Audrey Monke

All Posts by Audrey Monke

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, Paul Tough

Thanks to Tough’s book, I have a list next to my kids’ desk of the character traits they need: Grit, Self-Control, Zest, Social Intelligence, Gratitude, Optimism, Curiosity. I liked this book so much that I wrote a full review.

How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk, Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Long before Carol Dweck explained the importance of growth mindset praise, Faber and Mazlish (in this classic 1980s parenting book) gave great insights on communicating with kids.

The List: My Best Parenting Tip

Before I had kids, there were several things I said I would never let my kids do. Once I was actually a parent, however, many of the “nevers” evaporated in the reality of my day-to-day parenting challenges. My kids did occasionally end up sleeping in my bed, eating fast food, and watching too many cartoons instead of…

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv

A compelling read about why we need to get our kids back outdoors.

The Myths of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky

Much of what is commonly believed to make us happy really doesn’t. Lyubomirsky has done the research and explains why. She also shares the data behind what really does makes us happy.

Screen Overload: 5 New Family Rules

I have a love-hate relationship with my screens. I know how important it is to get unplugged, and I enjoy many outdoor, non-tech activities, yet I love texting with my kids who are away at college, reading news and seeing pictures on social media, perusing Pinterest, and writing, all of which happen on screens. My husband is…

Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell

“Working really hard is what successful people do.” Enough said.

Let Your Son Go!

I started listening to the Dr. Laura radio program a few decades ago while living in Los Angeles. Callers ask Dr. Laura Schlessinger questions, and she offers them blunt guidance and reprimands. Recently, I rediscovered her show on XM radio (Stars Channel 109). I especially enjoy listening to her when my fifteen-year-old is in the car with…

Who’s Not Ready for College?

This is the text message I sent to two friends last week who were dropping their children off at colleges on the other side of the country: “When can we have our first MMD/MMS (mothers missing daughters/mothers missing sons) meeting? For both of them, this is their first child to leave home to go away…

Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents, Christine Carter, Ph.D.

So much wisdom in this book, including, “Put on your own oxygen mask first.” Don’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself, because happy parents have happy kids!

Life Changing Lunches

45 hours. That’s a conservative estimate of how much time I spent making my children’s lunches each school year until 2011. I used 15 minutes a day for my estimate, because I am not at my best in the early morning. I spent a lot of time staring at the lunch boxes, trying to remember…

The Read Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease

Reading with our kids from infancy and throughout their childhood is one of the best things we can do with and for them.

« Previous 1 … 40 41 42 43 44 … 46 Next »