Essential Parenting: Revitalizing and Remoralizing the Family in the 21st Century

Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D. and Julie A. Maglio, B.A.

Excerpts

"The abdication of the traditional parental role by the modern-confused parent has led to children who think and feel they are and really appear to be in control of their families. For a family to function properly, parents, not children, need to be in charge."

"The practice of labeling young children is a destructive and irresponsible act that takes the responsibility of poor child rearing from the parents and instead places the blame on the child."

"The epidemic of childhood mental disorders in the United States is directly due to poor parenting."

"The younger the child the more effective are intimidating consequences such as slapping the hand or the behind while the older the child the more counter productive is physical intimidation"

"It takes committed, dedicated parents, not a village to raise a child."

"No longer can disciplining a child be considered abusive but should be lauded as essential to the loving of a child."

"The full range of consequences: rewarding and punishing, needs to be used."

"Quality time is a rationalization for moving away from your children. Quantity time needs to replace quality time to establish good, strong family ties."

"Instead of teaching the concept "no" parents have been inundated by psychobabble to reinforce the child's positive behavior and ignore the unacceptable behavior."

"Fear is the best motivational tool parents have in their arsenal."

"Pain is a reality of life that should be embraced not shunned in creating the whole child. Rampant materialism does not promote the coping skills necessary in life. Delayed gratification is essential in creating a well functioning child."

"Through training parents are responsible for moving the child from his natural state of self interest to a higher level of social interest."

"Calibrated guilt is essential in creating a conscience and thus a moral child."