Parenting: Navigating Everything

After more than two decades and over two thousand presentations, my interactions with parents reveal that although most want to learn and parent their best, they feel ill-equipped. Kids don't come with manuals. The goal of this book is to equip and empower you as a parent, grandparent, or youth leader to help kids navigate all aspects of life in the current culture.

How do we sift through the unending philosophies on parenting and be intentional in how we choose what's best for our family? The number of voices is overwhelming. This book distills the essential elements of parenting so you can apply them in your own home. It approaches parenting from a Christian perspective and is filled with practical advice that is applicable to everyone.

As we explore the foundations of parenting, we will look at:

1. Parenting. What are the stages of parenting? What is the current state of parenting? What is the purpose of parenting?
   
2. Parenting styles. What are they and which ones should I be using? What might I need to alter about my current parenting style?
   
3. Progression of parenting. What are the skills our children need to learn?
   
4. Time. What does quality time and being present with my kids look like?
   
5. Communication. How can I gain better communication skills so that I can more effectively connect with my kids?
   
6. Discipline. How do I effectively discipline my children?
   
7. Family discipleship. Why is our worldview important, and how we can raise kids with a Christian worldview?
   
8. Mental Health. How do we address issues like anxiety, panic attacks, and depression?
   
9. Engaging the Culture. How do we empower our kids to engage the culture around us without compromising their faith?
   
10. Media. How can we help our kids navigate technology?
    
11. Sexuality. How do we direct our kids towards healthy sexuality?
    
12. Pornography. What is the prevalence of pornography and how do we address its impact on our kids?
    
13. Dating. How do we best avoid pitfalls in dating?
    
14. Finances and education. How can we help our children make sound financial and education choices?
    
15. Drugs and alcohol. What tools are available to assist in drug-proofing our kids?
    
16. Loneliness. How do we prevent disconnection in our kids and help them to create community?

Your calling and mandate as a parent is worth investing in. I believe there are two reasons you will thoroughly benefit from owning a copy of Parenting: Navigating Everything.

First, Brett is researched (he is very well-read), respected (he is highly regarded as a salient voice on issues of faith, media, and culture), relevant (he speaks to thousands of teens and parents on an annual basis), and he writes in real-time (he has two teens). Because of that, this is an applicable book.

Second, this isn't just a "how-to" manual full of formulas and lists that can make you feel like you don't measure up as a parent. Rather, he has created a conversation and invites you to engage with the topics in a helpful and encouraging manner. This is a practical, quick-reference resource for when you're feeling a little overwhelmed, a little uncertain, or downright confused by your parenting task at hand. Because of that, this is an accessible book.

I am confident in saying that Parenting: Navigating Everything will provide you with an applicable and accessible return on your investment.

So often as parents we are too overwhelmed or uncertain in the moment to seek out the ideas we may need to move us to a better place. Brett has gathered and offered up the information parents are looking for, and he leads the reader through it with characteristic humility, transparency, and practicality. This book is an invaluable manual for parenting well, but it doesn't stop there--it is a guide to living well together as a family.

Tired of feeling alone, overwhelmed, and like parenting is beyond you? In this comprehensive resource, Brett Ullman comes alongside parents like a very well-read friend who distills down complex issues, provides practical insights, and leaves you filled with hope and courage to parent on!