Parents in our post-modern world tend to be committed to but anxious about their child-rearing responsibilities. They've tried the countless par... read full description
reviews
Aug 04, 2008
Maura
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I loved this book, and hope to re-read it at least once, if not regularly. I think it is great on many levels. It is especially good for more authoritarian Christian parents, to help them understand how we can (and should?) parent our children with the grace with which our loving God parents us. I think far too many Christian parents lean more toward the justice side of God than the grace side. Another thing that came to my mind often as I read this book is how much I would love my non-Chris
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Mar 21, 2009
Sara
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Opened my eyes up to being a better parent. But it wasn't as insightful as I had hoped it would be.
Lots of reasons to BE more graceful...just not a lot of ideas on how to get there.
Lots of reasons to BE more graceful...just not a lot of ideas on how to get there.
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Dec 25, 2011
Hippie
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While I know this book has done much in the way of introducing parents to a more grace-based form of discipline (hence the two stars instead of only one), I disliked it front-to-back. The part that really sealed the deal for me can be found on pages 221 and 222:
"Children learn from discipline and have an internal sense of justice that needs to know they have paid their debt for their infraction and can move on with their lives...
...[The children] wanted to get their punishmen More...
"Children learn from discipline and have an internal sense of justice that needs to know they have paid their debt for their infraction and can move on with their lives...
...[The children] wanted to get their punishmen More...
Sep 23, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
I don't know if it was the writer's style or the present mood or circumstances I've been in, but I had to put the book down. Every time I'd put pick it up, I'd eventually find myself in a disgruntled mood (about life, my marriage and the ways were were each brought up). I got through over half the book. I thought the ideas and precepts were really good, but the ways he elaborated on them were not helpful. I found him more critical of people that don't parent "right" and he seemed prone
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Jul 29, 2011
Carissa
rated it:
I just finished Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel. Wow, wow and wow. What a beautiful, uplifting, encouraging book. If you are a parent who is tired of feeling like you are battling your children everyday, this is the book for you. Tim shows us how to parent in a way that is grace-filled, that releases our homes from legalism and lets our children truly live as God intended: free in Christ.
I cannot recommend this book more highly. I came away feeling refreshed and more confident as More...
I cannot recommend this book more highly. I came away feeling refreshed and more confident as More...
Jul 08, 2008
Elisa Garza
rated it: 
Wow - this book was really challenging. He talks a lot about giving your kids the grace to do things that aren't morally wrong (even though they might make you cringe - like dying their hair funky colors). Also, the focus should be on raising strong kids instead of "safe" kids. Very thought-provoking. I'm actually going to read this one again . . .
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Dec 02, 2011
Greg
rated it:
Grace Based Parenting
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Over the last 16 years as a parent I have read a lot of books on parenting, I have taught many courses on parenting, and my wife and I have given a lot of advice to parents, plus we have made a lot of mistakes that we hope to learn from. This book is probably one of the best books on Christian parenting that I have read. I would put it in my top 3 with “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” and “Age of Opportunity”.
If you are looking for a r More...
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Over the last 16 years as a parent I have read a lot of books on parenting, I have taught many courses on parenting, and my wife and I have given a lot of advice to parents, plus we have made a lot of mistakes that we hope to learn from. This book is probably one of the best books on Christian parenting that I have read. I would put it in my top 3 with “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” and “Age of Opportunity”.
If you are looking for a r More...
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Jan 28, 2012
Nikki
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I think many parents do get to the stage when you realise no one parenting book has it all.But many of them in the Christian parenting arena have good things to say. This is another book that I think can work towards rounding out your parenting.
Tim Kimmel writes to challenge Christian parents as to what is actually motivating their parenting choices. If you are parenting with the intention of leading your children to the Lord, is the guidance and rules you set before your children g More...
Tim Kimmel writes to challenge Christian parents as to what is actually motivating their parenting choices. If you are parenting with the intention of leading your children to the Lord, is the guidance and rules you set before your children g More...
Sep 23, 2011
Joalby
rated it:
I loved this book. I read it years ago and I am still not a parent. It helped me realize that things that have happened in my life may have been helping me out actually.
I think you gain strong principles from this book that can help you out when you're ready to take that step in your life. We can not shelter our children, we need to allow them to grow and build a foundation allowing THEM to grow rather than us as parent imposing our expectations upon them.
I feel this would greatly benefit both More...
