Scan barcode
katrinky's review against another edition
4.0
Blending a family peacefully is the single greatest gift parents can give to the kids involved. Period. It's hard work, work I have not been successful at, and work I'll spend the rest of my life trying to do. I grew up in a successfully blended family, and anyone who has tried to do it or is trying to do it is my ally and has my respect and appreciation in the biggest possible way.
Many, many congratulations to this family for the heart-ful work they've done to create their family and move forward with best intentions, respect and in good faith.
Recommend!!
Many, many congratulations to this family for the heart-ful work they've done to create their family and move forward with best intentions, respect and in good faith.
Recommend!!
bfullmer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
gabsalott13's review against another edition
3.0
Mashonda Tifrere (with help from her assorted family members) has written a solid how-to manual for mothers dealing with the expansion of their previously nuclear families. She has skillfully converted the media attention on her own situation with Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys into the chance to share her best practices for healthy co-parenting.
I'm sure that anyone dealing with the issues she describes will feel really heard but also challenged to do better by this book. She includes interviews from notable and everyday co-parents, so you really feel like you're not alone in the predicament. Even as someone who doesn't have children or a spouse, I felt like her conflict resolution tips and tricks were ones I could take into my own relationship.
At the end of the day, her parenting (and blending) methodology boils down to respect for the "nucleus child" as an autonomous being deserving of unconditional love and a nurturing environment, even in different homes. This progressive form of parenting derives from a sense of mutual respect that isn't often embraced in the black community, and calls for a subsummation of ego that is even more rare. I think everyone can take some notes from how she, Swizz, and Alicia approach hard conversations and bonding moments with Kaseem. They orchestrate many of their interactions with him to ensure that he feels heard, supported, and confident, instead of prioritizing their authority as the parents above all else.
She doesn’t really address the elephants in many people's co-parenting situations: uninterested fathers, financial constraints and demands of separation for less wealthy people, and the general abuse that accompanies many co-parenting situations. I was hoping she would at least delve into dealing with the betrayal that comes with extramarital affairs (and children born of them), but I guess maybe that was something Swizz Beatz asked her to leave out.
In conclusion, this is a slightly shallow reading of the general challenges of co-parenting, but a gracious, inspiring take on the emotional strategies of healthy parenting that I might return to when I have my own kids.
I'm sure that anyone dealing with the issues she describes will feel really heard but also challenged to do better by this book. She includes interviews from notable and everyday co-parents, so you really feel like you're not alone in the predicament. Even as someone who doesn't have children or a spouse, I felt like her conflict resolution tips and tricks were ones I could take into my own relationship.
At the end of the day, her parenting (and blending) methodology boils down to respect for the "nucleus child" as an autonomous being deserving of unconditional love and a nurturing environment, even in different homes. This progressive form of parenting derives from a sense of mutual respect that isn't often embraced in the black community, and calls for a subsummation of ego that is even more rare. I think everyone can take some notes from how she, Swizz, and Alicia approach hard conversations and bonding moments with Kaseem. They orchestrate many of their interactions with him to ensure that he feels heard, supported, and confident, instead of prioritizing their authority as the parents above all else.
She doesn’t really address the elephants in many people's co-parenting situations: uninterested fathers, financial constraints and demands of separation for less wealthy people, and the general abuse that accompanies many co-parenting situations. I was hoping she would at least delve into dealing with the betrayal that comes with extramarital affairs (and children born of them), but I guess maybe that was something Swizz Beatz asked her to leave out.
In conclusion, this is a slightly shallow reading of the general challenges of co-parenting, but a gracious, inspiring take on the emotional strategies of healthy parenting that I might return to when I have my own kids.
lmirish905's review against another edition
5.0
Such a well-written testament to your blending journey. Thank you for your transparency as you shared your growth process.
More...