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The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting
by
"Parents . . . you will be wowed and awed by [Dr. Shefali]." —Oprah Winfrey
New from the New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent comes a radically transformative plan that shows parents how to raise children to be their best, truest selves.
What if...?
What if I told you that you can put an end to all of your parenting struggles?
That you can learn to parent ...more
New from the New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent comes a radically transformative plan that shows parents how to raise children to be their best, truest selves.
What if...?
What if I told you that you can put an end to all of your parenting struggles?
That you can learn to parent ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
May 31st 2016
by Viking
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Start your review of The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting

Finished reading for the second time. Back to the beginning to start again. So wonderful.
This is the parenting book I have been waiting for all my life. I finished two days ago and promptly began it again. I listened to it, bought the hardback, and am purchasing the kindle version as well. It pulls together so many ideas I have about parenting and the world, and also makes me stretch and turn inward to examine my own biases and triggers. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I have had the best days of my life with ...more
This is the parenting book I have been waiting for all my life. I finished two days ago and promptly began it again. I listened to it, bought the hardback, and am purchasing the kindle version as well. It pulls together so many ideas I have about parenting and the world, and also makes me stretch and turn inward to examine my own biases and triggers. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I have had the best days of my life with ...more

This book is tough to review. When I started it, I almost put it back down for good, since the opening was all about how your kids are your equals and other comments that sounded very much like the book was going to be about permissive parenting. I'm glad that I continued to read it, because there was a lot in the book that I found interesting. For example, we project so much of our crap on our kids, mostly based out of fear, or our own experiences with our parents when growing up as a child. We
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I'm sure this book is great for someone, but that's not me. I like new age psychobabble as well as the next guy, but this was beyond my understanding and patience. The language was too flowery and convoluted to be meaningful, much less practical. I quickly stopped reading and moved on. An excellent example is the third sentence: "Once we have connected with our sovereign spirit, creating the space for our children to get in touch with their spirit becomes the critical objective of parenthood." Y
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A good idea buried in rubbish.
I became interested in Tsabary after an invitation to one of her conferences. Trying to become familiar with her work I watched her TEDx talk in SF and an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Her thesis about changing the idea of perfect parenting for self-improvement through our interactions with our children is right on. Even more when combined with mindfulness to be aware and sensible to the moments parents get hooked in power struggles with their children. However, I r ...more
I became interested in Tsabary after an invitation to one of her conferences. Trying to become familiar with her work I watched her TEDx talk in SF and an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Her thesis about changing the idea of perfect parenting for self-improvement through our interactions with our children is right on. Even more when combined with mindfulness to be aware and sensible to the moments parents get hooked in power struggles with their children. However, I r ...more

On one hand, I adored this book. Tsabary truly is breaking down old parenting traditions and putting forth a powerful new premise on how to parent. On the other hand, her meandering writing style drives me a bit batty at times. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book. It is really as much about being a healthy human as it is about being a parent, and it will challenge all your preconceived ideas.
When I was raising my own children, I found myself at times almost paralyzed in worry that I was n ...more
When I was raising my own children, I found myself at times almost paralyzed in worry that I was n ...more

Oh dear. The author has a fine message and a strong premise. Unfortunately, these are buried under maudlin writing that I did not find appealing at all. Glad others liked it but I can apply the same strategies without needing to "connect to my sovereign spirit" before leaving my children "free to actualize their individual destiny," thank you very much.
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While I believe strongly in being kind, present, and mindful, this book isn't a good fit for me. Props to the author for laying it out in the intro to save me from lots of reading to figure that out. "....[An awakened parent is] willing to be the architects of a new model of parenthood where parent and child are seen as equal..."
...more

I found this book so beautifully written that I was deeply moved. Even to tears at times! As a parent educator with Lori Petro's Teach Through Love, I've read loads of parenting books in my research and studies but this one is different. It asks us to truly go deep and let go of our egos. Dr. Shefali Tsabury strips down the myths of parenting and gets to the heart of the matter and spirit of what it means to be a parent. We must become spiritual guides to our kids. She tells us we must begin to
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Love the reminders to be present, mindful and that only you can change what's not working in a relationship. I put some strategies into practice right away, such as not trying to "fix" my children's heartache/disappointment/frustration, etc. - or, if your child isn't in a talkative mood, it's not about you, it's about them, so respect it. But, I can't give this book a 5 for several reasons: the author has a very holier than thou attitude; I completely disagree that a child's poor behavior is a r
...more

