Raising a Modern-Day Princess

by Pam Farrel, Doreen Hanna

In the same tradition as Raising a Modern-Day Knight , this book is designed to equip parents to cultivate strong relationships with their adolescents. Raising a Modern-Day Princess stresses the importance of creating a rite of passage for teen girls―a defining moment in which girls can be blessed by significant adults in their lives, and a call for their families and communities to celebrate and support them as they enter womanhood. This book offers practical help in raising a generation of women to see themselves as God sees them―as daughters of the King.

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Nonfiction, Family, Faith

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Pam Farrel and her husband, Bill, are the authors of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 300,000 copies sold) and Red-Hot Monogamy. In addition, Pam has written 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband and The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make. They are cofounders and codirectors of Love-Wise, an organization to help people connect love and wisdom and bring practical insights to their personal relationships.

Reviews

[Tima · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is incredibly difficult to raise a daughter in todays times. Parents and children are faced with difficulties from every angel. Our daughters are special and important, because they are the daughters of their heavenly Father the King. The book is designed around the concept that little girls want to be a princess and need affirmation from their fathers (or respected male in their life) to feel like a princess. Using this idea, the authors created a program to honor the daughters and truly make them a princess.

I was expecting to find a book full of encouragement and ideas on how to raise my daughter. While I did find a tiny bit of that, it felt like it was mainly a book promoting the ceremony that one of the authors designed. I like the concept of the affirmation ceremony, but I wanted more than must a one day idea. The ceremony seems to be 12 weeks of work for mom and then a blessing ceremony that dad participates in. I wanted something that gave me Biblical thoughts on how to raise my daughter as a child of the King, not steps on how to have a blessing ceremony. Since the idea of the book is based on the concept that all girls want to be a princess (they don't) and that all girls need that public affirmation from their father (if getting every day at home they don't) then this book will only fit a small group of people. And sadly, my daughter and I are not in that group. I definitely wouldn't have purchased the book had the title and description been more clear about the topic.

[Jill Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most girls dream of living out their own fairy-tale romance. They are bombarded from childhood with stories of beautiful princesses swept off their feet by a handsome, noble prince. It’s a beautiful dream, but without practical, life-changing mentoring, girls are often disillusioned when their first love disappoints. Some girls fall into a pattern of giving their heart to the wrong guy. And those of us who’ve been hurt know there is no Band-Aid for a broken heart.

Here is a practical book filled with ideas and stories of what other moms and mentors have done to come alongside young women and affirm their self-confidence, beauty, and value. The authors share the importance of mentoring and coming-of-age ceremonies that teach girls who they are and how to recognize a handsome, noble prince beyond his outward appearance. Readers are encouraged to seize the challenge of imparting wisdom to the girls in their life. If we don’t do it, someone else will or our girls will be left to face the world on their own.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has young girls in their life. God calls us to train a child in the way that they should go, but many adults skip the “relationship stuff” as being too awkward to talk about. This “relationship stuff” is one of the most important teachings teenagers need, crave. Who better than to teach it that the loving adults in their life?

Having served in youth ministry for eleven years, I’ve seen heartbreaking things. But almost more heartbreaking that a girl’s broken heart is the fact that her parents neglected the challenge to teach her the truth. Parents, we can’t control the choices our children make, but we are called by God to give them the tools and knowledge to make the right choice. The world is teaching them every day. Get this book for your daughters and get Raising a Modern-Day Knight for your sons. Affirm your children as they journey into adulthood.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Raising a Modern-Day Princess by authors Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna has moved me and it's entirely changed my way of thinking in how to raise my own daughter as well as taught me how to influence the young woman around me.

Grace, dignity, inner beauty, and self worth, traits every daughter of the King should have instilled into her life. Often enough no one is taking the time to celebrate daughter's journey into becoming the woman God has created them to be. It's not hard at at all to do this, in fact Raising a Modern-Day Princess suggest many types of rite of passage celebrations both big and small that can change and impact a girls life forever. The examples of personal testimony of mothers, fathers, and daughters that took part in this are ever so moving.

Not often is it that a book speaks such revelations that tugged at my heart strings and left me in tears. I encourage every sister as well as brothers in Christ to pick up this book and read it.

I promise you, if you take the advice of this book, whom ever God has laid on your heart will feel purpose, value, and strength in moving forward and following the path God has laid in front of them.

This book is on the top favorite reads for 2010 and ten for me, and I am quite honored and blessed by those that contributed in writing these words of truth. If I could, I would personally give everyone I know a copy of Raising a Modern-Day Princess.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

***Special thanks to Christy Wong of Tyndale House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or an influential woman in the life of any girl you will not only appreciate this book, but benefit greatly from it, too. Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna have written a book that will encourage you in your relationship with your daughter(s) as well as walk you through many things we want to do, but just don't know how to do. Most of us want to inspire our daughters and breath purpose into their lives and Raising A Modern-Day Princess is the guide to help you do just that.

I appreciated the combination of personal stories and insight that Farrel and Hanna shared along with all the simple and practical tips on how to raise a modern-day princess in a world that wants just the opposite for them. The book is easy to read and offers huge amounts of creative ideas for you to glean from.

The focus of this book is on teaching young girls about becoming godly young women. My favorite part of all that was shared was the idea of intentionally choosing mentors, along with your daughter, to mentor her. There is a treasure trove of information in this book to help you at whatever place in life you are at. Not everything will be for everyone, but I doubt anyone could walk away without gleaning something.

