Parenting Without Regret: Raising Kids with Purpose, Not Perfection

by Jimmy Seibert, Laura Seibert

Have you ever struggled with being a parent and wondered if what you were doing would actually work? We ve all been there.

In Parenting Without Regret, Jimmy and Laura Seibert share their story of how God led them to parent with intentionality. They touch on topics that are a common struggle among parents: How do we help our children overcome their insecurities? How do we deal with the challenges of our culture and protect our kids purity? How do we prepare them for the future? How do we help them develop their own relationship with God and live life on mission?

From personal stories to biblical content, the Seiberts bring you into the process of how they navigated and answered these questions for their family.

Key Topics Addressed Include:

Parenting from Wholeness You are the #1 Influencer Placing Identity on Your Kids Dating and Attraction Praying for Your Kids This book will ignite fresh hope into every parent that reads it, and subsequently raise a new generation of young people who are ready to take on the challenges of this world and shape it for the glory of God.

"Excellent book! As a father of seven, I found myself thinking, Amen! throughout every chapter. Lots of helpful insights that I plan on implementing in my own family. I am so grateful for the example of Jimmy and Laura as parents and Christians. I hope that many many parents will read this book and follow their example. This is the exact kind of parenting book this generation needs"
Frances Chan - Best-selling Author of Crazy Love

"It's not easy raising children today, and many Christian parents wish they had mentors walking the path alongside them. In Parenting Without Regret, Jimmy and Laura Seibert are stepping into that role. By describing how they've raised four remarkable kids who love and serve Christ, the Seiberts are equipping parents everywhere to follow in their footsteps with our own families."
Jim Daly, President - Focus on the Family

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jimmy and Laura Seibert are founders of Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas, and Antioch Ministries International. Jimmy and Laura have committed their lives to a discipleship movement through the local church--envisioning people to love God, love others, and share the Good News of Jesus here and around the world. They have been married 28 years and have four children: daughter Abby and her husband Kyle Van Hecke, daughter Lauren, and two sons, Caleb and Daniel. Jimmy Seibert is the author of Passion & Purpose: Believing the Church Can Still Change the World.

Genres: Relationships, Nonfiction

232 pages, ebook

Published October 29, 2015

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not call this a how-to parenting book, if that's what you're looking for. Rather, it is the Seiberts' description of how their Biblical beliefs influenced different aspects of their parenting. It's more of a "This is what we did, and this is why" type book. On the one hand, I thought that was a great way to approach. No prescriptive parenting book is going to apply to everyone, so just being able to have a window into someone else's thinking IS practical, even though it's not meant to be. Perhaps it's even more practical than the "Do these three steps" types, since there aren't the endless caveats and questions going through your head about your particular situation. However, the Seiberts are very mature, disciplined Christians. So, even though there were times I thought "Wow, I really like how they implemented that Biblical principle! I want to try it!" I know that I am not as mature or disciplined as they are, so it certainly isn't practical for me. It does give me something to aspire to, however. The overarching message is that if you are following the Bible and depending on God for all aspects of life, including parenting, then you will be "parenting without regret." (I did get sick of every chapter ending with that phrase or its variant, though.)

[John Bacin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! Definitely have it plan to be one of my main resources for our parenting plan. Here are some takeaways I wrote for myself:

1. Wholeness for Dixie and I- we need to receive forgiveness from Jesus and forgive others who have hurt us deeply. Will need to ask HS to search our hearts and point out places we need healing
2. Don’t let kids play parents against each other, always have consistency in the home
3. Our family is a team, and our kids are on the same team with us
4. Sweet story about Caleb needing more correction, because he has a special gift of energy and fun that the family needs
5. Pursue your kids, with one on one time
6. 3 questions game for quiet kids in the car
7. Obey quickly and completely (I will leave out cheerfully). This means we can’t just quickly call out commands without thinking about it. We need to think before we ask on anything and set very clear expectations and consequences. Apologize to kids if we aren’t doing this well. Also don’t give too many different commands or that will exasperate them.
8. If you are asking them to clean their room, make sure you explain exactly all the parts that that entails, and give a consequence for partial disobedience
9. Think about this all as setting habits! It will get easier each time
10. Discipline section is good, lots of affirmation and hugs after discipline
11. Don’t allow excuses such as forgetting or tiredness or hard day to get out of discipline?

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid. I appreciated their perspective on how they chose to parent, with intention and purpose. Their kids also had little snippets of input that gives those of us who are still in the race some insight on our end goals as parents.

[Emily Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I loved this book! Jimmy and Laura set a great example of Godly parenting, truly investing in their kids lives and not missing a thing, and building a relationship with their kids which is what every child craves.

[Victoria Glaze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Love how the Seibert family believes in discipline, but also in loving their children well. A good balance of firm and soft parenting, of scripture and science, of being in the world but not of it. Bringing a well rounded look into christian parenting.

[Hannah Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the greatest parenting book I’ve ever read. It is SO easy to read and so practical. I find that a lot of Christian books are so scripture heavy…it’s like they repackaged the Bible without any of their own insight and that is NOT this book! This was fabulously written and I have become a better parent because of their wisdom. One of the main things I took was that if you want your kids to have an encounter with the Lord..you must model that to them daily. Even at 2 years old. So here I am having daily worship, prayer, Bible time and journaling with my 2 year old by my side..doing the same! This will be a book I’ll read many times again.

[Viece · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot wait to implement what I've read in this book with my toddler and allow it to grow with him. I want to model a Godly home for my sons and this book gives anecdotal ways to go about that while reminding the reader to seek God throughout your own process. I had always wondered how to incorporate time with Jesus with a child and how to start the discipline process; which issues do I bring up at what age. This is a good road map with lots of opportunities to take your own route when necessary.

[Terry McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

So practical and Jesus centered

[Anna Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly really good, but some of it had me scratching my head. Definitely a good resource, but not definitive.

[Rachael Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! I plan to refer back to it as my girls grow. I gleaned a lot from chapters on discipline and intentional celebration!

[Megan Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So encouraging and practical. I re-read sections of it at night. Thank you!

[Naomi Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, I just read it for the second time. The way they share how they raised their kids with such intentionality is an inspiration and motivated me to make some changes in our home!

[Priscilla Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly practical and radical.

[Annelise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still the best parenting book I've read.

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical book on parenting from a Christian perspective. Like any parenting book not all will agree or implement every example and decision these parents made, but their focused intentionality is worthy of imitation. Much wisdom here.