I think you gain strong principles from this book that can help you out when you're ready to take that step in your life. We can not shelter our children, we need to allow them to grow and build a foundation allowing THEM to grow rather than us as parent imposing our expectations upon them.
I feel this would greatly benefit both More...
May 30, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Now it may seem odd at first glance that I, a single, childless woman, would pick up a book on parenting, but I have a bit of a love-affair with grace and happened across this lovely tome whilst babysitting at my sister's. The beautiful thing about this one is that it's less of a parenting how-to (totally irrelevant to me) and more of understanding and developing my relationship with God by understanding and developing all sorts of relationships around me. In short, this book is about living lif
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Nov 15, 2010
Ki
rated it:
Ugh. I hate reviewing this one.
It drove me mad and I wanted to throw it across the room several times. I did wind up hissing at it once or twice. I would also highly recommend it.
Kimmel has produced a solid work of philosophy/right-thought (as opposed to a practical instruction book)on what he believes are the most important aspects of parenting. I agree with him. I think he managed to take a potentially confusing idea of grace and applied it marvelously to how parents shoul More...
It drove me mad and I wanted to throw it across the room several times. I did wind up hissing at it once or twice. I would also highly recommend it.
Kimmel has produced a solid work of philosophy/right-thought (as opposed to a practical instruction book)on what he believes are the most important aspects of parenting. I agree with him. I think he managed to take a potentially confusing idea of grace and applied it marvelously to how parents shoul More...
Apr 02, 2009
Christina
rated it:
If you are struggling with legalism issues from your home of origin or in your life as a parent, this book is a great encouragement to help you swing towards a different direction. I liked the "bones" of this book. The ideas were presented clearly and the many arguments against this approach were addressed (grace does not= permissiveness).
This is one of those books I would like to read again when my children reach the pre-teen stage, because a big key to applying the gr More...
This is one of those books I would like to read again when my children reach the pre-teen stage, because a big key to applying the gr More...
Oct 08, 2011
Crystal
rated it:
I borrowed this book from a friend who had heard the author speak. I was quite impressed with his general message and the thought behind it. I will be buying my own copy. The ideas and principles are well thought out and backed up with bible verses. I like how he points out the three basic needs and clarifies them so we have a better understanding. I feel like, by the end of this book, I am equipped with a handful of new tools to apply to my every day life.
Mar 18, 2010
Traci
rated it:
Quite possibly the most enlightening and inspiring parenting book I've read. Not the least of its merits is the explanation of where and how much Christian parenting goes awry and what to do about it. The whole premise that our children understand God's love based on the way we love them rings so true with me. I want to start again reading it from the beginning and take notes and make personal goals this time around, not to mention to start right now making my relationship with Christ and my und
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Jul 14, 2009
Melyssa
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I really enjoyed this book and would like to own it, since I kept wanting to highlight things and underline sentences. 5 stars I suppose is a little generous, but I was happy to find a parenting book that I liked so much. Just like most books of this genre, we could use more black and white do's and don'ts and checklists of how to have the perfect kids, but I really appreciated this author's love of children, his warnings against legalism, and other parts. I am a big believer in sheltering my
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Jul 02, 2011
Jason
rated it:
I loved this book and highly recommend it. The author does an
excellent job in outlining his beliefs and concepts about parenting into a simple yet profound framework that fits into one's overall belief/religion/philosophy.
I feel that the absence of step-by step guidelines strengthens the claims made in that this system allows individual differences to be celebrated and mistakes/challenges to be forgiven with God given grace.
I enjoyed the anecdotes and felt compell More...
excellent job in outlining his beliefs and concepts about parenting into a simple yet profound framework that fits into one's overall belief/religion/philosophy.
I feel that the absence of step-by step guidelines strengthens the claims made in that this system allows individual differences to be celebrated and mistakes/challenges to be forgiven with God given grace.
I enjoyed the anecdotes and felt compell More...
Feb 02, 2010
Molly
rated it:
This was a breath of fresh air for me and my husband. Recommended by beloved friends/mentors, it helped encourage us towards seeing/embracing the big picture of raising our boys. It seems most of the out-workings/practical suggestions are more geared to parents of older-than-preschool age kids but the basics of grace as they can/should apply to parenting were tangible for us too. I think it helped solidify what we'd already been convinced of in what NOT to do (cling to rules based parenting).
