Are We Having Fun Yet?: The 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting [Paperback]

Kay Willis (Author), Maryann Bucknum Brinley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998

Full of real-world advice from a parent of ten well-adjusted kids, this upbeat book shows how to boost the happiness quotient and lower the stress, turning parenting from a survival struggle into a labor of true love.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446673455
• ISBN-13: 978-0446673457
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,022 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT About How To Raise Your Kids, July 10, 2000

By 

Mary Elizabeth (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are We Having Fun Yet?: The 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting (Paperback)

I thought this was a wonderful book, I enjoyed it very much. What set it apart for me is that it's a book about BEING a parent, not how to parent. It doesn't tell you how to raise your kids. It's about how parents feel and how we can feel better. It was one of the few parenting books I've read that is more likely to relieve guilt than create it.

This book has no preachy advice; the author is truly respectful of individual differences and, having raised 10 kids herself, she's nothing if not realistic. She talks a lot about "attitude and atmosphere" and how the way we feel as parents affects those things. Along that central theme the book is filled with encouragement and food for thought. She really tries to uplift parents, encourage them to enjoy the ride and offers frequent reminders of the rewards of the job.

The text is broken up by anecdotes from the author, her children and others, and quotes borrowed from everything from the Farmer's Almanac to Confucius. I pick the book up often for a shot in the arm of inspiration. The anecdotes alone could be read "Chicken Soup" style.

Best of all, perhaps, the book is an easy read. It is written in a light tone. It's short, direct, and formatted for brief reading sessions (which is all most parents really get!).

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone, not just parents, should read this book, February 23, 1999

By 

Shannon "jfaction" (Lafayette, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are We Having Fun Yet?: The 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting (Paperback)

The author, Kay Willis, has 10 kids (yes, 10). It reads like Erma Bombeck and has wonderful advice in a non-lecturing way, makes you happy that you have kid(s). My husband is now worried that I will want lots more.

This is the best parenting book I've ever read, period. I keep it with me and read it in the car during rush hour delays, and I arrive home completely jazzed and not guilty. As a nursing mom, I also read it while expressing milk at work; it's a really uplifting book. It's essential for parents who ever feel stressed, unsure of themselves, worn down by work and kid demands, and short on romantic or even friendly thoughts.

Some examples that enticed me to actually finish the book (like most parents, I can't say that about most books these days):

* It's not too thick!!

* It was so entertaining and well-written I finished it before I knew it, and actually wished it wasn't over!

* Kay reminds parents that if they are bored or not having fun, their kids feel the same, and urges parents not to serve leftover versions of themselves. Having fun, protecting your own sense of worth and happiness are essential to a healthy family. "Having fun is an important parenting skill - if you're overcommitted and exhausted you're not much fun to be around"

* "Let the chores go and have fun with your kids" I always love to hear that.

* Kay became Fisher Price's spokesperson for a new camera toy, by betting the president of Fisher Price that she could sell more toys than their camera "expert."

* She's upbeat and crazy and shares a lot of common sense

* She relishes life.

* Kay formed a group called "Mothers Matter" to help parents network and learn, because "Motherhood is like a secret society. You don't really find out all about it until after you've been initiated."

* Kay doesn't leave out the fathers END

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book reminds us what parenting is all about: enjoying!!, July 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Are We Having Fun Yet?: The 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting (Hardcover)

I really loved this book, it made me remember that parenting is a happy experience. Kay focuses our attention on the issue that raising a happy child is not so difficult and that it is acomplished througth parents who have time for themselves as well as for enjoying their family. It is also a book easy to read you don't have to cover it in a secuential order, you can read a few pages and then continue or just start a new chapter. Thank you Kay for this book!!!