My Review of Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem

Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem was such an encouraging book. It is honestly one of the best parenting books I have read in a long time. I'm sure that I, like most moms, worry if the principles that I am teaching my children are taking root in their heart and not just their head. In this book, Hickem focuses on 7 principles that mothers should focus on as we parent our children (understanding your purpose, knowing and affirming your child, keeping vision, developing emotional intelligence, maintaining your parent position, addressing your fears, and being dependent on God.) The book focuses on an overall game plan and vision that mothers should maintain, looking past the every day moments and situations we deal with and keeping the long term goal of parenting in sight. I love that Hickem doesn't paint a picture of a "Leave It To Beaver" type of home, but she does illustrate that even in trying and difficult situations, we can be a successful parent. While not advocating that parents should be their children's "friend" instead of their parent, there is very much an emphasis on knowing and understanding your children and developing a strong relationship with them. Regret free does not mean mistake free, but even with our mistakes, we can raise our kids to be healthy adults with proper boundaries. All of the principles in this book were very attainable and doable. I left the book encoraged and with the determination to use these guidelines in my parenting. I plan to read this book again with my pen in hand. There were so many thoughts that were profound that I want to make sure I didn't miss anything. I will be suggesting this book to other moms (and dad's). I think it is a resource that every parent should own. I was given a copy of this book by BookSneeze but was not obligated to provide a positive review.