Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Do yourself a favor and skip this book - go buy "Raising your Spirited Child" or "Kids, Parents, and Power struggles" by Kurcinka. She covers pretty much the same type of positive parenting suggestions, but more intelligently, less judgementally, and without the continuous "Zen Parenting" "militant pacifist" ramblings. Besides, Kurcinka is more entertaining to read and just plain likable. :) Bailey doesn't have any children, and that's the core problem with this book I think. She can work with other people's children all day long for a million years, and it won't be the same as living day to day with a precious child and coping with hard discipline situations when you've had no sleep because you've been up all night with the child, or when you have several children all clamoring for your attention all at one time, etc. I honestly found myself *laughing out loud* at some of her suggestions - I can't see a "real" mother using these with a "real" child. Truly, a lot of what she said just seemed silly. And Baily is VERY hard on and judgemental of any parent who has EVER done anything that is contrary to her specific method. She has no compassion for what it is REALLY like down in the trenches of parenthood - because she's never been there. Have you ever given your child a cookie to keep him quiet in the grocery store? AH! You've manipulated her and turned her into a compulsive eater who will use food to soothe herself forever. Have you ever lost it and given your child a swat on the bottom? [even knowing you shouldn't have?!]. AH! You've turned him into a man who will "stuff" his feelings and be frightened of emotion and will alienate his wife anytime she shows emotion. Etc, Etc, Etc. Baily has a thousand ways in which she can tell you how you have ruined your child for life because you are such a rotten parent. She also characterizes just about every parenting method in the world as "violent" or "negative" - if you quietly ask your child to please finish their chore, she says you are coercing them and trying to force your will on them... um, OK, whatever. Maybe so, but the cat still needs to be fed. :) I am a huge proponent of gentle discipline and child-friendly parenting, but this book was just ridiculous in my opinion. There are SUCH better books out there - from real, live parents who actually KNOW what they are talking about and can give advice with compassion and empathy rather than judgement and condemnation. This book was a waste of my time.