13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do: Raising Self-Assured Children and Training Their Brains for a Life of Happiness, Meaning, and Success

by Amy Morin

Overview

The author of the international bestseller 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do turns her focus to parents, teaching them how to raise mentally strong and resilient children.

Do today’s children lack the flexibility and mental strength they need to cope with life’s challenges in an increasingly complicated and scary world? With safe spaces and trigger warnings designed to "protect" kids, many adults worry that children don’t have the resilience to reach their greatest potential. Amy Morin, the author who identified the characteristics that mentally strong people share, now gives adults—parents, teachers, and other mentors—the tools they need to become mental strength trainers. While other books tell parents what to do, Amy teaches parents what "not to do," which she says is equally important in raising mentally strong youngsters.

As a foster parent, psychotherapist, and expert in family and teen therapy, Amy has witnessed first-hand what works. When children have the skills they need to deal with challenges in their everyday lives, they can flourish socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and academically. With appropriate support, encouragement, and guidance from adults, kids grow stronger and become better. Drawing on her experiences and insight, 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do combines case studies, practical tips, specific strategies, and concrete and proven exercises to help children of all ages—from preschoolers to teenagers—build mental muscle and develop into healthy, strong adults.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062565747
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/19/2017
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	462,436
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Amy Morin is a licensed clinical social worker, instructor at Northeastern University, and psychotherapist. She is the author of the international bestseller 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, as well as 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do. Amy is a regular contributor to Verywell, CNBC, Forbes, Inc., and Psychology Today. She gave one of the most viewed TEDx talks of all time and was named the “self-help guru of the moment” by The Guardian. She lives in Marathon, Florida. 13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don’t Do is her third book.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 They Don't Condone a Victim Mentality 9

Chapter 2 They Don't Parent out of Guilt 33

Chapter 3 They Don't Make Their Child the Center of the Universe 57

Chapter 4 They Don't Allow Fear to Dictate Their Choices 81

Chapter 5 They Don't Give Their Child Power over Them 105

Chapter 6 They Don't Expect Perfection 129

Chapter 7 They Don't Let Their Child Avoid Responsibility 155

Chapter 8 They Don't Shield Their Child from Pain 179

Chapter 9 They Don't Feel Responsible for Their Child's Emotions 205

Chapter 10 They Don't Prevent Their Child from Making Mistakes 231

Chapter 11 They Don't Confuse Discipline with Punishment 257

Chapter 12 They Don't Take Shortcuts to Avoid Discomfort 285

Chapter 13 They Don't Lost Sight of Their Values 305

Conclusion 329

References 333

Acknowledgments 343

Editorial Reviews

06/19/2017
Psychotherapist Morin’s worthy follow-up to 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do extends her dos-and-don’ts formula to parenting. Each chapter examines one don’t, such as don’t “condone a victim mentality,” “parent out of guilt,” “expect perfection,” “prevent child from making mistakes,” or “confuse discipline with punishment.” And each chapter opens with an anecdote illustrative of the identified problem; contains signs to recognize, new dos to adopt, and sections on different ages; and wraps up with a troubleshooting summary. For example, in “They Don’t Make Their Child the Center of the Universe,” Morin discusses how people trying to avoid mistakes their own parents made often use excessive praise with their kids, unintentionally nurturing narcissism instead of healthy self-esteem. Her combination of common sense backed by research—amply cited—will help parents make a midcourse correction. While the title focuses on the negative, the book itself accentuates the positive. Parents should find Morin’s work inspiring. Agent: Stacey Glick, Dystel & Goderich. (Sept.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misspelled the author's last name.

Publishers Weekly

06/15/2017
Social worker and psychotherapist Morin delivers an in-through-the-out-door approach to building mental muscle by presenting 13 parenting behaviors to avoid. She first outlines three components of psychological strength (thoughts, behaviors, and emotions) that will help youngsters deal with life's challenges. The 13 no-nos for parents include confusing discipline and punishment, expecting perfection, letting children avoid responsibility, making their kids the center of the universe, allow fear to dictate their choices, among others. Chapters conclude with follow-up questions that address issues in both one's personal and parenting life. "Stage moms" and "sports dads" are asked to look deep and consider that kids can handle more than you think and that "pain is not the enemy." VERDICT Morin's strategies support long-term goals. Her advice, while lengthy, is sound and can be applied to children of any age. Recommended.

Library Journal