Spiritual Parenting: A Guide to Understanding and Nurturing the Heart of Your Child

The Prathers work is one of true insight and striking sincerity. I was touched deeply by it and continue to be as I refer back to it. One thing of minor note (and what prevents the fifth star) that is not mentioned in any review I read is that this book delivers a strongly Christian message. I am not a Christian, I do however keep an open mind and do not let my personal understanding of spirituality interfere with my acceptance of the wisdom this book delivers.

Or, what if I had had parents like this?? After sitting on my shelf for almost 4 years, I listened to the cassette tape version of this book several weeks ago. Somehow that was OK because I'm not sure that I really could have unederstood and taken this book to heart until recently (I was well prepped by reading Alice Miller's 'For Your Own Good' just before). I liked the tape because I could hear the Prather's own voices. And what they say is wonderful and loving for children. Unfortunately, what they recommend is not the norm in our culture. They recommend love, compassion and total respect for our child's identity. Our culture, on the other hand, increasingly speaks to discipline, punishment and abandonment. The world is changed one person at a time, and if only a few people become loving parents because of this book, then the world will be blessed with more stable, loving and creative children. - - If you want the other side of this paradigm, how socially accepted child-rearing, what most of us have been taught is 'normal,' frequently involves abuse and cruelty, then pick up anything by Alice Miller. Miller's work over the past 20 years underscores the value of the Prather's approach.

The Prathers laid out the rational for a parenting style that I instinctively knew was right. They also made some complex emotional issues seem very simple. I no longer get angry with my children. Its a must for all parents.

Spiritual Parenting is the most valuable parenting book I have read so far and I have read a lot. As a Social Worker and single mother to a toddler, I was in awe of the Prather's insight and their light. I cried, I laughed and I loved this book. Their philosophy so matches mine and it felt wonderful to read about other parents taking parenthood so seriously. Truly, our children are gifts from God.

This book has started me on a path of child rearing I had only hoped to achieve with the birth of my first daughter. Having begun motherhood in my forties, it is especially important to me to become the mother I believe in. The Prathers have pointed me toward my goal. On the worst of days in the most stressed situations, there is always the perfect paragraph to help me adjust moods; better interaction with my little one undoubtedly follows.Thanks to the Prathers, I believe I have an opportunity to forge a deeper, more long lasting relationship with my child and to approach my spiritual self at a much higher level. If you are a parent, you need this book. If you have the book, read it. Refer back to it regularly. You couldn't give a better gift to friends and family.