They say good parenting is guided by ideals, and the best parents are those who are most in tune with their own beliefs. If you’re a new mom looking to put more structure in your parenting, here’s a book you might want to check out: 14 Secrets to Better Parenting by Dave Earley.
Based entirely on the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, the book has a decidedly spiritual spin to it—but it’s hardly preachy and surprisingly informative. Upon finishing it, mom and blogger Jenny, author of the website “I’m a Full Time Mom,” said she realized there was so much more to parenting than she’d previously thought.
Earley’s writing is compared to Zig Ziglar (God’s Way Is Still the Best Way) and Max Lucado (In the Grip of Grace, Just Like Jesus), in that all of them match their parental advice with quotes from the Bible and leave the reader to ponder on the subject long after turning the page.
The main idea of the book is that one should look to a spiritual power as the parenting “expert.” Earley used the Proverbs as inspiration because, according to him, it was written from the angle of a parent teaching and encouraging a child.
The reviewer offers some memorable points from the book, such as that parents shouldn’t focus on their children’s present and immediate happiness. According to Earley, this can cover up character flaws and behavioral problems and make children grow up spoiled.
Earley also tackles child discipline, an often touchy subject for new parents. He says parents tend to be afraid to exercise discipline—some are too soft-hearted and others don’t think the child is old enough to grasp the idea of punishment. But children need to learn discipline early and understand that they have to own up to their actions. Earley also discusses different forms of punishment, such as spanking.
The parent who disciplines the child should also be the one to comfort them afterwards, according to Earley. This will help them see that discipline and love are connected, and that punishments are given as an act of love. Most parents do otherwise—one usually takes on the role of disciplinarian while the other spoils and buys treats.
Overall, 14 Secrets to Better Parenting focuses on active parenting, offering parents little bits of wisdom that they can pass on to their children. Although strongly spiritual, it’s worth a read for parents of any belief looking for practical, real-life tips.