Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents Book Review

Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents, Chapman and Warden share wisdom gained from raising their own children and from the many families they’ve counseled through the years. They explore numerous topics like how children change your life, how to accept your child’s uniqueness, potty training (yes!), why kids need boundaries (starting as infants), the importance of modeling, why social skills are as important as academic skills, and why emotional health is critical. While much of the book focuses on parenting, Chapman and Warden also spend a chapter focused on marriage, encouraging couples not to put their marriage on auto-pilot when the kids come.

 About the Authors:

 Dr. Gary Chapman is an author, speaker, and counselor who has a passion for people and helping them form lasting relationships. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages® and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. Gary travels the world presenting seminars and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. He and his wife have two children and several grandchildren. Dr. Shannon Warden is an assistant teaching professor at Wake Forest University where she teaches in the graduate counseling program. She is also the director of counseling and director of women’s ministries at Triad Baptist Church in Kernersville, NC. As a professional counselor, Shannon has counseled children, families, young adults, women, and couples since 1998 and has served as an assistant to Dr. Gary Chapman since 2003. She and her husband have three children.

My Thoughts:

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual and it’s an adventure from the moment they first come into the world. If only parenting came with a manual and every child did the same thing it would be much simpler. Thankfully, God made us all unique and our children are all completely different. What an amazing God we serve.

Dr. Gary Chapman has always been an author that I have enjoyed since when I first became a believer back in the early 90’s. When my husband and I got engage our pastor had us read The 5 Languages of  Love. It was a wonderful resource that was helpful during our marriage. We have been married for almost 26 years. After 16 years of marriage my husband and I welcomed our first child through adoption and shortly after that I was blessed again to give birth to my son. 

What’s covered in this book?

Introduction

I Wish I’d Known

That Having Children Radically Changes Your Schedule

That Children Are Expensive

That No Two Children Are Alike

That Potty Training Is No Laughing Matter

 That Children Need Boundaries

That Children Emotional Health Is As Important as Physical Health

That Children Are Greatly Influenced by Our Model

That Sometimes Parents Need to Apologize

That Social Skills Are Important As Academic Skills

That Parents Are Responsible for Their Children’s Education

That Marriages Do Not Thrive on Autopilot

That Children Can Bring You Great Joy

Epilogue

Even after 16 years of marriage I thought I was ready to be a parent. I had to chuckle with a few of the topics in the book. Like “That Potty Training Is No Laughing Matter”. That’s the truth and I have one child that I have been diapering for almost 14 years. This book has a lot of practical information that you could benefit from.

One thing that did bug me was when a scripture was mentioned it wouldn’t give the address and it called those, “ancient Hebrew Proverbs”, really do we have to be politically correct. Its God’s Word and the way its address makes it seem like it’s ancient or old. I was a bit disappointed in this area. So maybe they are trying to reach a secular audience?

Overall, this was a good read that was easy to understand and very realistic.

This is a great resource to give to someone who is just started out as a parent or even to someone like me who has been a parent for many years.

I received a free copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.