He is NOT Left Behind...He is with Me!

Brenda A. Jenkins and Dr. Loretta J. Martin
PriorityONE Publications (2006)
ISBN 9781933972008
Reviewed by Jennifer Woodard for Reader Views (8/06)

The authors of this book are presenting the first volume that is focused on preparing and empowering parents to raise their children to live up to their potential. This small book is only about 100 pages, and easy to read. When we take responsibility for the upbringing of our children then are children can not be left behind. This book explains to parents the active role that we must take in our children’s lives, and the understanding that it takes a village to raise a child. We must reach out to community, extended family, friends and churches to assist us in raising responsible and well rounded children.

Chapter One: Be a Lighthouse - We as parents must be the lighthouse that guides and points the way for our children, who are the ships. We can help to guide our children to achieve more than we ourselves were able to achieve. We must take a look at the light that we are showering upon our children, and the values that we are imparting them with. We should take a look at the skills we have to offer our children and share these skills with our kids. These are skills that can be as basic as showing our children how to cook, balance a checkbook, reading and problem solving. We can teach our children to rise above their limitations or circumstances. We can teach our children to be independent, even if they are blind, and rise above poverty.

Chapter Two: Healthy Parents - Our goal is to raise healthy children in all areas of their lives. We should take a look at our lives and make sure that we are taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, spiritually, socially and emotionally. As parents we must be healthy in all areas of our lives in order to raise our children to be healthy in all areas of theirs. We must understand and value the role that we play as parents. We should work to face our demons and not impose those same demons upon our children. The art of parenting is generational. Habits, rituals and values are passed down to our children. We must recognize dysfunctional patterns in order to break the cycle and lay a healthy foundation that our children can build upon and pass along to their children.

Chapter Three: Healthy Families - Are you children dodging bullets or chasing opportunities? The authors explain three types of systems that we raise our children within. A closed system where children are not allowed to participate in outside activities and the parents are there to watch every move the children make. This family generally has lots of secrets. In an open family system, the parents allow the children too much control over their lives and have no involvement in what the children are doing. It is easy for children in this system to follow the wrong path and be influenced by drugs, gangs and more. In a healthy family system the family is close, but the children are not smothered. They family has an open communication system and the parents are involved in the children’s lives, but allow outside participation. Life is not perfect but the family is happy. The authors go on to help you access your parenting style and give you solutions to help you in the area of your shortcomings.

Chapter Four: Powerful Communications - Help you to learn to communicate in a way that the message that you are giving out, is the message that you intend for the other person to receive. The authors teach you a formula in communicating effectively and handling problems when they arise. When you are faced with a problem that involves conflict with another person we should:

1. Acquire Knowledge: Making sure that we have all of the facts involved.
2. Manage Emotions: Don’t react right away, analyze your emotions and get them under control before acting.
3. Act with Purpose: Once you have acquired knowledge and analyzed your emotions, you are better able to choose an action that allows you to be in control of the situation and achieve an favorable outcome.

While I enjoyed “Glass Walls,” it could have been bigger to allow the reader to carry out the exercises within the book.  I would have liked to be able to write down the answers to the questions directly into the book. They also could have given more examples of how to raise the healthy children, and included resources for additional information.

Make comment on weblog
Listen to interview with Brenda Jenkins on Inside Scoop Live