a book I do not need

November 16, 2008 in books, wondering | 6 comments

I don’t think this book can help me.

I might be interested in a companion volume, however. Something along the lines of Surviving with Children Who Think For Themselves. Or, Raising Children Who Aren’t So Dang Sure of Themselves. Or, say, Raising Children Who Think for Themselves but Will Occasionally Toy With the Idea That Their Parents Might Actually Know Something.

Any of you come across a book along those lines?

What parenting book do you wish you could get your hands on? (Come on, folks, that’s a call to leave a comment. Indulge me.)

  1. susan’s avatar

    susan on November 16, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    I would like to read Why Children Lick You And What You Can Do About It: A Parents’ Guide to Not Revealing Pet Peeves, Things that Make Your Skin Crawl, and Other Innermost Thoughts and Feelings to Your Children Who, If They Find Out, Will Immediately Put This Knowledge to Use.

  2. stefaneener’s avatar

    stefaneener on November 16, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    Oh, I think I’d like Rave No More: A Guide to Helping Your Children Find Their Inner Compliant Selves. Or “Hey, Mom, I Want to Clean My Room,” and Other Phrases You Thought You’d Never Hear.

    As I was watching Thing 4 do something smart and dangerous the other day, I reflected on rubbing my belly and chanting, “Dull and compliant, dull and compliant.”

    Didn’t work.

  3. BobPixel’s avatar

    BobPixel on November 16, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    My children who think for themselves are finally a joy to have around. Just in time for them to move out.

  4. BobPixel’s avatar

    BobPixel on November 16, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    “Making sure your grandkids think for themselves (a parent’s revenge)”

  5. Barbara’s avatar

    Barbara on November 18, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    OMG, thanks for this post, it made me laugh out loud this morning. It reminds me of Alfie Kohn saying that if you want your kids to think for themselves, don’t fool yourself into thinking that they’ll practice it on strangers.

    The book I don’t need is “Cultivating Your Children’s Natural Curiosity and Enthusiasm.” Especially at 9 p.m. when they want to run in wild screaming circles around the house, start an elaborate science experiment, or ask you detailed “why” and “how” questions now that you’re too tired to form a coherent sentence.

  6. patricia’s avatar

    patricia on November 19, 2008 at 9:07 am

    What a witty little band of commenters I have! I’m so lucky. You all bust me up!

    Thanks for stopping by, BobPixel. I didn’t realize who you were til I saw your banner. My two older kids were beside me when I clicked on your blog, and they thought “Flatware Musings” was about the funniest post title ever.

    And hello Barbara. Nice to meet you! I’m a big Alfie fan. And yup, once you follow the likes of Alfie, you get independent-minded kids, for better and for worse.