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May 29, 2008

Jen rated it:

Finally someone else has thought it all out--how I can teach my kids how to grow up to be knowledgeable, independent, self-reliant, and self-assured. I don't know anyone who doesn't want that! Fantastic, common-sense ideas that I haven't seen elsewhere.

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Apr 07, 2011

Tryn rated it:

If I'm going to read a parenting book, I prefer one written by a real-life mom. That's just what this is. The writing style is conversational, like a chat across the kitchen table. The content is packed with sound, practical ideas. I particularly like that the author is raising four boys in the town next door to where I grew up in southern California.

Boyack begins by urging mothers not to let their nurturing instincts go into overdrive. If we do everything for our children More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 30, 2008

Amy rated it:

I enjoyed this book. I've never been into parenting books, but this was recommended by a neighbor so I thought I'd give it a try. I expected it would take longer to get through, as most non-fictions do, but it turned out to be a fairly quick read. I really enjoyed her candidness (she's real), and she has a straight forward approach to teaching our chldren to be independant. We do coddle our children too much, and although some of her ideas seem odd because we haven't as of yet considered the More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 26, 2009

Abby marked it as to-read

So my husband has two brothers who have never grown up. That is not a nitpicky thing, it's just factual truth of reality-ness. One is almost 30 and lives in his parent's basement still, playing video games and reading books and never socializing with human beings. (To be completely fair, he is just now, at this very moment, buying a townhouse and moving out on his own. But up until this moment, it has been 100% true.) The other brother comes and goes. He has one job, then loses it, then gets ano More...

5 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 20, 2011

Breanne rated it:

This book came as an answer to a deep desire to find order in my family. I sorrow only at wishing I had read this book when my children were a little bit younger, to fully progress through what I believe to be an inspired course toward independance and success. Putting these ideals to work in our home has made a measurable difference if only in my outlook and attitude. I appreciated how Boyack got right to the point and though it does come across as a little abrasive and pious I would rather More...

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Jul 12, 2009

Kati rated it:

I LOVE this book. Not because it is written well--it isn't. But the whole point of it is that if you want your kids to be independent adults one day you need to have a plan in place to make that happen. And she lays it all out for you with a time line and everything. You'll need to tweak it for your own family, but it has such great ideas, is a guiding light, etc., etc., that I keep it on my nightstand and refer to it often. I've not made the extensive long term goal list yet; however, I've deci More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Dec 07, 2008

Tovi rated it:

Warning: One of my longer reviews and I even edited a lot out.

This book covered a lot of bases, but a couple of things that I really enjoyed is how the author stressed not giving into our kids' wants and doing everything for them "because I love them". If we love our kids we would not do everything for them but teach them how to do everything for themselves; change a tire, clean a toilet, make a bed, manage their finances (she suggested that a four year old should be abl More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 20, 2010

Christine rated it:

I was loaned this book by a great friend and I absolutely love it!!! I can't wait to finish it and start implementing all of her great ideas!! We have already started some. It's one that I need to go out and buy because I am planning on rereading it every year for a pep talk, :) and because I know as my kids get older new things will stand out more to me.
Boyack basically asks the question, "What written down, thought out, today through the future plan do you have to raise hard workin More...

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Mar 19, 2011

Cassie rated it:

Boyack says in her book that most of the parents that don't agree with, "The Parenting Breakthrough" are the ones that are complaining about the way their children act. I'd like to hope that my husband and I will implement some of Boyack's ideas once we have kids. Until then I love how the author comments on the "bounce back generation." A generation in which we live where children move out right after high school only to return home shortly after because they couldn't handle More...

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Mar 07, 2011

Wendy rated it:

This book had a lot of good ideas - especially on teaching kids about money and work (first half). The second half focused mostly on spiritual and character development. We do things similarly so there weren't as many new ideas for me.

She was pretty hard on counter-example families used throughout the book (especially in the first half) who don't do things the same way she does. I didn't think it was necessary to be so harsh in order to make her points. I think her ideas were good, but defi More...

