Joys and Oys of Parenting: Insight and Wisdom from the Jewish Tradition

Inspired by their own experiences as parents, authors Maurice Elias, Marilyn Gootman, and Heather Schwartz bring together their professional expertise and their Jewish commitment in a work designed as a guide for the practice of intentional parenting—making 'conscious, deliberate, and value-based parenting choices.'

The Joys of Parenting: Insight and Wisdom from the Jewish Tradition, demonstrates how today’s understanding of child development and the importance of social-emotional intelligence is illuminated and supported by thousands of years of Jewish writings and wisdom. It offers both inspiration and practical advice for parents seeking a way out of the confusion and exhaustion that can often characterize family life. With its focus on wisdom and practices that have proven helpful to generations upon generations of families the book helps them address the oys of parenting while still embracing its joys.

Each topic in The Joys and Oys of Parenting is anchored by a story, biblical reference, or other essential reference point and supported by child development research. What follows then are goals and guidelines that provide practical tips parents can implement immediately and with confidence to create peace in the home, establish effective routines, set limits, encourage effort, promote accountability, and nurture kindness and a sense of gratitude in their families.

The authors also approach problem solving as a highly learnable skill. They offer an eight-step technique that can be employed to just about any parenting challenge, allowing parents to model these skills for their children. With clearly articulated steps such as listening to one’s feelings, stating the problem, brainstorming, and looking for obstacles that might hinder an idea for a solution, the guidelines can help mend frayed tempers and foster feelings of cooperation.

The Joys and Oys of Parenting includes an extensive discussion guide that turns this book into a key resource for community and congregational parent learning groups and workshops.

Contents:

• Foreword and Introduction
• The Peaceful Home--Listen skillfully and carefully; Communicate respectfully; Express anger constructively; Minimize sibling rivalry
• Establish Routines--Create predictability; Sanctify the passage of time through Shabbat; Establish memorable traditions
• Foster Resilience--Set limits; Let children experience disappointments; Be positive; Know how to laugh
• Promote Responsibility--Nurture responsibility at home; Contribute locally and globally, Promote accountability; Practice problem solving
• Spark Motivation--Let go; Build competence and confidence; Create connections, Encourage effort and accomplishment
• Nurture Kindness--Be welcoming; Visit the sick; Help the needy; Perform deliberate acts of kindness
• Cultivate Gratitude--Appreciate people; Appreciate time; Appreciate and respect the gifts of nature; Appreciate and celebrate freedom
• Conclusion--Inspire our children to live with integrity
• Discussion Guide--Creating and supporting an ongoing parenting group; how to create a safe space for discussion; how to structure your group; planning your sessions; chapter by chapter discussion guides; a memorable final meeting activity
• Handout--Live your life with integrity everyday