A Book Every Parent Should Read

I've been reading Hold On To Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté.

In a nutshell, they say that the reason Western society in going to hell in a handbasket (think gangs, school shootings, bullying) is that we've abdicated our responsibilities as parents. Instead of keeping our kids attached to us, we've allowed (encouraged?) them to become oriented to their peers for values, nurturing, etc.

Not only does this cause discord at home, but it is also at the root of a large number of social and cultural problems facing many communities today.

In addition to explaining the problem at-length, they also offer solutions.

Unfortunately, the first 2/3 of the book is heavy in psych-lingo and I had to work hard to understand the exact nuances of what they were saying - I'd love to rewrite it for them in more accessible language. This is such an important topic that making the message available to everyone should be high-priority.

Of course, they do say that full-time daycare from a young age is pretty damaging, so a lot of folks out there won't want to hear that...