Her definition of “mean” isn’t “ice-cream-denying ogre”; rather, she identifies her approach as “mean” because it’s not always the easiest path to take. A “mean mom” knows that saying no to an unhealthy snack, enforcing rules, or offering consequences for bad behavior are all necessary aspects of parenting. But it’s become harder, these days, for moms to deal with the temper tantrums and tears that inevitably follow rule enforcement.
In Mean Moms Rule: Why Doing the Hard Stuff Now Creates Good Kids Later (APRIL 2012; Sourcebooks; $14.99 U.S.; Parenting), Denise reasons that being a Mean Mom is the surest path to creating good kids, and ultimately, of course, good adults, good citizens of the world.
Mean Moms Rule shows parents how to master both sides of parenting and prepare their kids for the world. The book is structured around Denise’s manifestos—a list of ten principles she tries her best to adhere to:
It’s not about you. It’s about them.
Hang on to yourself.
Start as you mean to go on.
Don’t follow the parenting pack.
Take (or take back) control.
Say no. Smile. Don’t apologize. Repeat as necessary.
Teach them life skills.
Slow it down.
Fail your child, a little bit, every day.
Prepare them for the world, not the world for them.
All parents want to have good kids, but Denise believes that we may be going about it in the wrong way, or in a way that may produce the opposite of what we seek. We forget that we can’t actually make another person happy. What we can do, she says, is give them the tools they need to define what happiness means to them, as well as the tools to achieve it for themselves.
Denise Schipani has 20 years of experience in magazines, where she worked at Child, American Baby, Bridal Guide, and All Woman. She freelances for these as well as Parents, Parenting, Family Circle, Redbook, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Fitness, Runner’s World, and Better Homes and Gardens. She is the founder of www.confessionsofameanmommy.com.
**I wasn't paid to post this, I was sent a free copy of the book so that I could review it. I'm a MEAN mom so this book and I will go together like chocolate and peanut butter! I'm currently reading the book and will post my review when I am finished so I posted this awesome press release so you have something to look forward to. Check back to see what Supermom thinks.**
