Family Building, 12

The truth is, child rearing is not complicated. Therefore, it is not hard. There will be difficult moments, of course, . . . but if a parent is experiencing the rearing of a child or children as generally difficult--as emotionally, intellectually, and even physically exhausting, then the parent is doing something wrong. --John Rosemond, "Family Building"

Trusted family psychologist John Rosemond has a revolutionary message for today's parents: Your grandparents' generation knew a lot more about raising children than all of today's experts. The experts have turned child rearing into a complicated, exhausting chore rather than the simple, straightforward task it should be. In "Family Building: The Five Fundamentals of Effective Parenting," Rosemond outlines the five key principles of traditional parenting that are crucial to raising well-behaved children today.

* It's about the family, not the children.

* Where discipline is concerned, it's about communication, not consequences; leadership not relationship.

* It's about respecting others, not high self-esteem.

* It's about manners and morals, not skills.

* It's about responsibility, not high achievement.

Each chapter includes questions from real parents faced with real-life parenting challenges, and in his typical no-nonsense style, Rosemond provides practical solutions. "Family Building" restores common sense to parenting and puts the parents back in charge. Once again, John Rosemond delivers child-rearing wisdom that no parent should miss."