This book was the first I've been exposed to John Rosemond. I have never heard of him, heard him speak, or read his other books previously. Before I even finished this book, I requested 2 of his other books from our public library. This book is a light read with some opportunities for readers who are currently parenting to challenge their perspective on child rearing methods and philosophies. The author is a psychologist with more than 40 years experience working with families and he believes that the 1960s marked a turning point, maybe more accurately described as the beginning of a downward spiral, in respect and emotional resilience in our nation's youth. The introduction alone could spark a great debate. Watching that debate unfold would likely not be as entertaining as continuing to read this book, though. |
"Because I said so" reflects a ubiquitous social reality: to wit, people in positions of authority are not required to explain themselves to the people over whom they have authority. This applies to military officers, teachers, college professors, workplace managers, and business owners. Children who enter adulthood already having accepted taht social realitly- having become accustomed to it courtesy of their parents- hold a distinct advantage over the children who enter adulthod believing- again, courtesy of their parents- that they deserve reasons and explanations whenever they are giving an instruction or are informed of a rule or a boundary.
Additional implications include the fact that "Not only do today's parents feel obligated to explain themselves to their children, they also seem to believe that their explanations must satisfy and pacify the children in question. Consequently, those explanations take on a persuasive, pleading, even apologetic, character." He doesn't promote that parents never explain anything to their kids, but we shouldn't be yapping till we're blue in the face to prevent their tears or anger over our decisions and we shouldn't feel guilt when they disagree with us over trivial everyday matters like what is for snack.
I don't agree with every single bit of parenting advice he offers, but much of it I do, and it is a different angle if you're tired of the parenting books that all come at it with the child's happiness and pride as the golden prize at the end of the journey. To sum things up, this is a refreshing peek into the past with some helpful red-flag warning signs and humor frequent enough to keep you coming back even if you get a tad discouraged about your child's (or your own) behavior at some point. It is worth reading just for the chapter titled, "Life's Not Fair" because the comedic relief is wonderful, particularly for anyone with toddlers.This book does make reference to the Bible here and there, including one Scripture verse at the end of each chapter, but I believe even people who don't identify themselves as Christians would find it engaging and entertaining.
In the interest of full disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to give a positive review; my opinions are my own.