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Sep 24, 2011

Rachel rated it:

I've got to buy this one because I know I'll refer back to it in years to come. I really liked Merrilee Boyack's humour and down-to-earth attitude. She came up with some really thought-provoking ideas and principles. What struck me most was her emphasis on training: parenting in her book is all about training children to be independent adults. She seems to have a rota for everything - even where kids sit in the minivan, but I loved her idea of everyone setting the table together instead of takin More...

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Oct 14, 2010

Jill rated it:

A friend gave this to me that I respect a lot as far as organization and parenting, and although it is really heavy on the mormon culture, which was fine for me, but people not of that faith may get caught up in the lingo she uses. Other than that, I really enjoyed it and it was a great and light parenting book for me. Lots of good lists and charts on how to make your kids more independent and what they should be doing at what age. What you should be able to expect of your kids, teaching them ab More...

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Dec 04, 2009

Heidi rated it:

I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt like her ideas were practical, reasonable and doable. She had a lot of good points on how to help kids understand money, and offers tips on how to teach them to respect and value money and saving from and early age. As I read through the book I was able to recognize things my parents had done while raising me and see how I can now implement them. I got it for tips on helping my kids get better at helping with their chores, but I got a lot more out More...

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Apr 29, 2008

Kim rated it:

This is book is absolutely essential for any parenting library. It is a whole new (unfortunately) paradigm and the GREATEST book! It deals with teaching kids independence and the life skills they need to grow up and be adults.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 09, 2011

Natalie rated it:

I purchased this book on half.com after reading several great reviews from bloggers and such. I purchased it with the intent on learning more about how to get my kids to work and be totally ready to leave the nest at the proper age.

The portions that apply to my stage of parenting (4, 3 and 1 year old) I enjoyed - which were the lists of "skills" that children can learn at each age. Maybe I'll find other portions of the book more applicable later on.... but right now I reall More...

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Apr 04, 2010

Janae rated it:

I loved this book. It gave me a lot of great ideas for teaching my kids how to be more independent. By implementing some of the ideas from this book it has made a huge difference in my family already.

7 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 24, 2010

Becca rated it:

The idea behind this book really isn't new or innovative. It's intuitive, but no one's really ever written about it before (at least to my knowledge). Most moms I know drop off their kids at college and basically wish them luck in learning everything it takes to be an independent adult like cooking, all the stuff they need to clean, how to take care of a car, and money matters. There are the few and far between that actually know how to feed themselves and their roommates, the few that have had More...

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Apr 21, 2010

Regina rated it:

the five stars are for the job teaching plan and the missionary savings fund plan. I had my own job list before this book, but having someone else's tried and tested list to compare it to is priceless. I feel financially illiterate, so two chapters on teaching kids finances were helpful. I have always refused to do allowance, but the plan the author of this book shares for allowance, solves the issues I had with it, so my kids should be thanking her.

The narrative voice in this boo More...

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Jun 10, 2009

Allison rated it:

LOVED this. Jessica Moore has referred to me some of my favorite parenting books. This was so enlightening to me. I thought about parenting as a job. If I was back working in PR would I stay up to midnight knowing I had a client mtg the next day? No. I would be sooo prepared and make sure I had 3 interviews lined up with reporters the following day. So why don't I think of motherhood as a job? I should be more prepared for each day. I need a plan as I would working in PR. It just gave More...

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Sep 02, 2009

Melissa rated it:

This is a great book on teaching your children to work on their own, be responsible for themselves, be financially wise, etc. Some of the ideas fall under the "tough love" category, but in a mild way (ie "You didn't get that homework project done and it's due this morning? What will you do?" instead of "You didn't get it done, let me help you."). There is also much advice to love and encourage and support your children. Good balance.

One more th More...

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Sep 16, 2010

Jennefer rated it:

This is a really good book! I will use a lot of information in this one with my family. I marked everything I thought was interesting as I read it and now I am going to go back and write down all the things I need to start implementing now (I'm very lucky I read this while my kids are still young). I thought this book gave great advice, but was still very real! The other book about teaching children to work that I read before this one, had a lot of good information, but was really made for ch More...

