How to Mess Up Your Child's Life: Proven Strategies & Practical Tips

by Olivia Bruner, Kurt Bruner

There are several people in life you don't want to hear say, "Oops!" Your barber, your mechanic, and your surgeon are three that come to mind. So do your parents and spouse. And yet, few of us put much thought into how we can create happier homes. Now, Christian parenting experts Kurt and Olivia Bruner have created a tongue-in-cheek but invaluable guide that helps parents move past "oops" to intentional, fun, and faith-filled parenting. In a way that keeps parents engaged amid the nonstop grind of jobs and household chores, the Bruners walk parents through the steps in creating a plan for infusing faith dynamics into the home.

Genres: Parenting

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2009

Reviews

[Marjanne]

This is a tongue-in-cheek self-help book for raising children. Actually it comes across as more 'reverse-psychology' rather than tongue-in-cheek. I didn't think the authors are particularly successful in pulling this off. I didn't find this book particularly inspiring or unusual in their methods. It's pretty much everything you've ever heard before, but with their particular 'Christian' slant. That was another part I had issues with, though I did realize it very early on and kept reading anyhow. The chapter on 'lust' had my eyes rolling. I suppose that some would find this book enlightening, but it just didn't do much for me.

[Jodi]

Normally when it comes to self help books I like to stick to ones that have been recommended. There are just way too many ideas out there. This time I went out on a limb and grabbed this right off the shelf. I wouldn't say it was a complete waste of time, there are some really cute exercises to use to help teach children about the different topics. In the end it was the format that was a turn off, half the book was trying to halfheartedly sell me on how to encourage the 7 deadly sin in my children.

[Matt Friedman]

Some good information here, and I liked the use of the "7 Deadly Sins". The faux irony may actually be confusing for some, however, and it actually detracts from the book as a whole.