Customer Reviews

Parenting on Your Own

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was not pleased with this selection at all. Of the five books I purchased through Amazon.com involving the single parent, this was the only one I could not force myself to read. Instead of giving you insight and advise on single parenting, the author used Bible verses that implied single parents were inferior to two parent families. Too much negativity for me!!!

Ms. Hunter refers to 'research' by "psychologist Greg Cynaumon" in this book. Interesting, since Greg Cynaumon is NOT a psychologist and is not licensed to practice any type of counseling or therapy by any government agency. (Try an internet search on Cynaumon for more info on him.) That brings into question Hunter's other sources and conclusions in the book. Overall I found this a very preachy tome with a real negative flavor toward single parents.

This book offers a conservative Christian perspective on parenting that is heavy on punishment, including spanking. Hunter sprinkles in some ideas from modern child psychology, but mostly takes a behaviorist perspective. This approach undermines trust and respect between parents and their children. Modern psychologists have moved well beyond these methods.

If you develop a strong bond with your children by listening warmly to them and playing with them, and you come to understand that you don't have to "correct" most of the mistakes they make (they'll usually learn from their mistakes without your corrections), you'll have a much easier and more joyful experience raising them. It's a wonderful thing to watch kids figure things out themselves -- they light up when they learn from their own experiences without punitive measures or other corrections from adults. Give them a chance!

Look for books that come from an attachment parenting perspective or are grounded in listening to children or playing with children. Here are some authors to consider: Daniel Siegel, Lawrence J. Cohen, Patty Wipfler, or Gordon Neufeld.

I know single parenting is hard. I've been there! But this punitive approach will put distance between you and your child, and then things will be even harder.

Good luck!