“Prior to ‘calling’ a family gathering there are some basic principles to consider.

a) Ensure you are in a healthy emotional state”

OK. Almost fell out of my chair right there! Love it.

Greg begins with a conversation in which he speaks openly and honestly with one of his children, revealing the rocky start he had in life. As the book progresses we learn how God can take a young man who “lived for himself”, change the direction of his life and transform him into a loving parent coach, having had no mother and father himself at home while growing up.

Greg and Lynn’s approach to parent coaching differs from traditional child rearing in numerous ways. It “seeks to draw out of our children what God has already deposited within them”. Traditionally parents make decisions for their children while parent coaching “encourages children to make decisions” for themselves. It also encourages “taking responsibility for their own lives”, even from a very early age, and “engaging life experiences for learning” by supporting their interests and encouraging children to reach for their dreams. I firmly believe, after reading this book, that parent coaching has the potential to increase relational bonds between parent and child like nothing else! It “communicates that our children can indeed hear from and understand what God is saying to them.”

By listening to conversations between the parent coach and various members of his/her family, we soon realize that children, even early on, are often more capable than we give them credit for. Katelyn, Hannah and Joshua, thank you for allowing your father to share with us your conversations with him and/or your mother. They have been an incredible teaching experience to me, and give great credibility to this book. I love the idea of date days and doing dishes with your parents, was amazed that a young child could achieve her dream of owning a dirt bike, and could raise enough money to buy all of her family Christmas gifts. You are headed for greatness in the eyes of the Lord and a blessing to your parents!

While my children are already grown, I feel I can still use this approach in helping to raise amazing “(grand)children raisers that can influence generations to come.” And I intend to share this book with my children and recommend it as a must read to friends with children of their own.

My favourite quote or two in this book? “Encouragement is oxygen to the soul” and “You can teach what you want, but you reproduce what you are.” If I may add one of my favourites it would be,
“People will forget your exact words and actions but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Applying the Parent Coaching approach has the ability to alter the way we, as parents, relate to our children. (How I wish it had been in print 30 years ago!) As it changes us, I believe our children and grandchildren have the potential themselves to raise a generation of their own that can capture the heart of their children. And so on, and so on…..