The Awakened Family Paperback

Ms. Tsabary champions herself as a game changer and encourages us to turn standard child care practices upside down. She sees herself as a guru of "a more authentic enlightened way of parenting." While I agree, with really listening to our children, not labeling them, or pressuring them to achievement standards that may not be their own, but are driven by parents, who are lacking from their upbringing, I also have concerns regarding her book. Ms. Tsabary believes that it falls on our children to grow their parents. What a heavy burden to put on our children! She feels Children are perfect the way they are, while parents need to get over their own programming. She sees parents as mirroring in our children, what we come from ourselves. I believe this is largely true. Ms. Tsabary believes children are equal to parents, which I agree, in terms of value, but disagree, in terms of our experience and responsibility. Her ideas are not completely new, but are commensurate with the classic theme of the control/versus freedom balance that best ensures raising thriving children. She gives some spot on advice, but she is largely basing her observations on children of a specific group of parents. There is an elitism that runs through the book. To get an accurate understanding of a child, one must see them in their larger habitat of classroom, household with siblings, and in their neighborhoods, not just in a clinical setting. At times I found the blaming of parents, teachers and those in the medical field, tiresome. And, that her observations and solutions were self congratulating. There are many factors that come into play regarding raising thriving children. She is taking a lot more on, than she is able to justify with evidence of outcome. There are perhaps too many personal chatty feelings, and too many anecdotal observations, without enough verifiable information.

Best parenting book I've read. And I've read a lot of them. Over the past few years, I saw my once sweet, caring son turn into a teenaged monster. He's 16 now and I can count on one hand the number of stress free days we've had over the past year. I almost took out a 2nd mortgage on my house in order to afford to send him to a rehab program. Thank god I just spent $18 on a book instead. Now brace yourself for what I'm about to say, because it's not popular and it took me a minute to get on board with, too: more than likely, your kids problems are because of you. Yeah, I know. I've read so many books that talk about how to change your child's behavior. But guess what? I'm sure you've already tried to change them and it doesn't work, or perhaps gets you even more difficult behaviors. This book tells you how to change YOU. Indeed, it is the only way to help your child and ultimately help you. The past two weeks I have seen a remarkable change in my child, and it almost 100% came from me changing my behavior first. Dr. Tsabary explains this concept without passing lots of blame or shame (this is the opposite of a helpful approach, by the way), but helps you reconcile your own past hurts and issues, often from childhood and the way you were parented. So there, blame your parents for your child's behavior. ha. No really, there is no need for blame. Just for acceptance of yourself and your child right here, right now. And a willingness to admit that you are part of the problem, but even more that you can be the solution! Our kids need us to change for them. My favorite quote so far: "In simple, everyday ways, as well as more profound ones, our children are constantly saying to us, "Wake up, look at yourself, transform yourself. Do this for YOU, so that I may be free of what burdens you."" Beautiful. <3

I purchased this book because it was recommended by a few people I respect.......what a fantastic mistake!!!! With each page I go angrier and angrier...are you kidding meee?????? There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong about any child or teen behaviour....it is 100% on the parents????? What kind of kids are we going to raise????? Other than that I really dislike how she paint all her clients as useless self absorbed ignorant parents and how she always enlightens them on how wonderfully she is reaising her own child.....talk about pressure on that child to be perfectly balanced when she grows up. Anyway, I do not agree with being a tiger mom and reading "How to raise a champion" but this is the complete opposite and is also not good.

I have read a number of parenting books but holy cow none of them have resonated with my core as much as this book has. Growing up, I constantly battled my desire to just be myself. I don’t want to be a contributor to my children ever feeling that way. This book explains why it’s so important to let our children be their authentic selves, and in turn, allow us as parents to be our authentic selves. I am reading this book incredibly slowly, re-reading almost every section to let it all sink in. If you are struggling with the idea of raising your child according to society’s expectations, this book is perfect for you.

Amazing book, very deep, not for the light hearted. Will most likely help you understand your own and child's behaviour...It is hard work / intense / condensed / compact so I have bought this on Audio CD too and listen to it in my car. Usually i listen to each CD twice.This book alone has more highlights, bookmarks than any other book i have (and i have bucket loads).Nearly every page has some amazing insights that resonate and ring true with me.I have quite a few books about Mindfulness / Conscious Parenting / Mindful Parenting but this one goes deeper into our inner workings of our mind, triggers, emotions, fears etc.Now just waiting for this to be cheaper on kindle so i can pick that up too...! :-)"If you want world peace, go home and love your family!" - Mother Teresa

Got this after reading the conscious parent book. I wasn't going to get it as I thought she had already covered so much in the other book but Im so glad I did. I'm only half way through because I have to read each page so slowly to take in all the info it's fascinating and very easy to implement into my family life and my boys respond so well to this parenting. This book is v helpful as it gives lots of examples from Shefalis own experiences working with clients so it goes into a much more practical level of how a conscious parent responds to their children- and of course it begins with the parent, not the child!

Very interesting book. I saw this book on Oprah and got it because this lady speaks so well. I am happy to have the book and am enjoying reading it. Hopefully it will make a difference as to how I take care of my grandchildren.

Every parent needs to read this book. I am literally obsessed with Dr Shefalis work. I could talk all day about how amazing this book is but I just urge you to buy it and found out for yourself.

Very occasionally a book comes out that is so spot on that I feelLike giving it to everyone I know whether they are parents or not. Unbelievably straightforward clear and could be a family saver