The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

How is this for a coincidence? Remember the book you and I read, "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee" by Wendy Mogel? I think you recommended it to me and we read it at the same time, sharing little bits of wisdom about parenting as we went along. Somehow, I passed it along to a friend and then, the book went missing. Fast forward a few years, and I was thinking about this special book again. Specifically, I could use a refresher course on raising self-reliant children. Miraculously, my friend returned my book and the rest is history!

Here are just a few gems from the book that resonate with me..

"Strive to be a "good enough" parent, not a great one. It can make everyone in the family relax and paradoxically make life richer."

"Every child cannot be good in everything, and no amount of encouragement or teacher talent can make it so."

"Consider that "good enough" can often be best for your child, because when life is mostly ordinary and just occasionally extraordinary, your child won't end up with expectations of herself and those around her that can't be met on this worldly plane."

"But as our children mature, we need to withdraw from smoothing their path and satisfying all their wishes. By giving them a chance to survive some danger and letting them make some reckless or thoughtless choices, we teach them how to withstand the bumps and knocks of life."

Are you ready for more coincidence? My book group chose "The Blessing of a B-" this month. Yes, Wendy Mogel wrote another book with even more parenting wisdom!!! Hallelujah!!! I can't wait to get her second book. And, I hope you are sitting down...Wendy Mogel is speaking about her new book in my town this April!!! Signing books too. I just love a coincidence. Don't you?

Tricia

PS don't worry ~ you know I will get a signed copy of the new book for you. :-)