Ideas for Raising Happy, Independent Kids

Parenting has never been easy, and though today it may not be any harder than in the past, we do have new challenges to overcome. So how do we raise confident, independent children who can not only survive, but more importantly, thrive in today's world? Thankfully, that's the very question Dr. Ben Burris addresses in his fresh outlook on parenting, Raising Happy, Independent Kids.

As an orthodontist who's worked with tens of thousands of kids, Dr. Burris began noticing that his happiest and most self-reliant young patients all had one thing in common-relaxed parents. Not pushover parents, mind you, but rather moms and dads who were calm, patient, uncritical, unworried, and flexible. And when he and his wife started their own family, he strove to practice the art of being just such a parent.

Now, you can become a relaxed parent, too! Learn to:

• Offer kids advice when they ask for it
• Impose appropriate consequences when necessary
• Give choices rather than commands
• Allow kids to make-and learn from-their mistakes

Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and get ready to start a new parenting journey that will change your family's life for the better.