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Aren't they lovely when they're asleep?

Lessons in unsentimental parenting

Short & sweet for parents

AREN'T THEY LOVELY WHEN THEY'RE ASLEEP?
Lessons in unsentimental parenting
By Ann Benton
Christian Focus. 125 pages. £3.95
ISBN 1 85792 876 8

This little book is a very useful addition to the array of Christian literature on the subject of bringing up children.

It has many strengths - the main one in my view is that it is written by a British evangelical making it culturally relevant and therefore more applicable than a number of 'methodological manual' books from America which have flooded the UK market in recent years. The book is based on a series of talks the author has given on principles of parenting, so it does not contain detailed methods on how to get your child to sit still and eat his dinner and to sleep through the night ...

This book is altogether more valuable in that it carefully encourages parents to think biblically about their child (as a sinner yet as special to God) and about themselves as parents (as sinners with baggage from their pasts). We are challenged here to think of parenting around six key concepts: accept, beware, communicate, discipline, evaluate and fear the Lord.

Another great strength displayed is that it encourages a reflective approach in parenting, making it a valuable tool for new parents as well as those who have been parenting for several years. Each short chapter ends with a couple of questions which allow parents to practically apply what the chapter has been saying. This would be a valuable book to work through with house groups in a church settings.

I found myself wishing that the content of the book had been developed. At present the strength of this book is that it is short and can be read in one sitting, yet I sensed the author has much that she could say. Perhaps in the future this book could be lengthened and deepened to be more comprehensive, even to include some of the 'how to do it' bits in a British context! In particular I felt there was more to be said about God's election of children and our responsibility to point them to Christ for their salvation. Yet overall this book achieves what the author set out to achieve, which is to 'encourage parents to examine and evaluate their parenting'. This she does very well.

Rachel Lawrence,
Registered Health Visitor
West Street Baptist Church & Christian Centre, Dunstable