When Teens Stray Parenting for the Long Haul Book

This book is really about common sense parenting. With so much parenting advice out there author Betsy Hart strongly asserts that parents have forgotten how to follow their instincts. Parents are so afraid of making any mistakes with their children that they end up succumbing to the culture of "pushover parenting". Although she stresses that parents follow their instincts the more important message is that parents should be on a rescue mission for their children's hearts. In other words, parents ought to train their children to do the right thing because it's the right thing and not to do the right thing only to avoid punishment or other negative consequences. There's a big difference and rescuing our children's hearts in this way not only trains them to be more honest, but also develops their characters to truly see right and wrong. She stresses this point in almost every chapter. So much contemporary parenting advice may get results, but does not address the heart. It's obvious that Betsy Hart is a Christian, but she wrote this book for a general audience. The results she's looking for go well beyond just good behavior. Parents need not be afraid.