About The Paranoid Parents Guide: Worry Less, Parent Better, and Raise a Resilient Child
Paperback: 264 pages- Publisher: HCI (September 1, 2010)
The debate between helicopter parents versus free-range parents causes confusion for parents who want to find the middle ground while raising independent kids, without being wracked with worry and guilt. Somewhere between Free Range Kids and Perfect Madness is the need for a book that addresses how to parent with common sense in our culture of paranoia. The Paranoid Parent’s Guide is that book.
When surveyed by the author Christie Barnes, 75 percent of parents said they worried about “everything” when it came to their kids. Things like: Is this really the right school? Will that splinter get infected? Will they get kidnapped playing in the front yard? Or the mall? Is my fifth-grader ready for sex-ed at school? Do we need a tutor? Is my child gifted? How could we forget the sight words we practiced this summer? Do I need to buy organic everything?
Paranoid Parents founder Christie Barnes knows the truth: Most parents are wasting their time and energy worrying about the wrong things. Based on information gleened from years of research, she will give parents a much-needed reality check, opening their eyes to thereal dangers lurking that are more likely to impact their children—and what they can do about them.
She will help paranoid parents to come clean about their biggest fears, reveal the true dangers their kids face at every stage as opposed to the Myth Makers, and offer realistic ways to safeguard their kids without stealing their childhoods. By rallying against a culture of fear with the facts, the Paranoid Parents Guide will help moms and dads enjoy parenthood more, and allow their kids develop the healthy straits of resiliency, independence, and good decision making that are essential—yet lacking—in today’s society. So stop worrying about a shark attack…because your child is more likely to be injured by a shopping cart. Think that ice hockey is more dangerous than cheering? Think again. Stop spending sleepless nights worried about stranger danger and learn why child-proofing your house is actually a very bad idea.
As Barnes will prove, it’s easier to enjoy parenthood when you are prepared; not paranoid.
About Christie Barnes
Christie Barnes was happily married to Peter Barnes, the screenwriter of some of America’s most beloved films, including the Oscar-nominated Enchanted April, and popular TV movies Merlin, Arabian Nights, A Christmas Carol, and Alice In Wonderland. One day he was walking in the park with their one-year-old triplets and four-year-old daughter; the next day tragedy struck and he died of a stroke. Suddenly Christie, who had worked with her husband in film and television as a writer, had to take charge of their large young family, guiding them through all the perceived dangers and real fears in life. From her experience as a mother, and speaking to other (over)worried parents, she opened the Paranoid Parents storefront in Denver in 2004 where she sells parenting products and holds workshops. She has been interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle and The New York Post.
Christie writes and blogs at ParanoidParentsGuide.com.
Christie Barnes TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Wednesday, September 8th: Overstuffed
Thursday, September 9th: The Prissy Mommy Chronicles
Monday, September 13th: Juggling Life
Wednesday, September 15th: Suzie QTPie’s Scraps of Life
Thursday, September 17th: JDaniel4’s Mom
Wednesday, September 22nd: Book Dads
Monday, September 27th: Red Headed Book Child
Wednesday, September 29th: Baby Dickey
Monday, October 4th: Eternal Lizdom
Monday, October 25th: From Marriage to Motherhood