No Regrets Parenting - Harley A. Rotbart, MD

Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing

Release Date:  February 21, 2012

Genre:  Non-Fiction, Parenting

Length:  211 pages

My Goodreads Rating:  3/5 stars

 Summary from Amazon:

No Regrets Parenting is a book for busy parents in our busy times. Juggling family and professional lives is not a course taught in high school or college--many parents find the challenges of being all things to all people daunting. This theme is ubiquitous in today's culture--movies, theatre, books, magazine features, and human interest news stories all find the challenge of raising children to be prime fodder for audiences. How to do it all? How to stay sane while trying to do it all?

  No Regrets Parenting teaches parents how to experience the joy and depth of the parenting experience amidst the chaos and choreography of daily routines. Car pool, bath time, soccer practice, homework, dinner hour, and sleepovers all become more than just obligations and hurdles to overcome to get through the day. They are opportunities for intimate and meaningful time--quality time--with young kids. It's not how much time you have with your kids, but how you spend that time that matters in the life and legacy of a young family. No Regrets Parenting readjusts parents' perspectives and priorities, helping them find the time to do it all and feel good about your kids' childhood.

  There is a simple, single truth for every parent. Your kids need you to be there. They need to see who you are and how you live your life. And, in return, they will help you to see who you are and how you should be living your life. For all of that to happen, parents need time with their kids. Memorable and meaningful time. No Regrets Parenting is about time. Finding enough of it and making the most of it.

 

My Review:

I came across this book in a round-about way.  Dr. Rotbart’s more recent book was mentioned in a magazine (probably Parents).  That one wasn’t available at my library, but this one was.  It sounded interesting, so I requested it.
I have 11 and 14-year-old step-daughters who have been part of my life since they were three and five.  Additionally, I now have my own 17 month old son and another on her way.  The fact that the days are long but the years are short is something I am intimately familiar with.  Along with the feeling that there still aren’t enough hours in those long days and that I am missing critical moments and interactions with my kiddos.  I am smack in the middle of Dr. Rotbart’s target audience.

I will start with the opinion that I could have done without all of Part 1.  It was fairly common sense and kind of boring.  But Part 2 of the book absolutely made up for that.

I love practical.  I love books that aren’t just theory but give the reader a “to do” list of sorts.  That is Part 2 of this book.  It is broken into categories of life (sleep, school, work, home, entertainment) and how to include your kids more into the every day (or to insert yourself more into their every day).  There were suggestions I could implement the day I read it.  Some to put on the calendar in the coming week or so.  And some to keep in mind for the future.

The chapters are short.  In fact, Dr. Rotbart suggests you keep the book in the bathroom to read a chapter during your daily trips there (See…practical!).  So it is easy for a busy parent to get through the reading.  It is also ideal to keep on your shelf as a reference.

Good parenting book to help us all make the most of the short time we have with our kiddos under our roofs.  (Only 940 Saturdays from birth to the departure from college!)