The Perfect Parent

From the award-winning author of THE BUBBLE BOY comes a heart-warming and unforgettable story? that follows one boy’s search for the perfect family, with surprising and unexpected results. Perfect for fans of Onjali Q. Rauf and Lisa Thompson. 'Friendship, laughter, suspense and more!' - Ross Welford, author of TIME TRAVELLING WITH A HAMSTER and THE 1000-YEAR-OLD BOY THINGS MY PERFECT PARENTS MUST HAVE: 1. A mega mansion like the ones footballers live in 2. A garage wall with a basketball hoop 3. No gerbils 4. Holidays to Disneyland All Sam wants is a family of his own, a home instead of a ‘house’ and parents he knows will still be there when he wakes up. Because Sam has been in and out of foster care his whole life and he can’t imagine ever feeling like he truly belongs. Then his best friend Leah suggests that rather than wait for a family to come to him, he should go out and find one. So begins The Perfect Parent Project ... But Sam may just discover that family has a funny way of finding you.

Get ready for a parenting makeover! If you’re a parent today, you face extreme pressure to get everything exactly “right”—a pursuit of perfection that probably makes parenting feel hard. It encourages you to worry about whether you’re doing a good enough job, and to wonder if your kids will turn out okay. In The “Perfect” Parent, Roma Khetarpal puts all of that agony to rest. She explains that the key to a fulfilling parenting experience is to stop chasing an ideal and instead use your inner perfection to nurture a strong, communicative connection with your children—which will lead them to be happy, think positive, and do good. Drawing from the fields of personal growth and emotional intelligence and distilling cutting-edge scientific research, Khetarpal leads you through five communication tools designed to help parents strengthen their bond with their kids and handle the doubt, guilt, worry, and fear that often accompany the challenges of raising children. Along the way, she shares helpful, humorous real-life stories taken from the popular parenting classes she’s taught for years, as well as easy-to-remember exercises—such as “Dealing with the Feeling” and “Take Five”—for use in common family situations. With this short, useful, and enjoyable guide, you will be equipped with the simple tools you need to build a relationship with your kids that lasts a lifetime. Includes a “Perfect’ parent toolbox!

Monica Costa, Editor of London Mum's wrote:This is an incredible book full of so many practical examples. No bullshit. No political correctness. Just truth and hard facts. Bringing up children is the most difficult job in the world and although babies do not come with a manual, 'I was the Perfect Parent...then had kids', is as close as it gets. It's the only parenting book that I believe mums and dads all over the world should read to help them create the foundations for a sustainable, happy and balanced family - told from a genuine and honest voice. Dan Clark, CSP, CPAE New York Times Best Selling Author of The Art of Significance:'I was the Perfect Parent...then I had Kids', is more than a 'how-to' manual on parenting skills. Because of her passionate insight and extraordinary experiences, it is a 'behavioral bible' that addresses the toughest parenting issues of setting expectations and boundaries with consequences, while providing real-life solutions. Dr. Doug A. Schneider Speaker, Pastor, Writer, Coach, Husband and Dad wrote:Lynda's wisdom and practical insights are invaluable. Her unique way of saying things is as good as the substance of what she says.

In this book, the preeminent child psychologist of our time gives us the results of his lifelong effort to determine what is most crucial in successful child-rearing. His purpose is not to give parents preset rules for raising their children, but rather to show them how to develop their own insights so that they will understand their own and their children's behavior in different situations and how to cope with it. Above all, he warns, parents must not indulge their impulse to try to create the child they would like to have, but should instead help each child fully develop into the person he or she would like to be.

Perfection is the enemy of parenting. Jim Daly sees and hears from mothers and fathers trying hard to pursue perfection. They listen to the best experts and read all the right books. When someone gives them a “World’s Best Mom” or “No. 1 Dad” coffee mug, they want it to be true. And they want their children to pursue perfection, too. It’s admirable for parents to be the very best moms and dads they can be for their children. But sometimes in so doing, they leave grace behind – both for themselves and their children. Jim believes that our quest for perfection, a quest that he believes is particularly strong among Christians, runs counter to God’s own boundless gift of grace. We can become Pharisaical parents, quoting endless rules and holding everyone to impossible standards. But God doesn’t want us, and our kids don’t need us, to be perfect. As parents, we’re called to simply do our best. And when we fail – which we will – we’re called to try again tomorrow. Though he’s the President of Focus on the Family, Jim does not promise that his book will be a catalyst for a perfect family. But it can help point the way toward a good family – one that feels safe and warm; one filled with love and laughter. This book will encourage mothers and fathers to embrace the messiness of parenthood and show grace to their own less-than-ideal children. Jim, through his own experiences, expertise, and array of stories, will lead both moms and dads to a better understanding of what being a good family is all about.

In No Perfect Parent, Just a Perfect Purpose, Tonya Milligan combines rational thinking with plenty of heart. Fueled by extensive experience and compelling personal stories, Tonya stirs up life-changing concepts that will apply across the generations, from first-time parents to grandparents.

Syler explains how she learned to chuck perfection for practicality, offering sage advice and tips on navigating different obstacles while offering real wisdom about mothering that is tempered with humor and warmth.