Becoming a Present Parent: Connecting with Your Children in 5 Minutes or Less

by Mary Ann Johnson

In Becoming a Present Parent, you'll find a wealth of ideas to build connections with your children and bind your hearts together. You will find out eight ways how we as parents "check out" of our children's lives and what that cost is to their growth. Learn how to master six important skills to help you "check in" and be engaged. Understand how to be fully present and utilize touchpoints in the smallest moments to create lasting fulfillment in your family relationships.

Genres: Parenting

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2017

About the author

Mary Ann Johnson was born into a large and boisterous family of nine children and survived to become the mother of seven equally boisterous and busy children. She has been happily married to her husband, Don, for 46 years and has 13 grandchildren aged 2 to 29. She started college at nineteen and finally finished, with a masters degree, in her forties.

Mary Ann has helped thousands of individuals and families to build better relationships. She is the founder of Relationship Transformations for Busy Parents, an online community reaching thousands of people each week. She is the creator and president of Family Connection Mentoring—a service of one-on-one mentoring for parents and their families. She is also well known in the homeschool community as The Home School Coach.

Becoming a Present Parent is her first book on what she knows and does best – helping children and parents connect. Mary Ann has been presenting her Presence concepts across the country in workshops and webinars for over seven years.

Mary Ann is a Montana transplant to Salt Lake City, Utah where she lives with her husband, Don. Her favorite pastime is reading and learning. You can get a FREE chapter of her new book at becomingapresentparent.com

Reviews

[Alysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a game changer. I got the E book version, but now I want the paperback so I can highlight and write notes in it.. What I love most about it is that it effectively inspires me with simple, realistic and doable steps, without inducing guilt. The author is so relatable and down to earth. She has learned from both failures and successes, which she shares with total openness and vulnerability in a way that gives me hope and confidence that I can change for the better, too. While some parenting books read like a lecture from a psychologist, this reads like a letter from a friend who has been in your shoes (as well as some places you haven't been yet but may soon), and who has made it her study to find out what works and what doesn't, by experimentation, and shares what she's learned so you can avoid some of the pitfalls she's found.
Every child (and adult for that matter) wants to know that they are loved, that they matter, that they are seen and heard and wanted. This book helped me recognize the many ways I unwittingly check out and choose distractions over connection, and how I can change that with simple shifts that generally take less than 5 minutes. It helped me wake up to what I have been missing, and to the ways I can align my actions with what is most important to me (my family relationships), so that there is no question in my children's minds that they are not only on my list, but at the top of my list. It also helped me see how my personal peace, happiness, and self care are interwoven into the art of being present. A very needed message for every parent.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great ideas and strategies shared in this book about becoming a present parent. In a world of constant distraction, giving our children the message that they matter to us is communicated by the way we give them our focus and attention.

Things I want to remember:

“How many ordinary, magical days have I missed seeing? Was today miraculous? In forty years will I remember my days with such happiness and nostalgia as the memory I had today? Have I learned what matters most in life?” p.32

“Remembering children are process driven while adults are outcome driven is crucial because it makes an enormous difference in the amount of enjoyment you and your family experience when you’re working or playing together.” p. 159

“Begin with the why in mind rather than the end in mind.” p. 162 - Dan Clark

“I promise you can increase your energy, free up mental space, and reduce what you’re tolerating in your life as you reduce the events on your calendar, shave your to-do list, get rid of stuff, and forgive and heal. When you do this, you open up space for your family and for being Present.” p. 212

What makes kids and families happy? Love, Time, Humor, Hugs and Kisses, Spirituality, Encouragement/Affirmation, Happy Parents. p204-208

Great information about how technology impacts a family. p. 224-241

“Your life is a result of the choices you make. If you don’t like your life it is time to start making better choices.” p. 254

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than I was expecting. Accessible and encouraging.

[Shiniga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure our family came across. I started reading this book to ensure we are able to devote enough time to our toddler after the second one arrives. But soon the realization hit that the principles are universal and are applicable to any relationship. This book is a reminder of the so many precious little things in life that are so very important in keeping everyone connected and happy, but are easily forgotten. An example is the part on always looking in the eye and talking. A simple thing I had almost stopped doing. From the next time I spoke to my spouse or child or parents, I made sure I always do that and it instantly made a big difference in the way we were communicating. The other point I absolutely loved is the power of touch. The best thing about this book is the concepts are all so simple and none are too complicated to be implemented, in fact most of them does not need any added effort, but just be remembered and practiced, so it becomes a habit. After reading this book I feel like I was able to take a heart to heart counseling from an experienced mom/grandmom. Mary Ann's life experiences are valuable and plenty, and it has all been brought together in a lucid manner in this jewel of a book. I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Jerri Eddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Soul Success Coach and a Transformational Educator who loves to share ways to help others connect to the inner wisdom of their Soul. Being connected is a basic human need. Becoming a Present Parent is filled with ideas to make positive connections possible in a busy, fast paced family. Mary Ann’s ideas and strategies can be implemented in small manageable action steps by utilizing touchpoints. A touchpoint is a point of contact between a parent and a child. Most touchpoints happen daily and require five minutes or less. Three main touchpoints within a family are mealtime, bedtime, and car time. Touchpoints allow you to take a few moments to reconnect, talk, laugh, and enjoy each other.


If you want to create positive connections with your children, getting Becoming a Present Parent is a great next step.

[Saralyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Clearly written with good information. I found it helpful and inspiring. I'd highly recommend it for anyone in any kind of relationship, not just parent to child.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a sea of annoying parenting books, this one is honest and realistic and worth your time.

[Shambray Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so phenomenal. It has so many good ideas and thoughts that are very attainable. I can't wait to start applying them to my life and start changing the way I think

[emeraldragonlady (Maddie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an insightful book. I love that it teaches you small & simple moments to connect with your children. It also teaches how to continue these through the different & sometimes difficult life stages.
Such a small step to help start making meaningful bonds. I love that you could absolutely take these lessons & apply them to other people in your life. Not just your kids.
There are great anecdotes that help tell the stories & changes from acting a certain way & then choosing to be kind.
This books is such a helpful resource I recommend to parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, & friends. Everyone can benefit from these simple lessons.

[Molly Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this would be a good book, but I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would! The stories were great and the explanations spot-on. What makes this book really shine are the practical suggestions for connecting with your children. They are things any of us can do - they don't even take more time so much as focus. I'm inspired to do better!

[Suzanne Hanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a better person for reading this book. The Present Parent is chalk full of tips, instruction and inspiration of ways to be present and to strengthen your relationship with your children. This stuff is not found in other parenting books. (These things also apply to your relationship with your spouse.)

I read Present Parent on a long car trip this summer and using what Mary Ann taught made a huge difference in our family connections. What a treasure! You only have so many books you can read in your parenting lifetime, I suggest reading Becoming A Present Parent.