The Resilient Child: Seven Essential Lessons for Your Child's Happiness and Success

Getting back to the basics when society was more civil. Kids were brought up with a sense of regard for others. The kids of today have a sense of entitlement and when something doesn't come easily for little or no effort they are devastated. Real life requires real work and commitment to something other than yourself. The Resilient Child is a guide to real happiness. Dr. Everly is right on. Read this. It is the best gift you can give your child.

The skill to deal with all of the problems life throws at you: Resiliency. "The Resilient Child: Seven Essential Lessons for your Child's Happiness and Success" is advice for parents to prepare their children for the harsh world that seeks to destroy their mind and bodies. Advice on helping children form strong relationships, find Integrity, and make responsible decision making actions, "The Resilient Child" is a strong recommendation for parents who want to prepare their child in the best way possible.

Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (9/08) I want my children to grow up to be the best adults they can be in every way. But I had not thought very much about the importance of being resilient. The author makes sure we know what he means from the very beginning of the book. "Resiliency is the acquired immunity against disabling stress." My mama-radar went up at the mention of "disabling stress." Stress is everywhere and we all have to learn to deal with it in a positive way or it will get the better of us. Dr. Everly cites seven lessons that we should teach our children to make this happen in today's world: develop strong relationships, learn to make difficult decisions, take responsibility, stay healthy, think positive, have a faith and have integrity. He reveals that he began this book as a way of addressing his desire to be a better parent. We learn of his own story as he lays the foundation for the wisdom he imparts. As I read through each chapter, there were no new revelations or secrets to discover. Only reminders of what I already knew in my heart, but didn't always remember to share with my children. Parenting is a full-time job, not limited to keeping them fed and clothed. He puts it in perspective by citing his premise: "How can I best prepare my kids for a world that does not love them as much as I do?" Everly speaks of inner strength that must be taught so that children can make their way through our sometimes scary world. His goal is for our children to not need their parents or anyone else in stressful situations. They should be able to take responsibility for their own actions. Both parents and all adults involved in raising a child should read this and discuss it before attempting to implement it. The success rate will go way up if there is a common understanding and goal. The author gives plenty of examples of why the seven lessons are important and what happens when children do not learn them. He even includes some "homework" you can complete as you read along. I love that he doesn't leave good health out of the equation. And as a writer, I appreciate the encouragement for children to keep a journal which can reduce stress as they write through situations. Faith is also addressed. "With faith, there are no mysteries, only answers yet to be revealed." Amen. Honestly, most of what the author shares in "The Resilient Child" is advice we've heard before. But this time it is in a concise package ready to read and implement, which is the only way improvement will ever happen. And let's face it, we only have so many years to make a positive impact on our children and then they are in the world of their peers, subject to all that they have to offer, both good and bad.

Before you read this book get some tissues and a place where you can read undeserved and can laugh out loud with out embarrassing your self. Then get ready for a wonderful book about life and life lessons. Everly gives you some wonderful ideas on what to teach your children so they can be strong, happy and successful. He tells you stories about clients, his kids, and his experiences that lead to him coming up with seven simple lessons to teach your children, he out lines each lesson and the reason behind them. I found some to be a no brainier and others to be enlightened. All of them are inspiring. The ones I find to be no brainier I realize that they are not to everyone and I am sure the ones that were enlightening to me may be no brainier so others. Such as teaching your children that the glass is half full and not half empty. This simple belief has gotten me through so many bad moments in my life. It keeps my head above water in the worst of storms. I have passed this on to my sons and have always believed this to be a "no brainier" in having a good life. However, I realize there are many that have not been taught this. One of my sons even married a beautiful woman that was not taught this. Her perception on situations and life in general makes everything hard for her. If only her parents had read this simple little book maybe she would be a happier person. I will read this book over and over again for support, encouragement and to make sure I am still on track to giving all my kids, students, and grandkids an advantage to happiness and success in their lives. This is one of those books you will pass on to your children and your children's children. I am already trying to get my daughter-in-law to read it.

Stress, unfortunately is a universal commonplace problem. It is also a problem that does not discriminate. How wonderful would it be if each one of us had the ability to teach our children, at the very youngest age, a way to reduce stress and deal with everyday problems and even those bigger than big problems, without having stress take over their lives? Well, George S. Everly, Jr., PH.D has developed just the technique that every single person can use in their lives, to do just that. Even those without children, or grown children, can benefit from his wonderful book, The Resilient Child. In The Resilient Child, the author presents it's readers with seven essential lessons that every person should learn. They are as follows: 1) The Value of Friends, Mentors, and the Support of Others 2) The Three Most Difficult Decisions 3) Teach Your Children to Take Responsibility for Their Actions 4) Making the Most Important Investment of a Lifetime: Invest in Your Health 5) Learn the Power of Optimism 6) The Importance of Faith 7) Follow a Moral Compass and Cultivate Integrity These seven lessons each receive their own chapter, broken down into subcategories. At the end of each one, there is "homework" consisting of questions or thought provoking exercises such as: "Write the names of your two or three closest friends. Next to each name, explain why you chose that person for a friend. Describe a specific situation in which each person demonstrated his or her friendship. Ask your child/ren to do the same." The Resilient Child is presented in a fun and interesting way, with a bit of humor thrown in. Though a fairly short book, it packs a ton of great and useful information within its pages, information that one can come back to again and again. In the beginning, Dr. Everly, Jr. expresses the fact that this book is written as a gift to his children. The gift of resiliency that they can take with them anywhere, throughout their entire lives. It is not necessarily the book itself that is the gift, but the true treasure of lessons that it holds between it's covers. Now, through The Resilient Child, Dr. Everly, Jr. is kind enough to bestow this gift to all of us and what a true gift it is.