Tired of Arguing with Your Kids?: Wisdom from Parents Who Have Been There [Paperback]

Dolores Curran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

A familiar yet frustrating scene: Children arguing with their parents. It does not have to be a rite of passage for parents to endure, says Dolores Curran, an authority on parenting and family issues. In her latest book, Tired of Arguing with Your Kids?, Curran explains how children lose interest in arguing when parents know the techniques necessary to defuse, or ignore, their anger.

Many parents often feel too exhausted, impatient or disenchanted with children to muster the energy it takes to argue, much less to engage their kids in more meaningful pursuits. In Tired of Arguing with Your Kids?, Curran teaches that every challenge does not have to be accepted. Her approach not only helps parents preserve the energy necessary to deal with issues that truly deserve attention, but also to appreciate the joys of parenting so often forgotten in the confusion of conflict. Many parents fail to realize the pleasures children bring to their lives -- even with the messy rooms, loud music and petty bickering between siblings -- until its too late. In other words, relax and enjoy the ride.

Written with humor by a mother who has been there, Tired of Arguing with Your Kids? shares over 200 effective responses to childrens classic questions, complaints, accusations and arguments. Sibling rivalry run amok? Separate the offending children calmly, with a witty remark like, "Maybe youll get along better in an hour because youll be older then." Dont condone their territorial struggle, but dont be drawn into it, either.

Boundaries, rules and consequences must be established and enforced, but some behavior simply is not worth the emotional investment many parents make every time their children pick a fight. Tired of arguing with your kids? Then heed Dolores Currans expert advice and learn to navigate the bumps in the road without paying too great a toll.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Widely published parenting expert Dolores Curran offers insight on better communication between children and parents. Curran's practical and humorous responses to more than 200 children's classic questions make this book an effective tool for daily family life. A 1999 Parents' Choice® Approval. (Parents' Choice®) -- From Parents' Choice®

About the Author

Award-winning author Dolores Curran expanded a genre that included only advice about mothering when she began in the early 1970s, incorporating the entire scope of family life issues into her work. Her articles have appeared in over 100 magazines and journals, including McCalls, Redbook and Parents Magazine. In 1984, Curran received a Christopher Award in the Best Adult Book category for Traits of a Healthy Family, and in 1986 Penn State University honored her with a Celebrate the Family Award, given to recognize outstanding work on family issues.

From 1987-1991, Curran worked as a Family Resource Consultant for Ireland, giving lectures around the country. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Practical Parenting Education and Family Information Services.

Known for speaking "parent language," Currans sense of humor and practical advice has attracted many readers to her work. Parents literally asked to read excerpts from Tired of Arguing with Your Kids? off her computer screen as she wrote. "Parents are hungry for these skills," Curran says.

Curran has applied those skills herself, raising three grown children. She and her husband, James, currently live in Littleton, Colorado.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 125 pages
• Publisher: Sorin Books (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893732061
• ISBN-13: 978-1893732063
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From whining to monster spray...Curran does it again, January 11, 2000

By 

mary jo pedersen (Omaha, Ne. U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tired of Arguing with Your Kids?: Wisdom from Parents Who Have Been There (Paperback)

Wisdom and humor are typical of Curran, but she really outdoes herself this time in "Tired of Arguing". This book gives practical suggestions to parents around issues from chronic whining to monster spray. I underlined most of it and laughed out loud over and over again at her ingenious responses to children's tedius arguments. Curran gives practical help to parents who fall into the "anger trap" and shows how humor is both a great defense and offense in the game of parenting. The "Handy Responses to Kids' Arguments" was my favorite part of the book...straightforward, honest,and effective! Anyone with a child in the argumentative years (ie, age 3-23) should have this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tired of Arguing With Your Kids? by Dolores Curran, December 14, 1999

By 

Marguerite (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tired of Arguing with Your Kids?: Wisdom from Parents Who Have Been There (Paperback)

This book is a must-read for parents, grandparents or anybody else who has contact with children. Dolores Curran tells us in words and ways we understand just what to say and do when children argue. She makes us aware of why and how much they argue, then gives appropriate responses we can make for the 80% of issues which are simply repetitive hassles. This leaves us energy to deal with the 20% of serious issues. "Children argue. Good children argue with good parents. One might even suggest that arguing is part of a child's job description," says Curran. That Curran humor is very much a part of this book, making it easy to read and easy to remember. Even her chapter headings are chock full of effective techniques to adopt or points to remember. Chapter One, for example, is DETACH, DETACH, DETACH. Chapter Two is A RULE WITHOUT A CONSEQUENCE IS NO RULE AT ALL. Curran doesn't mince words. She says, "When parents express consequences but fail to carry them out, children assume all consequences to be negotiable. They become suggestions, wishes, or threats, not consequences, and lead to habitually argumentative children." She tells us how to have a kinder, gentler home...a home which is a haven, not havoc. "Tell them we love them," says Curran, and then she shows us how. Curran recognizes what parents can learn with time. "We've learned that formerly worrisome issues and conflicts disappear in the mist of memory while love endures beyond messy rooms, loud music and sibling rivalry. We pass our experiences and wisdom on to young parents with a heartfelt message, 'Lighten up and enjoy the trip.'" This is a book which can impact families in positive, positive ways. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wit and wisdom on a topic that can wear parents down., October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tired of Arguing with Your Kids?: Wisdom from Parents Who Have Been There (Paperback)

How often have you read a book for parents and laughed out loud? You will with Curran's latest. These are ideas you can use. I have, and to great effect. Dolores Curran has gathered the wisdom of many parents and grandparents of various temperaments and offers it in a concise and well-organized format. Chock full of helpful tips you'll want to try.