Raising Happiness

The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one. ~Jill Churchill

I recently read this book. It is a GREAT parenting book! I recommend it to everyone. But I saw where another friend on a website was raving about it as well, and decided to share my thoughts about it. Of course the number one thing we all want our kids to be is healthy, I know this better than anyone but we also want them to be happy. We want them to be lots of other things too though...well mannered, well rounded, loving, self motivated, kind, compassionate, grateful, confident, optimistic, respectful, active.

I can say without a doubt my child (referring to Blake, as Natalie is still so small) is all of these things. I am so proud of him, but I read the book, not because I was having any trouble with Blake, but because I had heard it was a good book. I hope that Blake always continues on the path he is on, and I hope his sister follows in his footsteps. We get compliments on his behavior constantly, from his teacher to friends and family to complete strangers always are impressed with him, and then there are a select few he likes to show out in front of, lol. 

Anyway, the book is good if you are having problems with attitudes or behavior. I was reading an overview of the book and this sums it up a little better than I could. Here are the key points in the book:


• the best way avoid raising a brat—changing bad habits into good ones
• tips on how to change your kids’ attitude into gratitude
• the trap of trying to be perfect—and how to stay clear of its pitfalls
• the right way to praise kids—and why too much of the wrong kind can be just as bad as not enough
• the spirit of kindness—how to raise kind, compassionate, and loving children
• strategies for inspiring kids to do boring (but necessary) tasks—and become more self-motivated in the process

With great wit, wisdom, and compassion, Carter covers the day-to-day pressure points of parenting—how best to discipline, get kids to school and activities on time, and get dinner on the table—as well as the more elusive issues of helping children build healthy friendships and develop emotional intelligence. In these 10 key steps, she helps you interact confidently and consistently with your kids to foster the skills, habits, and mindsets that will set the stage for positive emotions now and into their adolescence and beyond. Inside you will discover