Susan Tordella

Raising Able Susan Tordella

A parenting book on how tots-to-teens can learn the priceless gift of self-discipline through doing chores. Family meetings, family dinner and family chores are a tripod upon which children, tweens and teens can learn teamwork, responsibility, contribution, skills and enhance the most valuable parenting tool of all -- connection between parent and child. This is one of the best parenting books because it focuses on creating a positive relationship with your children, tweens and teens that creates a foundation for life. The techniques and approaches are based on mutual respect. Family meetings are the most powerful tool to set the landscape for a healthy family. Blended families and step families can benefit from family meetings because they foster family unity, peace and positive self esteem. Children, tweens and teenagers and single parents, step parents, LGBTQ parents, and just about every type of family can benefit from family meetings. Chores are implemented through the format of family meetings, so children have a say in how they contribute to the family. Allowances, screen time, family dinners, family pets, driving, homework, camping trips and the great outdoors are among the many topics covered in this interesting book illustrated with stories of the author's four children. She understands parents and the challenge of raising children. Through her mistakes, humor and insight, the reader will glean many positive parenting techniques based on the works of Alfred Adler and Rudolph Dreikurs, two pioneers in the realm of child psychology and child-rearing. Chores develop grit, self-discipline and self-esteem in this fast-paced era where screens, phones, tablets, TVs, and video games magnetize toddlers, young children, tweens and adolescents. Parents and step parents can use family meetings to set up limits around electronic media, and encourage children and teenagers to limit social media time. Chores done as a family can strengthen a family and bring together a step-family. This book will add many tools to the parenting tool box, and parents will feel happier and more relaxed when dealing with the many challenges and rewards of parenting. Children will learn responsibility and the cause and effect of their choices. The goal is for children to learn to make good independent decisions by learning from their mistakes. Children and teenagers can develop the courage to fail and to try again.