Before It's Too Late
Why Some Kids Get Into Trouble--and What Parents Can Do About It
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4.1 • 7 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
This is a body of work which gives concerned parents and professionals instructive insight into the personality of "problem children" and gives practical suggestions for taking corrective and remedial steps before it's too late.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Samenow, a clinical psychologist, tempers the notion that parents and environment are usually responsible for a child's serious misbehavior. How can it always be the fault of misguided parents, he wonders, if other children in the same family turn out to be responsible, law-abiding citizens? Samenow argues that by blaming parents, we don't allow the child to take responsibility for his or her own actions. Samenow shows parents how to break this cycle of irresponsibility. First he bluntly describes the thinking he has found to be typical of antisocial children, from disregarding consequences to lying as a way of life. Then he offers strategies for parental intervention, including the erroneous thinking parents may have to overcome in order to take action. Samenow helps parents identify patterns of behavior, offering numerous comparisons between normal developmental issues and how they differ from the behavior and motivation of an antisocial child. While some of his descriptions are harsh (is it really possible to treat a 10-year-old as the master of his or her fate?), anxious parents may welcome such plain talk. This book is invaluable for parents who know their children are headed down the wrong path, but it may be even more important for parents who aren't sure.
Customer Reviews
Finally!
For years, I heard many different reasons and excuses for my son's behavior. It was ADHD, Tourette, Bipolar, anxiety, inability to read social cues, etc, etc. He was also "just too smart for his own good." No answer felt completely right, no solution seemed to address the whole picture. Something just felt very wrong with my son. When I read this book, my deepest instincts were validated. My son was antisocial. Every chapter felt written especially for him. I kept thinking in my mind, "Yes, that's him!"
Finally I have the whole picture and it's clear as day! I now feel confident that I can change the way I've been parenting for the better (I wanted to give up and just let whatever happened happen). Now I have reason to believe that if I just stick to my guns and do what I instinctually know is right, there is hope for my son. It's not too late, and this book gave me what I needed to focus my time and energy on the right things. Thank you!!!!