Parts of this really resonated with me and parts seemed a little too out there. The idea of logical consequences makes a lot of sense. I also appreciated the advice to focus on changing your reaction a a parent rather than trying to control your child. But some of the stories were hard to relate to; her clients seem to be mostly wealthy New Yorkers and their experience is very different from mine. The poems at the end of each chapter and some of the advice felt a little new agey and didn't appea
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This is one of the best parenting books I've read, and I've read a lot! The premise is mindfulness for the parent, and being mindful that at the core of all of us is a need to be seen. "Am I seen, am I okay, am I worthy," was the most memorable quote for me. I try to keep this in mind as I interact with the little people in my care. I highly recommend it for all parents and anyone who may have grown up feeling misunderstood or not seen by their parents/adults in their lives.
...more

This is my favorite parenting book in several years! 4.5 stars!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I heard Dr. Tsabary on a Goop podcast talking about her conscience approach to parenting and so I decided to check her book out from the library. I normally purchase parenting (or self-improvement books) that really speak to me but I wasn't committed quite yet to her ideas. I picked it up thinking I'm probably going to get a good dose of new-age, hippie free think.....and there is as she explains how to "tap into the higher pur ...more
I heard Dr. Tsabary on a Goop podcast talking about her conscience approach to parenting and so I decided to check her book out from the library. I normally purchase parenting (or self-improvement books) that really speak to me but I wasn't committed quite yet to her ideas. I picked it up thinking I'm probably going to get a good dose of new-age, hippie free think.....and there is as she explains how to "tap into the higher pur ...more

This parenting book is a useful blend of western psychology, parenting advice, and eastern philosophy of higher consciousness.
Tsabary asks parents to reflect on their own issues, struggles, and automatic reactions as the key to coping with the challenges of raising their children. Children are an exacting mirror of our personal fears and issues, as Tsabary points out throughout her book, and it is worth our time and effort to take a closer look at these reflections (reactions) in creating a mor ...more
Tsabary asks parents to reflect on their own issues, struggles, and automatic reactions as the key to coping with the challenges of raising their children. Children are an exacting mirror of our personal fears and issues, as Tsabary points out throughout her book, and it is worth our time and effort to take a closer look at these reflections (reactions) in creating a mor ...more

Life-changing book…even if you are not a parent.
This is more than another parenting book….it will ignite a journey of self-discovery that has the power to improve all relationships in your life. I thought I needed tips to control my children’s behavior, but now know that going within myself and healing my old wounds is the way to a deeper, more authentic connection with my children. Reading this book made me want to let go of the old hierarchical parenting model, which robs children of their tru ...more
This is more than another parenting book….it will ignite a journey of self-discovery that has the power to improve all relationships in your life. I thought I needed tips to control my children’s behavior, but now know that going within myself and healing my old wounds is the way to a deeper, more authentic connection with my children. Reading this book made me want to let go of the old hierarchical parenting model, which robs children of their tru ...more

I haven't actually read all of this book, as it is the longest book in the universe despite its very simple message, which is:
A lot of the conflicts between you and your children stem from your own insecurities and problems. In any relationship, obviously including the ones with your children, the only things you can control are you and your own reactions. Maybe try some therapy!
I liked reading about some of her patients (I guess I'm nosy this way), but it's written with such flowery language, a ...more
A lot of the conflicts between you and your children stem from your own insecurities and problems. In any relationship, obviously including the ones with your children, the only things you can control are you and your own reactions. Maybe try some therapy!
I liked reading about some of her patients (I guess I'm nosy this way), but it's written with such flowery language, a ...more

I’ve never read a parenting book quite like this one. It turns a lot of traditional ideas on their heads and begs parents to look inside themselves and examine motives and actions instead of just focusing on changing/controlling the behavior of their kids. Very helpful and effective. It’s clearly missing God as it’s written from a new age perspective, so I have some philosophical disagreements, but there is so much in it to be learned, appreciated and applied.

