want to Be?: End Old Patterns and Enjoy Your Children

by Charles H. Elliott, Laura L. Smith

This is a breakthrough book. Parents don't need any more advice on how to raise their children. Most parents already know what to do. What parents do need is to recognize the emotional obstacles that keep them from carrying out all the good advice they've already gotten and that prevent them from doing what's best for their kids. These emotional obstacles are known as schemas. These schemas act like lenses that exert a surprisingly powerful influence upon our lives. This is the first book to show parents how to recognize their own problem schemas and take steps to stop making the same mistakes, over and over again. The authors teach through highly engaging stories. You will learn about the emotional obstacles to good parenting by observing three families in a fascinating journey of self-discovery. You will be touched by these families' hopes, fears, dreams, vulnerabilities, and humanness. And you'll learn from their struggles as they grapple with adversity, unexpected events, frustration, hope, and change. Thank you, the Publisher
Gretchen Gold\New Harbinger Publications

194 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[Julie Verner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores ways in which our best intentions at parenting can be sabotaged by our problematic ways of thinking and acting. The authors offer a concrete framework for reflecting on our personal histories and assist in the identification of problematic patterns. They also include many case examples and application exercises that are helpful. If you want to look beyond general parenting technique to reflect on your own person as parent, this book will help you to do that.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

lots of emphasis on breaking ineffective learned patterns