My Favorite Guide Books (so far) for Raising Kids

Most of us can probably say that our parents did there very best when it came to raising their children. More than likely, they parented they way that their parents parented.  Parents today either aren't as confident in their responsibilities or aren't sure about the way that they were brought up is the path they want to take with their own kids.  The age of information has brought about a plethora of resources for the modern-day parent.  I have my own personal list of books that have helped Steve and I along the road of parenting, and I thought I would share my list with you:

1.  Boys Should Be Boys, 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons by Meg Meeker.  Chocked full of eye-opening statistics, Dr. Meeker offers great encouragement on how to raise healthy, happy boys in today's culture.

2.  Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ray Guarendi.  His audio version, which included stories from his book, is not only helpful but it's hilarious! I highly recommend it to every parent.

3.  Compass by Jim Stenson.  His book,  Lifeline, has also been a great resource for us.

4.  The Optimistic Child, A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience, by Martin E. P. Seligman. If you are interested in research and psychology, this one is for you.

5. Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson.  A classic on the parenting shelf, Dr. Dobson's insights have really helped me as a mom to understand my boys.

6.  Character Building, by Dr. David Isaacs. This is a wonderful guide for parents and teachers.  I have gone back to it several times over the past few years.

Also on my bedside table (but not completely finished)...

7. How Do You Tuck in a Super Hero, by Rachel Balducci.  Rachel also has an insightful and hilarious blog, Testosterhome, that is well worth checking out!