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Jun 10, 2009

Markelle rated it:

I actually really liked this book--the author is very funny and put a lot of personality into it. I would like to own this book and use it as a reference book. I already want to go back and re-cap. The information was like listening to a good sac meeting talk, nothing really brand new, but motivating--makes you want to go and do a better job than you have been doing. And kudos to the author--she only quoted 2 other parenting books and one of them was Dr. Thomas Gordon of P.E.T. fame :) A fami More...

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Aug 04, 2011

Alice-Anne rated it:

This is a book geared to help parents raise independent children. The first half of the book is especially good. She explains "The Plan"--a roadmap for her and husband in how they wanted to parent their children. Especially interesting is to see the list she includes with what skills a child should have at a certain age so that by the time they leave home, they can be competent adults. She has a discussion on chores and money. Actually a good chunk of the book is about teaching money i More...

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Jan 17, 2009

Jill rated it:

Amazing. I love it when people speak of parenting in non-apologetic terms. She discusses parenting not in discipline terms, but in how to help your children become independent, how to teach them LIFE SKILLS to keep them afloat and happy. Heck, I learned a lot of things to change/implement in my own life. A HUGE recommendation - whether your kids are newborn, teenager (I wish my parents would have used some of these skills on me), in college, or if you're a grandparent. Yeah. One could surmi More...

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Dec 30, 2009

Natalie rated it:

LOVED this book. What a paradigm shift I experienced while reading this. Totally changed my perspective on chores and how I want to teach my children. My friend Annie B recommended this via goodreads, and I borrowed my sister's copy. I really really enjoyed it, and it was a quick read. This is an LDS author, so many of her principles of work have references to our belief in God etc. I would definitely still recommend this to a non-LDS friend, but would want them to know that there are religious More...

1 comment like

Apr 13, 2009

Nora rated it:

So this book had me chatting away to just about everyone. Did I ever plan on raising independent kids?--or maybe I never even thought about what I was teaching--and really just surviving. Well my young are not as young and the list of what kids can do by a certain age is a must! I copied it! Also the whole chapter on allowance, savings, and teaching financial independence had me excited. The last bit on having family themes was okay but I don't know that you really can plan a family theme. More...

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Jan 20, 2012

Dawn rated it:

I loved this. It took me longer to read than usual because I get bored with non-fiction sometimes. I also found the author's tone occasionally condescending and I admit I don't agree with all of her methods, but her ideas for teaching chores are spot on. We've already started some of her ideas at my house, and they were very well received. She's not an expert in the field of parenting, but I really like how she lists ideas of chores children can learn at each age and how she divides up famiy More...

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Oct 14, 2011

Missy rated it:

Loving it so far. "The Plan" includes lists of things kids should be able to do by age. Practical things like groom nails and hair, make a salad, answer phone calls, have a savings account, mail a letter, write a check, help purchase a car, etc.

I like her philosophy on parenting: our job is not to make our kids happy all the time. We are to nurture, protect, love, and train our kids to be independent.

Update: I finished the book in one flight, and I love it. I may e More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

May 24, 2010

Christy rated it:

Food to eat while reading: Back to Basics Beans and Rice(check back on Tasty Tuesday for the recipe!)www.dearestdreams.com

“Want your Children to Move out of the House Someday?”

As my children get older and are more capable of doing chores and becoming independent, I wonder if I am giving them too little responsibility-or too much. Merrilee Boyack draws on her experience of raising four boys to shed some light on the subject.

What I liked:

Perso More...

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Jan 15, 2012

Amy rated it:

9/10
Yes! Yes! Yes! Such a good parenting book. I liked this one far better than her book about getting along with your spouse (and I didn't dislike that one either). I agreed with so many things in this book.

This isn't a parenting book that talks a lot about how to discipline your kids. Rather, it is about how to raise independent kids who will one day be able to leave home and be successful adults. She methodically outlines what children should be able to do each year of thei More...

6 comments like