The Missing Pages of the Parent Handbook

by Christina Brockett

They require a license to drive and degrees for most professions… but don't require formal training to become a parent? Parenting is one of those few occupations where we are constantly forced to learn “on the job.”

This book presents extraordinary wisdom from ordinary parents who, like you, have had to learn on the job. These stories and insights come from a diverse group of adults, representing a cross-section of American moms and dads.

From a mother of a teenage son, we learn how to correct years of enabling. From parents who have lost a son in a military accident, we learn how to go on. From a husband who discovers his wife has put their daughter’s jeans in the freezer, we learn to find humor in those crazy moments of parenting. In each case, these men and women come out wiser – offering us all lessons on this difficult, funny, and taxing enterprise of child rearing.

Open this book…and you may just find a page that is missing from your parent handbook.

248 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2013

About the author

Christina Brockett was born in Philadelphia to hippie parents. Her very early childhood was spent on communes where she learned to get along--ok mostly get along--with other children. At the beginning of elementary school, her parents divorced. She then moved and split her time between San Francisco and just outside of Washington, D.C.. Christina attended Boston College and the University of Maryland and upon graduation entered the consulting world and later worked in telecommunications.

When her children were born, Christina shifted to a career in real estate as an appraiser and agent so that she would have more time to be there for her kids. Soon after becoming a mother, Christina realized how ill-prepared she felt to be a parent. As an outlet for these feelings she began to write essays about those feelings of inadequacy. Over time she branched out and began speaking to other parents about their experiences which ultimately became the basis for her debut book, The Missing Pages of the Parent Handbook.

Between working, and acting as the mom chauffeur, Christina maintains a mom blog at momevolving.com . In addition, her work as appeared in the Frederick News Post, Frederick Magazine’s City and County Guide , The Torpedo Factory Art Center and Getsparked.org. She lives outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband, two children and dog.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is that we all have days when we feel like we don't know what we're doing as parents, so the author sets out to fill in the "missing pages" with stories of real-life parenting challenges and the lessons learned from them. The essays in this book are individually well done, but I'd recommend dipping in and out, reading them one after another is like an overdose of magazine pieces. I felt the book would have been stronger organized by themes rather than having the very light topics (poop) and very difficult ones (death) mixed together. The stories represent a nice cross-section of ages, family types, and creative solutions to all kinds of parenting situations.

[Heather Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource. As a parent you have the luxury of following the advice of the parent in each story or making your own choice. This book however shows you you are not alone!!