adhamsaqr

-Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review- "This book is devoted to helping you reclaim your family dinnertime and reap the surprising rewards it has to offer" (page xiv). That being said, this book isn't one that *just* talks about the importance of family dinners. Don't get me wrong, it does talk about that, and offers research and statistics in regard to the benefits of a family eating together, but it has much more to offer as well. It offers advice on how to make the most of the time you put aside for your family, how to communicate with your children, the importance of empathy, active listening (and the ideas of clarification and reflection when communicating with your children). It contains little exercises, ideas, and games. It addresses how to curb conflict at the dinner table, the idea of criticism vs. complaining, correction and encouragement, good manners, ideas for discussions to try... There are quotes throughout the book, and "try this" sections, as well as recipes scattered throughout. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the idea of "rubber, metal, glass", in discussing what is really important in our lives. How when you drop rubber it bounces back, metal may make a lot of noise but is something that won't be permanently damaged, but how glass is something that, once broken, will never be the same. It really puts things into perspective. I also liked how the tone of this book was personal and warm. It wasn't preachy or overly technical, in terms of how they conveyed the information. They were able to present, even their statistics and studies, in an approachable, relate-able way. This book is one that could be applied to family relationships, even outside of the "dinner hour", and I would recommend it to any parent wanting to cultivate a stronger bond with their children. It's a quick, enjoyable read that leaves the reader with so much to consider, so much to put into practice. I look forward to incorporating what I've learned into my own dinner times and family relationships. :)

2022-10-29 03:25