* * * * *
This review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers and the opinions expressed our strictly my own.

[Wyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some very interesting ideas about parenting teenage girls. Whether you believe in the authors' ideas or not, it is a book well worth reading. They provide good examples of what other societies consider as rites of passage and the influence of fathers and mothers on their children and how the good parts of these rites can be incorporated into your own life. They use sound biblical examples of what is expected of fathers and mothers in their parenting obligations and how the commission of these tasks influence the teen in her current life as well as in the future. I especially liked the chapter on how words themselves can really impact a girl and stick with her into her adult life. The book was easy to read and had many thoughtful insights and ideas.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really got me thinking about how to celebrate important moments in my daughters' lives. I like the idea of a Modern Day Princess group and night of celebration, but even if we don't implement ours the same way, the principles of why and what is done were great to think through. Every young girl needs to know the love of her father or another father-figure in her life. I appreciate Pam and Doreen shedding light on this need.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Robertson has this book! Fun to find a book on my to-read shelf here.

This book was primarily about rite of passage programs for teenage girls. I am interested in looking further into the curriculum for this program, and going through it with the 6th grade girls here at Mountainview. I think it could have a tremendous impact.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful book dealing with a girl's right of passage. This is definitely something that will be a true treasure as my daughter gets older. The words and lessons in this book are very much needed in today's society. I recommend you look into this book if you have a little girl.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've been waiting for this one since Raising a Modern-Day Knight was first published. So much good stuff for parents!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about creating a rite of passage for your young lady.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good ideas for rites of passage ceremonies and ways to mark milestones in a growing daughter's (or other special girl) life!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a dad of two daughters, I had high expectations for this book, but it just didn't do it for me. It was good...it just wasn't great.

[Tiffany Cusick-Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of great ideas and made me wish I had a rite of passage growing up. I'm currently working on implementing the MDP program at the church my family attends. I have been inspired!

[Jo-Anne Vandermeulen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read For All Adults Who Have Influential Roles With Teen Girls—A Framework of Thoughtful Ideas and Practical Strategies! PLUS For Mom and Daughter: A Combined Gift – Add ‘Girl’s Journal’.

[Perla K. Cariño · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rite-of-passage they're talking about sounds somewhat interesting, However, considering how aloof the authors seem to be about abuse (seriously laughs off an instance where her mother "conked" her sister on the head with a pan due to anger at the father) and purity culture (this is from 2009 so im guessing they haven't yet caught on to the trauma this causes in marriages and as adults yet), I truly wonder how many of the participants have no/negative change in their lives as only the positives are mentioned.

[Travis Stockton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as practical as Raising a Modern Day Knight, but probably for good reasons. As a dad who uses Raising a Modern Day Knight as a part of the framework for how I raise my son, I had hoped for something a little more practical in terms of developing a means to help my daughter to love Christ and be a woman of character. Still some good stuff in here.

[Verolu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una guía para los padres. Como poder ayudar a tu hija que siempre este con Dios y también cuentan historias y ceremonias hacia Dios entre otras cosas.

[Jessica Fitzpatrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would learn how to help raise my two daughters, not promoting a ceremony, which is what this is

[Rebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a giant sales-pitch for the program they were selling.

[Adam Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading the book Raising a Modern Day Knight and it instantly becoming one of my favorite books on the masculine heart and the process of raising boys to be men, I purchased this book after having my daughter expecting the same quality of work. I was wrong. The book is written by two different women which can be pulled off, but these two were not able to find that balance. At times the authors switched who was writing between paragraphs on the same subject, very confusing to keep track of. Also, the book seemed to be a sales pitch for the authors' other books and programs as opposed to presenting strongly the points the book proposed to address. It was as if they were giving teasers, offering a full explanation with their other works.

That being said, there were some good, even great points presented that I plan to take on and apply to raising my daughter, but these stories were the exception and not the rule. I don't recommend fathers spend their valuable time reading this book, instead read the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge and couple that with Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis

[Kurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that the fact that this book was wriiten by and (for the most part) for moms eventually wore me down a little. The book was still really worth reading for me because it stressed the idea of traditions in family life and the focus is on a rite of passage event in the young woman's life. It also spent a lot of time emphasizing the positive effects of having a mentor. This was all very helpful information for me and I think there are some behaviors of mine that I can change to positive effect.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more stars. I was REALLY hoping for much more from it. It felt like a big commercial for their DOK program rather than giving me the ins and outs of HOW to prepare my daughter or plan the ceremony. If you don't know why you need to give your child a blessing ceremony, then this is a good book. But if you know why your daughter needs a ceremony to usher her into womanhood, this book offers little to help you prepare your daughter for that day. Sadly disappointing.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked up this book I wanted to read something that would help offer up ideas about raising my girls. However, for the most part the book focused on doing a celebration ceremony and such. A right of womanhood if you will. Yes, there were a few things I picked up but I wish it had focused more on ways to raise them in faith and strong morals and confidence in their choices.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always thought a father/daughter relationship is vital for a daughter. This book backed up my thought. The think I found the most interesting was the positive ways that the Jewish community welcome young woman to adulthood.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get as much out of this book as I had hoped. There are some good points which I took away, but overall I got tired of all of the personal stories of the ladies they had met, mentored, heard of mentoring...on and on.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, lots to think about. I thought the Knight book was done slightly better.