parenting Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Awful Library Books

Your Eight Year Old

April 24, 2019 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection 2 comments

Your Eight Year Old
Lively and Outgoing
Ames and Haber
1989

This is another one of those series about kids like we have featured in previous posts. My particular favorite is about your three your old child. The kid on the cover looks suspicious and probably is capable of world domination. Our eight year old girl on this cover is charming, and as a mother I remember eight years old as pretty good. Old enough to take care of stuff, but not yet a snotty teenager. These books do have a good reputation and were probably a solid addition to a collection back in the day. Although parenting advice is usually consistent, technology and other changes in our culture might warrant an updated version.

Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality

March 28, 2019 Holly Department of God, Parent/Teacher Collection 12 comments

A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality Nicolosi 2002 Submitter: I found this oldie when I was helping a patron prepare for a high school presentation on queer issues. I was embarrassed that we not only own this but that it

Let’s talk about sex, baby

March 7, 2019 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection 13 comments

Sex Is Not A Four-Letter Word!
Miller
1994

This isn’t too bad for the time. This book is surprising as well, since this is the first one I have had on this site that is Christian (Catholic) based and NOT terrifyingly homophobic. The author actually pushes parents to love their child unconditionally, even if they are uncomfortable.

However, all books that are about sexual health issues are automatic weeds when they are over 20 years old. I would also say this is particularly important when coming from a religious perspective. Cultural influences on young people need to be addressed in books about sexual health. It’s a weeder, but I have hope when a Christian parenting book talks about unconditional love from parents and acceptance of those who are different.

Terrible Twos

February 7, 2019 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection 6 comments

Your Two Year Old Terrible or Tender Ames and IIg 1976 Who doesn’t love the subtitle of “Terrible or Tender”? We featured a book from this series back in 2010 called Your Three Year Old: Friend or Enemy. This was

Teens in Cyber Space

February 6, 2019 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection One comment

Disconnected
Parenting Teens in a MySpace World
Clark and Clark
2007

The title alone makes this book weed worthy. However, the idea of this book is still pretty good. The book is written for parents about the realities of an Internet driven world for teens. For 2007, this was an excellent choice for parents looking for a parenting guide for the world that had Internet and social media. I also liked that for a Christian oriented theme, it offers more than “hopes and prayers” or lock up your kids and take away the Internet advice. Non Christian parents would also find this book helpful. Clark published Hurt 2.0 in 2011 and it looks like he is picking up on the themes from this book.

Watermelons Not War

December 6, 2018 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection 11 comments

Watermelons Not War! Cloud, Deegan, Evans, Imam, and Signer 1984 Evidently the authors felt that it was important for parents to talk to children about possible nuclear annihilation. For context, nuclear accidents and war were constantly in the news at

Communicate With Your Teen

October 25, 2018 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection One comment

Between Parent & Teenager Ginott 1969 Ginott was the expert on child psychology and was rather groundbreaking in his approach to communication with children and teens. Ginott advocated compassionate talking and staying away from blaming the child. He also believed

Advice for (Privileged) Mothers

April 25, 2018 Mary Kelly Ladies only!, Making a Living, Parent/Teacher Collection 5 comments

You Can’t Do It All
Ideas that work for mothers who work
Lew
1986

Books like this make me mad. They particularly made me mad in the late 1980s and early 90s when I was in child hell. I would bet I read every single one of these books and no one had a “solution”. Because there isn’t one.

What all these books fail to understand is that regardless of what you do (or don’t do), someone will criticize your choice and make you feel lousy. Take your choice: you can be a bad mother or a bad employee. If you are really trying, you can be both!