What Did I Just Say?: How New Insights Into Childhood Thinking Can Help You Communicate More Effectively with Your Child

In this impassioned book, the husband-and-wife team that penned Healing the Hurt Child urges parents to take themselves seriously as authorities in their childrens' lives and to stop asking the kids for permission to parent--to rid themselves of the mistaken belief that to be respectful calls for abolishing boundaries and limits. Unfortunately, the book suffers from poor organization. In their enthusiasm, the authors leap to topics and controversies in a way that may leave nonprofessionals--parents, that is--somewhat confused. For example, included in the expected ""how-to"" suggestions for helping children listen is the topic of open secrets (e.g., not acknowledging that an aunt or grandmother is really the child's biological mother), which may involve more dysfunctionality than the usual issues. The authors also veer into attacking the overdiagnosis of chemical imbalances and other ""no-fault"" brain disorders that cause behavioral problems--a subject that would be better served if the book addressed a specific audience, rather than trying to draw in parents, teachers and clinicians. Still, the issues the authors raise deserve serious consideration. (Sept.)