Things can get complicated when, as parents, we explore our inner world and try to understand our own behavior in relation to the experiences we are having with our children and their unique personalities. There aren't many parenting books that:
a. highlight the recognition and understanding of our inner voice and inner child AND
b. show how that comes into play with the day-to-day and repetitive issues we have with our children AND
c. provide strategies to resolve them
In her masterpiece, The Awake ...more
a. highlight the recognition and understanding of our inner voice and inner child AND
b. show how that comes into play with the day-to-day and repetitive issues we have with our children AND
c. provide strategies to resolve them
In her masterpiece, The Awake ...more

Although my kids are adults now, I am always interested in reading the latest in parenting books. What I enjoyed from this book was the author took the time to investigate parents behavior, accountability, and how our past affected our present. Not blaming but exploring. A self help book to be better people in all relationships.

Really good. A bit brutal because it really did help me see how I'm living out some childhood fears through my children, and how immature I can be as a person and as a parent. I did feel overwhelmed many times but in the end I felt her message was simple. I'm going to work my way through this one again because it rang so so true to me and was incredibly helpful. By far the best and most helpful parenting book I've ever read.
...more

One of those books that you wish it won’t finish! I’ve read so many books about mindfulness and people, but this one is really special! I would make it a mandatory reading for parents! Because we may consider that parenting “comes natural” (this something that I also thought) but that “nature” is already conditioned by culture, society, your own family etc! And new kids of the world deserve new parenting paths, awakened ones ... not repeating blindly some old ones. I don’t think there is one pag
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The Awakened Family truly is a revolution in the making. It illuminates the fact that the centuries-old methods of command and control, fear and intimidation, my way or the highway parenting simply don't work any longer. This only leads to disconnection.
Following Dr. Shefali's teachings & putting them into practice on a day to day, moment by moment basis is hard work but our family dynamic has improved immensely. The deep connection that's forming between me and my two girls is a thrill to see ...more
Following Dr. Shefali's teachings & putting them into practice on a day to day, moment by moment basis is hard work but our family dynamic has improved immensely. The deep connection that's forming between me and my two girls is a thrill to see ...more

Some really deep truths in this book. Definitely one of those books that in some way will forever change your view of yourself as a parent. Even though I really connected with parts of this book on a deep level, I found it a little lacking in specific action steps for change. Also, it was a little hard on moms (and we are pretty good at being hard on ourselves already). All that being said, I am grateful for this book and I feel like I can be a better parent having read it. I am especially grate
...more

Let me preface this by saying that I agree with a lot of what this book has to say: allow your child to be her own person, don't provoke her to anger, give plenty of space, and for goodness sakes, LISTEN.
However, it was strange to the point of distraction that this Ph.D incorporated nothing in the way of research into the book. It was, essentally, one really, really long opinion. A lot of contradictory recommendations given, and the author's recommendations presented as the "right" way to parent ...more
However, it was strange to the point of distraction that this Ph.D incorporated nothing in the way of research into the book. It was, essentally, one really, really long opinion. A lot of contradictory recommendations given, and the author's recommendations presented as the "right" way to parent ...more

I am not a parent, and I feel like I would have been as skeptical about the "new age" spin that this book takes as some other readers. However, my grandmother, who was anything but a believer in new age theories, embodied fully many of the parenting principles, and general beliefs presented here. This created a stable, supportive and on the whole wonderful atmosphere in her home. Needless to say the essence of truly connecting with children is perhaps the most important thing any parent or paren
...more

This book applies the spiritual belief that if I am triggered emotionally by another, then that is my stuff - and applies it to the relationship with our children. The author explores many common parenting issues and gives many examples of parents that she has worked with. A great match with Emotion Focused Family Therapy which distills this book into more practical language and techniques to explore how our past "stuff" blocks us in our parenting. Many things to contemplate in this book.
...more

Way too much of a focus on rich people for my taste. There are some good ideas in here but they are spread out by a bunch of new ageisms I didn't find useful. The boom could have easily been 100 pages shorter and still gotten the ideas across.
...more

Jan 28, 2017
Allison
added it
DNF
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“The idea that “I need to be happy” or “my child deserves to be happy” comes from a sense that the present moment is somehow lacking. In other words, we see our life through a lens of scarcity, noticing all the things we don’t have instead of the abundant way the universe provides for us. And so, as the Declaration of Independence sanctions, we set off in “the pursuit of happiness,” not realizing that this can never bring us happiness. On the contrary, it’s the breeding ground of discontent and disappointment. You”
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