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You're Perfect ... And Other Lies Parents Tell: The Ugly Truth About Spoiling Your Kids (2012)

by Loni Coombs(Favorite Author)

3.56 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0985462744 (ISBN13: 9780985462741)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Bird Street Books

review 1: I'm very disappointed I paid full price for this hardback. It showed promise but fizzled out after the introduction.While I totally agree with the premise of this book, I felt it was poorly written and in need of an editor. I also felt like I was being "talked down" to and preached at. The book was written in an informal, conspiratal tone, as if she were writing a letter to a friend. Also, the first two chapters seemed disconnected from the rest of the book.After reading the book I question the author's qualifications for offering parenting advice. Every day at work she sees what goes wrong, but that doesn't mean she's qualified to teach us what's right. She's an attorney and a judge, not a parenting expert or family counselor.Here are some examples of things that bo... morethered me: "That means that you must make that extra effort to listen to the story about the class snake that escaped and the cloud in the sky that looked like a princess." How many "that's" can she fit into one sentence? How about saying "make the extra effort to listen to your children's stories?"Also: "Well, if this was (sic) a movie, you would be hearing the music swell, maybe some cellos and French horns, as the two parents stand, arm in arm, in the doorway of their traditional two-story home with white siding, red brick, and black shutters." This is a long sentence but it's not a complete sentence. And even in high school we're taught to say "if this were...," not "if this was..." An editor would have caught this instantly.Also: "One middle-class couple wanted to teach their children the importance of helping others less fortunate than them (sic) and to apreciate all the good things they had in their lives. Every Christmas they would use the money that would normally be spent on gifts and instead use it to go on a weeklong humanitairan trip to a third-world country."Sounds nice, but it seems to me the parents were using "those less fortunate" than themselves to teach their children a lesson, not necessarily to help those less fortunate than themselves. Also, it's customary these days to refer to developing countries as "developing countries," not "third-world countries." And her sentences are poorly worded.Here's another example: "And let me assure you, I'm just as imperfect as you are." I didn't really need to be assured of that. It could have gone without saying.Also: "And let me tell you, dear parents, there is no quicker way to escalate a simple traffic stop into something much more serious than to fail the attitude test with a police officer." Really?Also: "I pray for you as you go through this magnificent journey with your children--and trust me, it is magnificent." Really? Too many "trust me's, let me tell you, let me assure you," etc.If you're still curious about this book, do yourself a favor and borrow it from the library.
review 2: My son is 24 now, but I sure wish I had this book when he was growing up. It's loaded with great information and practical advice about how to get through the parenting years successfully. Loni is insightful, experienced, straightforward and compassionate. There are also plenty of facts and figures, for those of you who like statistics. I give it a huge thumbs up and highly recommend it for any parent! less

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