How to Parent

I bought this book in the early 70's when my youngest daughter was born and I became a single parent. I found Dodson's methods made complete sense and felt natural to me, encouraging the practical use of his techniques (his 10 commandments) which were as much for my benefit as my daughter's. Now at the age of 29, my daughter is happy and un-afraid of life's many challenges with a powerful commitment to personal growth. She is definitely one of my favorite people and the amazing thing is that in spite of financial hardships, she looks back on her childhood and as one where she was blessed to have me as her mother. I have Dr Dobson's book to thank for some of that as his methods helped to keep me sane through all the madness of my highly un-orthodox lifestyle. Strangely enough, I have also found his techniques to work perfectly well while managing my employees. Kind of "The One Minute Manager" (Spencer Johnson & Kenneth Blanchard) for parents.

This is the absolutely best childrearing book I have read in the past 30 years. I credit Dr. Dodson with much of my children's best parenting. They have turned out to be incredibly wonderful people, and I am thrilled that this book is available again to a new generation of struggling-to-be-good parents. This book really took a lot of the guesswork out of the task for me. If your own childhood left you with a less than satisfying foundation to be a parent: get this book. It will make you a better person and it will give your kids what they need: Good Parenting -- no, GREAT parenting!

I have to agree with Kathy. I bought this book in 1972 some months after my son was born. It is the only book I ever found that actually gave me the confidence to parent. It helped me to know what to do, as well as telling me when it was age appropriate or psychologically appropriate to do it. I gave my copy to someone years ago but the information in it has stayed with me all these years -- because it worked! I became a better parent and a more patient one too. Buy Spock for your child's physical care, but definitely Dodson for her/his emotional and psychological care. Saved my sanity, too!

Twenty-four years ago, a friend sent me a copy of this book. My first child was a few months old. I am the oldest of five children and had a fair amount of experience with young children who had been raised in a loving and independence-oriented family. I also had extensive college-level instruction in psychology and believed most of the theory I had been exposed to did not match my experience with living human beings. Much of what Dr. Dodson wrote about confirmed my own beliefs about the rearing of children. Perhaps that was what attracted me to his work immediately. Here was a psychologist who believed that human parents have instincts and should listen to them. Far beyond that, his words enlightened me to matters that might seem common sensical to others, but hadn't occurred to me: a child's play is her work and his environment is his learning laboratory. Others helped me to overcome some of the ubiquitous guilt that is the world of parenting. But most of all, Dr. Dodson put into words the feelings in my heart with his 10 commandments. Our daughters, now 24 and 20, are not perfect beings. But they are happy, stable, interesting, resilient and loving women. Some of the credit for that goes to Dr. Dodson's work and words. When I learn of a couple about to give birth, I recommend this book or give them a copy. Not only are the concepts important, but the book affords an entertaining and pleasant reading experience. Thank you Dr. Dodson.