'Making a paradigm shift, Sen writes, "Parenting is not just about bringing up children. It is about growing up and transforming ourselves to be better human beings." Urban parents, working or stay-at-home, would do well to get themselves a copy. Actually, make that every parent.' - India Today
'Although there are endless discussions on what is good and not good for children, Shelja has a simple belief - a happy mother is the best thing for children.' - The Hindu
'Alive with anecdotes, distilled theory and authentic empathy, this gift of a book nudges us gently and playfully through a reflective connect with ourselves and our children into the world of life-affirming parenting! Shelja is a wise guide ... My well-thumbed copy is evidence of its real value.' - Gloria Burrett, psychotherapist, New Delhi
'This is a wise and wonderful book written by the talented therapist, Dr Shelja Sen. Professionals and parents alike will enjoy this well-written and insightful text. Outstanding!' - Susan Lowell, educational therapist, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
'This is a book that makes us look within as parents ... It will make you drop your jaw in awe that parenthood could be so vast and complex, but it will also make you shake your head in disbelief that it could be so simple ... A ll you need is love, really.' - Ankita Khanna, psychologist and art-based therapist, New Delhi
'"Go get this book" if you are a parent. Your kids will thank you too.' - Garima Gupta, Goodreads
'This book is different ... Parents as coaches is the approach, with a community that nurtures them and their children.' - The Times of India Bangalore blog
'This is not your run-of-the-mill parenting book. Her philosophy rings true and is extremely adaptable. Giving you tools that almost any parent can work with to better themselves which in turn will better their children. This book is a must-read!' - Upasana Mahtani Luthra, blogger
'I enjoyed reading this book and being a first-time mom, it was that much more enlightening. Dr Shelja has truly kept to her word, by not lecturing parents but helping parents understand their kids and anticipate their behaviour at every stage. A real eye-opener and one of my favourite books on parenting so far.' - Sneha, www.amazon.com
'This is a well-written book - very powerful topic, but written in a very lucid style and makes for "easy" reading. Reinforces the "basics on parenting" in a great way and leaves an impression! The section dealing with teens and pre-teens is especially good.' - Namrata Singh, www.amazon.com
I accept and love you the way you are. You are unique, you are different and you are you. I will not compare you with others, I will not constantly keep expecting and demanding what you might not be able to do or give.
As parents, we foist our dreams and aspirations on our children, push them to be more than we could ever be. But do we have the courage and honesty to look within and ask what drives our parenting - our own needs or those of our children? More crucially, are we able to accept them and respect them for who they are?
Child & adolescent psychologist and family therapist Shelja Sen formulates five anchors of parenting to help you connect with the immense wisdom that is already present in you: Connect (create the foundation of parenting); Coach (build the necessary skills in children through an understanding of their unique wiring and temperament); Care (nurture ourselves for a more wholesome life); Community (build caring ecosystems for children to thrive in) and Commit (sustain the courage and compassion).
Groundbreaking, essential reading.
Sen, Shelja: - Dr Shelja Sen is a mother, a writer, a child and adolescent psychologist, a family therapist, a learner, a trainer and comfortably fi ts into all these stories and many more. She passionately believes that we need to work at enriching children with richer stories that nurture their dignity, worthiness and personal agency. Though she has completed MPhil and DClinPsych, she feels that these degrees were of little value in the school of life. It is her children, and other children that she has worked with, that have helped her to grow as a person and become a more conscious, mindful and compassionate human being. She is still learning and hopes to have many adventures in life. She loves reading, writing, travelling, music, movies, meaningful conversations and goofing around with her family. Originally from the mountains, she hopes to live near the sea one day. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book All You Need is Love: The Art of Mindful Parenting (HarperCollins). She has also cofounded Children First, an institute of child and adolescent mental health. You can write to her at shelja.sen@childrenfirstindia.com or visit the website at www.childrenfi rstindia.com
