A Book to Definitely Share with Parents

Review of Parents' Handbook: NLP and Common Sense Guide for Family Well-Being by Joyce M. Gilmour, Editor & Book Reviewer, www.editingtlc.com.

Roger Ellerton's Parents' Handbook is based on the concepts of NLP which is neuro-linguistic programming. "NLP is about how you communicate with yourself, and based on the results of this, how you engage in conversation with others." I appreciated a quote from Mr. Ellerton, since it is something that I share with parents at all of my parenting classes that I facilitate: "Simply put, when you become a parent you are not handed a manual that will answer all your questions or cover all situations. For many, the 'manual' you bring to parenting is the one you learned from observing your parents."

Mr. Ellerton has put together an excellent resource for parents/families to put tools in parent's "toolkits" which are strategies to help all members of the family learn how to get to know themselves and others. With these "tools" people will improve their communication skills and be able to achieve their dreams. I particularly appreciated the chapter about the six primary parenting roles. I feel the strategies shared here help to show parents the many roles and ways to help their children through life: caretaker and guide, coach, teacher, mentor, sponsor, and awakener. I think it is very important to see our roles as parents from different perspectives. I feel it is essential for parents to learn and understand the many different ways their children need guidance throughout life.

Reading this book and practicing the strategies and learning all there is to know about NLP will take time and effort. Parenting, especially GOOD parenting, needs both our time and our effort. It is THE most important job in the whole world, the ONLY one that doesn’t come with any training. This book will definitely be one that I share with parents in the parenting classes that I facilitate. Buying this book and spending the time to work through it is a small investment for a lifetime of better relationships in our families.