The Parenting Breakthrough: Real-Life Plan to Teach Kids to Work, Save Money, and Be Truly Independent

The new movie Failure to Launch looks to be funny, but how sad it is that so many parents have real issues with kids that are still dependant on them into their twenties, and beyond. Many in my generation want to teach our kids to be indepentant, but find it hard to know where to start, since we ourselves were not taught to be independant. All forms of discipline have been banned by the thought police, and many parents seem afraid of their own children. This book helps you empower kids with real self esteem, with a real sense of giving back to society, and with a work ethic that used to be a calling card of being American. We can give this gift to our children, and this book is a great resource to get started.

This is the only one you need. Allowance, discipline, work... I didn't realize all of the things that my kids should be able to do and I look forward to teaching them step by step so that they will be prepared for the real world. What a wonderful book. I recommended it to a friend. After she read it, she bought two more copies for herself.

I consider myself an avid collector of "parenting" books. I love being a parent and am always looking for new ideas on how to improve. I also consider a book worth the cover if I take one truly great idea, thought, or tip from it. Well, this book has "paid" for itself DOZENS of times in the past week of my reading it. I've never had so much fun reading a parenting book (I find myself snorting with laughter!) and so anxious to run and implement the ideas. Merrilee has a gift for instilliing confidence in you just by reading her no-nonsense and witty approach. The neat thing about this book is that it covers ALL levels of parenting (from the totally "I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing here!" to the "hey, I think I'm pretty good, doing but could always do better.") If you plan (not just hope!) to raise INDEPENDENT, COMPETENT, CONFIDENT, PRODUCTIVE, HARD WORKING, WELL ADJUSTED, FRUGAL, GRATEFUL young adults...and would like some excellent advice from a smart lady who is...READ THIS BOOK!!! It is soooo readable and doable. Your children will thank you for this one!

I have four children ages 6, 6, 4, & 1. I've been trying to introduce chores and a sense of responsibility to the running of the household to my oldest kids. Mrs. Boyack has found an approach that makes sense, and an attitude of "training" your children, not just nagging them, and this makes for people capable of taking care of themselves on all levels once they leave home. The "plan" and the five year goal time line are great ideas that helped solidify some of the ideas I've had, but hadn't figured out how to implement just yet. She also has some good ideas on allowance, earning money, and other financial tasks that are essential for children to understand once they grow up. The author has a great sense of humor and readily admits that her family is not perfect either, but there is hope, and progress can be made. This is not your average parenting book. Thank you very much Merrilee Boyack.

I bought this book thinking I would read it and get a couple things out of it that might help, but I was happily surprised! I read the entire book the day I bought it and re-read most of it the next day. My husband has even agreed to read it so that we can both be on board applying what is in it to our family. At one point in my life I was a head resident at the girls dorms at BYU Idaho. You would not believe how many girls I tought to do their laundry or to clean basic things. They had never had the chance to do those things growing up! I have four children ages 7, 5, 3 & 3. Yes the last are twins and this book is going to get my kids on a path of success! They will be the ones teaching their roommates someday! I am so excited to start training our children to be independant! Thank you Merrilee!