13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do

June 19, 2017
Psychotherapist Moran’s worthy follow-up to 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do extends her dos-and-don’ts formula to parenting. Each chapter examines one don’t, such as don’t “condone a victim mentality,” “parent out of guilt,” “expect perfection,” “prevent child from making mistakes,” or “confuse discipline with punishment.” And each chapter opens with an anecdote illustrative of the identified problem; contains signs to recognize, new dos to adopt, and sections on different ages; and wraps up with a troubleshooting summary. For example, in “They Don’t Make Their Child the Center of the Universe,” Morin discusses how people trying to avoid mistakes their own parents made often use excessive praise with their kids, unintentionally nurturing narcissism instead of healthy self-esteem. Her combination of common sense backed by research—amply cited—will help parents make a midcourse correction. While the title focuses on the negative, the book itself accentuates the positive. Parents should find Morin’s work inspiring. Agent: Stacey Glick, Dystel & Goderich.

June 15, 2017

Social worker and psychotherapist Morin delivers an in-through-the-out-door approach to building mental muscle by presenting 13 parenting behaviors to avoid. She first outlines three components of psychological strength (thoughts, behaviors, and emotions) that will help youngsters deal with life's challenges. The 13 no-nos for parents include confusing discipline and punishment, expecting perfection, letting children avoid responsibility, making their kids the center of the universe, allow fear to dictate their choices, among others. Chapters conclude with follow-up questions that address issues in both one's personal and parenting life. "Stage moms" and "sports dads" are asked to look deep and consider that kids can handle more than you think and that "pain is not the enemy." VERDICT Morin's strategies support long-term goals. Her advice, while lengthy, is sound and can be applied to children of any age. Recommended.

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