Imperfect Parenting: Connection Over Perfection

by Brittney Serpell

As every parent from the beginning of time has discovered, kids don’t come with a manual. Parenting is a learning journey from beginning to end, and like all learning journeys, it is full of lessons, challenges, questions, tests, mistakes, and messes. But what matters most on the journey of parenting is that we lock on to the right goal. One of the biggest reasons so many of us get scared, discouraged, frustrated, and overwhelmed as parents is that we think the goal of parenting is to be perfect parents who raise perfect children. This leads us to adopt fear-driven strategies that focus on avoiding and preventing mistakes and messes and using control and punishment to elicit desired behavior. In Imperfect Parenting, Brittney Serpell lays out the case for the true goal of a safe, loving, heart-to-heart connection with our kids. Pursuing the goal of connection is what sets us up to influence the hearts, minds, and behavior of our children as we guide them on their own learning journey to become healthy, confident, emotionally intelligent, and strong in character. Filled with relatable stories and real-life examples.

Genres: Parenting

265 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2023

Reviews

[Carissa Gobble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great practical help for implementing a lot of the concepts from Love and Logic and Loving on Purpose. Concepts go so far but real personal examples is what Brittney brings out in this book and highlights the importance of connection and how to maintain it even in very trying times. Highly recommend!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transformed my view on parenting. I’m familiar with the KYLO principles and am a total IPster (Imperfect parenting podcast!) so I went into the book with some knowledge about it. But Brittney lays it all out in such an easy to understand and relatable way, it was like it all finally clicked! It was a super enjoyable read and I found myself laughing and crying throughout it. Every parent needs to read this book.

[Kati Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Parenting is not about controlling our kids, but teaching them how to be powerful people and staying connected. I read her dad's book, "Loving Our Kids on Purpose," when our children were small. It totally shifted how we chose to parent our kids. This book has very similar ideas, and I found it to be refreshing and inspiring.

[Bill Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, it was nice seeing the next generations using the same tools. Very impressed on how Brittney and Ben dealt with difficult situations but still kept loving. Thanks for a great read and for helping build whole healthy families.

[Alicia Awesome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right up there with loving your child on purpose. I appreciate Brittneys vulnerability and practical but still theological points. Good on audible. Want to re read many times. Sometimes hard to hear because it is pointed and I am in the wrong :)

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Some content that I was already familiar with just because of how much I already listen to her podcasts and her dads books etc but I really enjoyed hearing more about their parenting journey and hearing her perspective and insight

[Haley Vancura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very real, encouraging, and hopeful. I will go back to this one as my kids grow for sure.

[Nicole Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly everyone knows what a KYLO fan me and Z are so this is of course an amazing read!! Thankful for this family and all they’ve pioneered!