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May 29, 2008
Anne-Marie
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Being a full-time stay-at-home mom has made me realize how little I actually know about parenting. I've been mired in the details of dirty diapers and spilled food, so this book is a welcome look at the big picture. He asserts that both legalistic and free-wheeling styles of parenting are ultimately unsuccessful. He argues that grace-based parenting consists of meeting your children's needs for security, significance, and strength (with love, purpose and hope). So far it hasn't been so cheesy
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Jun 16, 2010
Libbydale
rated it:
I have only read one and a half chapters in this book, but am being rightfully reminded of the grace that exists for every person on earth and how grace can and should (in the author's and my opinion) be the basis for how we raise our children. It has refreshed me in a time when I have been hard on myself for many things in my life.
There are many parenting books out there that I haven't been able to finish because they spouted too many hard and fast rules to stay on the parenting fa More...
There are many parenting books out there that I haven't been able to finish because they spouted too many hard and fast rules to stay on the parenting fa More...
Apr 30, 2010
Julia
rated it:
I have some kind of allergy/aversion to most Christian parenting books but this was such a breath of fresh air. I loved that this author made the case that not only is it OK as a Christian to parent your children with compassion for their vulnerabilities, differences, and failures but it is more consistent with who God is and who He wants us to be as parents. I didn't really need much convincing on that point, but it is encouraging to see the rationale for such an approach laid out and I found
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Jul 08, 2008
Legacy
rated it:
Best Christian Parenting book I have read in years! My wife and I got to have lunch with Tim and Darcy Kimmel in 2007, they're a great couple and this book combined with some of Tim's other books makes a great foundation for parenting.
So many parents today focus a majority of their time and parenting on academics, sports and hobbies then spend almost no time on morals, values and character development.
First read Robert Shaw's "The Epidemic: The Rot of American Cult More...
So many parents today focus a majority of their time and parenting on academics, sports and hobbies then spend almost no time on morals, values and character development.
First read Robert Shaw's "The Epidemic: The Rot of American Cult More...
Feb 13, 2009
Mandy
rated it:
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Will certainly change the way I parent. Now to working on actually implementing into my day-to-day life.
May 19, 2011
Joy
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This was a good book that had some fresh insight for me. To love our kids through the lens of grace, but still having high moral standards. Really good read. Really made me think.
Apr 06, 2010
Kflikkema
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So far, my favourite Christian parenting book. Well-rounded and realistic perspective on parenting for the Christian family.
Feb 12, 2008
Sarah
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What a refreshing change from all the parenting books that are dogmatic, legalistic and tell you to follow specific formulas in order to raise your child. Finally a book that focuses on the heart of a child and not just the outward behavior! This book focuses on showing grace to your child in the same way that you have experienced grace. I now give this book to my friends as a babyshower gift.
A huge plus - I don't think there are any references to spanking as being the Biblical way to dis More...
A huge plus - I don't think there are any references to spanking as being the Biblical way to dis More...
Jun 18, 2008
Rachel
rated it:
While not quite as informative as I would have preferred (think it's geared more toward people with older children, who had more experience), this book did help me -either directly or indirectly- realize that the "need" for immediate obedience from our children is based on fear of losing control.
It helped confirm that, for me, my parenting is about doing the "right thing", which is not necessarily what everyone would agree is the "thing that works".
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It helped confirm that, for me, my parenting is about doing the "right thing", which is not necessarily what everyone would agree is the "thing that works".
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Jan 03, 2011
Sha
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Some useful concepts for parenting. I think it has helped me, but I still have so far to go.
Jan 16, 2010
Chelsie
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Absolutely wonderful, and so helpful! A must for any Christian parents and family!!!
Jun 03, 2008
Jen
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I'm not really sure what I thought of this book. On the one hand, I thought that the book was basically a simplistic explanation of Christianity coupled with common sense parenting, so I didn't feel like I got a lot out of it. Really? You should allow your children to be individuals but discipline them lovingly when they sin? Who would have thought of that without this book? On the other hand, I felt the author did have interesting explanations of different scripture passages, many of which
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Mar 25, 2011
I'm liking this a lot more than I thought I would. I expected a more licentious view (for some odd reason, not based on facts obviously), but what lies herein is some information I needed to both learn and to remember delivered with a fresh perspective. So far, so good. Hard to put down.
Update
In areas, seriously challenging, but also resonates as the closest book I've ever read to saying what we believe about parenting. Still reading. Already planning to reread with paper and pen. More...
Update
In areas, seriously challenging, but also resonates as the closest book I've ever read to saying what we believe about parenting. Still reading. Already planning to reread with paper and pen. More...
