Parents as Mentors: A New Perspective on Parenting That Can Change Your Child's Life

As granmother you may wonder why I am writing a review of a book that is no longerin my area of need.There is useful advice that can be put to good use in granparenting areas. It is also my gift of choice for all who are in need of good sound common sense voices of experience. It is most helpful in the area of life today. Education,hands on help for parents to know how to approach gifted children and those who are only seen as gifted by their grandmothers. I found each area covered to be of value.If only this book had been around when my children were young.

The original Mentor had a tough job: taking care of the teen-aged Telemachus for ten years while father Odysseus roamed the world and mother Penelope stuck to her loom. But modern parents have an even tougher job: guiding their children, for about 18 years each, through the wonders and pitfalls of the 21st century. Luckily for them, they now have this book to assist them with that heroic task. The authors' witty and wry advice can help parents steer between the Scylla of neglect and the Charybdis of over-involvement. Had Odyseuss followed the authors' advice, maybe his son, as well as the family dog, would have recognized him when he finally came home.

The authors provide the best possible example of mentoring support with this readable, thoughtful, creative, and practical guide for parents. Perhaps this book's greatest gift is its ideas for parents on discovering and nurturing each child's special talents, not just sports and school and arts, but talents like leadership, empathy, problem-solving, and humor. With engaging real-life examples and detailed resources for more information, this book is a treasure for parents and children.

Parents as Mentors is a warm and charming book that reminds us of the important relationship between parent and child. In our busy and stress filled lives we have had to let some things go, and it seems one of the more important things we have lost is our relationship with our children. We feed, clothe, transport and correct them and feel we have done our job. Linda Perlis and Sandra Burt remind us that there is more to parenting than food, clothing, carpooling and discipline. Through stories, anecdotes, and advice, stroke by stroke, they paint a picture of how we can help nurture and support our children so that they realize their full potential. This is done in such a way as to create a bond between family members while the children are being encouraged and supported. The many stories and anecdotes are like the pieces of a puzzle that come together to form a whole picture of a wonderful relationship between parent and child. There are very helpful tips at the end of each chapter. But if one just reads the lists they will miss the flavor and feeling that is generated throughout the book. The completed puzzle is not just devloping a child to his potential, but creating a loving, caring family, that is developed to tis full potential.