ARE MY KIDS ON TRACK? by S Goff, D Thomas and M Trevathan

ARE MY KIDS ON TRACK - The 12 Emotional, Social and Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach by Sissy Goff, David Thomas and Melissa Trevathan is the book I read to review. I have already raised my children thus I read this book from a post-parenting perspective.

Nothing should be etched in stone however reading ARE MY KIDS ON TRACK would be a very positive parenting tool. Many of the “Building Blocks” discussed should be common sense skill sets such as “listening.” What this book seems to do is to direct parents back to traditional parenting. I would encourage parents to read it, not to see if their child / children are on “track” per-say but to make sure as parents there is an awareness of the unique needs of each child.

At the end of each chapter there is a list of Practical Suggestions for developing the concepts of each chapter. ARE MY KIDS ON TRACK is divided into three milestones, categories: Emotional, Social and Spiritual.  These milestones are subdivided by philosophies associated with each concept presented. For Emotional Milestones the reader examines: Emotional Vocabulary, Perspective, Empathy, Resourcefulness. Thus, at the end of the chapter relating to Empathy the reader will have Practical Ideas for Building Empathy.

Why do I say these are common sense skill sets parents should have? In Practical Ideas for Building Boundaries number one on the list is: have your child talk about conflict. In other words parents need to allow their children to vent. Because I took my job as a parent very seriously and used a lot of common sense much of what was in this book I did.

Unfortunately, many of today’s parents did not have great examples of parenting or they thought there was a better way. ARE MY KIDS ON TRACK  is a good book for parents to read though some of the suggestion may have you saying; “Now you tell me!”   written by Marsha L F Randolph

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BETHANY book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

raise him up

    I chose to review Raise Him Up” by Derrick Moore and Stephanie Perry Moore because my daughter is a single mother and I was one briefly. When the book arrived and I showed it to her, her initial response was the same as mine is now. The book is dedicated to providing biblical and real life examples of how a single mother can successfully aid in the growth and development of a black male. For many this will be a much needed reference point and I am certain the book will be well a best seller or close to.
     “Raise him up” is 265 pages divided into two parts with twelve chapters. As I stated, it incorporates Bible principles as well as discussing various leaders found in Scripture to serve as a foundation for the theories presented.
    As with most reviews my personal opinions outside of the books’ topic influence my enthusiasm or lack thereof of a book. I chose the book because I know there are a lot of single mothers who are looking for guidance, as I read the book I began agreeing with my daughters’ opinion: single mothers are single mothers no matter what the pigment. Thus the emphasis on being a Black male took away the validity of the book, at least for me.
   Though it is a good thing to use Scripture when making life decisions it is important to remember that God created all people. The idea that there is a difference in raising a “successful black man” as oppose to a successful Asian man is, my opinion, one of the divisive tools used by Satan to keep God’s children apart.        
    Single parenting is not new to God. The bible states something very important in Genesis 21:20 about Ishmael the child of a single mother: “God watched over him for the rest of his life. Ishmael grew up, lived in the wilderness, and became an expert archer.” Every single mother should know that God is helping her raise her child in the way he or she should go.
  I cannot recommend this book . The goal should not be to raise a successful black man but to raise a successful man of God.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Sneeze in exchange for an honest review.

THROUGH THE CRIMSON MIRROR

     I was sucked into the zone of “Through the Crimson Mirror” from the first sentence. As a reader I was able to appreciate the somber philosophical writing style of author Daniel Alexander. As a writer I understood the need to put his emotions into words and as a reviewer I appreciated his parenting observations.

    The eBook is less a do’s and don’ts of parenting and more of a consider this when you do that collection of very important ideas.   As the subtitle implies “Through the Crimson Mirror” is a biographical reflection such a complicated way of saying “how I got to be me”.  Daniel Alexander’s story is a reminder that there is no set formula to raising the perfect child yet there are some things that we as parents can do to not raise a troubled child. 

    If you are one who likes to pick up a book and read progressively, step one do this step two do that, you may have difficulty digesting the information in the book. There are “Symphonies” and “plays” and “scenes” in lieu of chapters. Don’t put the book down. I suggest you find a quiet space, take a deep breath and read one word at a time. 

“Through the Crimson Mirror” is a direct reflection of the author Daniel Alexander’s personal experience and it therefore reflects such.  In terms of parenting the reader may find some areas in which he or she is in 100 percent agreement and other areas in which he or she may strongly disagree with. Hopefully, upon completion of this book you will grow not just as a parent but as an individual.

I recommend this book and would strongly suggest you purchase it.

I receive a complimentary copy of the book in order to provide and honest review.