There is no shortage of resources dealing with the age-old struggle of effectively parenting children. Many books offer much theory and little application. Roger Cross offers amazingly practical ideas and suggestions for how parents can deal with and lead children of all ages. Those who are parents will no doubt at times be in conflict with their children over many issues. Cross points out where parents often contribute to the issues and provoke unnecessary anger through what he calls “Anger Generators.”

We read about real life situations that could have easily played out in our homes. He then offers great suggestions of “Anger Minimizers.” Cross claims that “These are proven principles to help parents stop provoking unnecessary anger in kids and start building a stronger, more trusting, more loving relationship with them.” He deals with issues like setting boundaries, playing favorites, discipline, and imparting faith. This is a great tool for parents.

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For many families, meal time is the only time they pray together. Holding this time sacred, this text presents prayers for many meals. “This book is designed for families with young children, but in many ways it is for families of all configurations.”

Peanut Butter and Jelly Prayers presents short prayers about meals and special occasions that are followed by ideas for conversation. The text serves as a great book to use with children to teach them how to be specific with their prayers and teach them that God cares about everything in their lives and they should thank God for all things—even peanut butter and jelly.

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Not too many people head into parenthood with a plan. Many wonder where the instruction manual is and why they didn’t get one when they left the hospital with their newborn.

Jim Burns has written an excellent manual on parenting. Confident Parenting gives spiritual and practical advice on not just how to discipline your kids but how to enjoy them as well. Parenting has to do with relationships. And the most important relationship in a child’s life is the one they have with their parent. It is not up to youth workers (pg. 61), teachers, coaches or friends to be the main spiritual influence in a child’s life. It is up to the parents.

Burns challenges parents to be intentional with their time and be aware that overscheduled households can “kill the soul of families.” He says that the first step to being a confident parent is to live out our faith. If we aren’t leading by example, we aren’t leading at all. 

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If you are a mother who has a teenage daughter that you don’t recognize and barely talk to, this text is written with you in mind. “Because this book is written for mothers and daughters, [the] focus [is] on the importance of the role moms have in the lives of their daughters, particularly teen daughters.” However, besides the occasional “pray about it” advice, most of the information seems recycled from the standard development psychology speak on teen girls.

Its lack of theological depth makes it one of many texts on the topic and it doesn’t stand out. But if you are mom seeking a basic understanding of your relationship with your daughter and a little encouragement to know that you are not alone, this book may be for you.