When Parenting Isn't Perfect

by Jim Daly, Paul Asay (With)

Overview

Perfection is the enemy of parenting. Jim Daly sees and hears from mothers and fathers trying hard to pursue perfection. They listen to the best experts and read all the right books. When someone gives them a “World’s Best Mom” or “No. 1 Dad” coffee mug, they want it to be true. And they want their children to pursue perfection, too.

It’s admirable for parents to be the very best moms and dads they can be for their children. But sometimes in so doing, they leave grace behind—both for themselves and their children. Jim believes that our quest for perfection, a quest that he believes is particularly strong among Christians, runs counter to God’s own boundless gift of grace. We can become Pharisaical parents, quoting endless rules and holding everyone to impossible standards. But God doesn’t want us, and our kids don’t need us, to be perfect. As parents, we’re called to simply do our best. And when we fail—which we will—we’re called to try again tomorrow.

Though he’s the President of Focus on the Family, Jim does not promise that his book will be a catalyst for a perfect family. But it can help point the way toward a good family—one that feels safe and warm; one filled with love and laughter. This book will encourage mothers and fathers to embrace the messiness of parenthood and show grace to their own less-than-ideal children. Jim, through his own experiences, expertise, and array of stories, will lead both moms and dads to a better understanding of what being a good family is all about.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310348337
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	06/27/2017
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jim Daly is the president and CEO of Focus on the Family. Daly has received the 2008 World Children's Center Humanitarian Award and the 2009 Children's Hunger Fund Children's Champion Award. He has appeared on such television programs as ABC “World News Tonight” and PBS’ “Religion & Ethics”; and been featured in Time, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and Newsweek, which named him one of the top 10 next-generation evangelical leaders of influence. Daly and his wife have two sons and reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit: www.focusonthefamily.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword John Townsend 11

Prologue 13

Part 1 How Good is Good Enough?

1 Not Good Enough 19

2 What a Family Is 32

3 Broken or Real? 45

Part 2 Building a Better Family

4 The Fundamentals 63

5 Opposites Attract 84

6 Messy Lessons 104

Part 3 Troubleshooting

7 The Blame Game 123

8 A Safe Place 142

9 Accepting Free Will 155

Part 4 The Family of Memories

10 The Joy of Togetherness 175

11 Transitions 187

12 The Best Family 204

Acknowledgments 213

Notes 215

About Jim Daly Paul Asay 219

Editorial Reviews

Jim Daly has done a great job in reminding parents that perfection is not only unattainable but harmful in the journey of parenting. God’s grace is available in abundance for good reason: we all need it. Perfectionism is slow suicide!

New York Times bestselling author of Have a New Ki DR. KEVIN LEMAN

As a parent, I know it’s easy to feel alone in your worries, shortcomings, and failures, assuming that everyone else has it all together. In this incredibly timely book, Jim Daly offers a much-needed shot of grace to stressed-out parents everywhere and reminds all of us that messy is often perfectly okay, and even beautiful, in God’s eyes. When Parenting Isn’t Perfect is an absolute must-read for families everywhere.

president of the National Hispanic Christian Leade REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ

This book is long overdue. Many moms and dads today are beating themselves up because they are not perfect. This book shows parenting for what it is—imperfect. It highlights the beauty of imperfection and lets parents off the hook, so that they can focus on the tangible truths and realities of parenting. A must-read for every parent. My friend Jim Daly has not only nailed this topic; I’ve seen him live it out with his own children.

MITCH TEMPLE

As the president of Focus on the Family, Jim Daly lives and breathes parenting, and he truly understands the challenges parents face today. In When Parenting Isn’t Perfect, Jim has written a book that all parents, regardless of their season of life, are and will be high-fiving about, since they all know it’s true: perfect parenting is just not possible.

former president of Catalyst and author of H3 Lead BRAD LOMENICK

As a parent, I know it's easy to feel alone in your worries, shortcomings, and failures, assuming that everyone else has it all together. In this incredibly timely book, Jim Daly offers a much-needed shot of grace to stressed-out parents everywhere and reminds all of us that messy is often perfectly okay, and even beautiful, in God's eyes. When Parenting Isn't Perfect is an absolute must-read for families everywhere.--REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)

As the president of Focus on the Family, Jim Daly lives and breathes parenting, and he truly understands the challenges parents face today. In When Parenting Isn't Perfect, Jim has written a book that all parents, regardless of their season of life, are and will be high-fiving about, since they all know it's true: perfect parenting is just not possible.--BRAD LOMENICK, former president of Catalyst and author of H3 Leadership and The Catalyst Leader

Jim Daly has done a great job in reminding parents that perfection is not only unattainable but harmful in the journey of parenting. God's grace is available in abundance for good reason: we all need it. Perfectionism is slow suicide!--DR. KEVIN LEMAN, New York Times bestselling author of Have a New Kid by Friday

This book is long overdue. Many moms and dads today are beating themselves up because they are not perfect. This book shows parenting for what it is---imperfect. It highlights the beauty of imperfection and lets parents off the hook, so that they can focus on the tangible truths and realities of parenting. A must-read for every parent. My friend Jim Daly has not only nailed this topic; I've seen him live it out with his own children.--MITCH TEMPLE, licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and executive director of The Fatherhood Commission

From the Publisher