Dad of Divas' Reviews: love
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Book Review - Loveology

 photo disclaimer2_zps8af35ac1.jpg

About the Book
"Love, marriage, romance, singleness, sex – this is the thing that most young people are thinking about 24/7," says John Mark Comer. "It's all consuming for a lot of singles. And the Scriptures have so much to say about all of the above, but sadly the church has said so little. The church has done a great job of saying, "Don't have sex before you get married. Don't move in together. Don't, Don't, Don't...." And all that is true. But we haven't done a great job at giving young people a theology of love and marriage and sex and the rest."

Since the ultimate goal for Christian couples is marriage, Comer begins "Loveology" there, with a discussion about what marriage should and shouldn't be, based on the Genesis account of God's creation of marriage and sex. Then he works backward through all the steps along the way – relationships, love, sex, romance, singleness and masculinity and femininity. Comer helps readers understand how to successfully complete the journey from young adulthood – first embracing one's own sexuality and being content with singleness, to finding love that leads to the altar.



My Take on the Book
I loved how this book examined relationships from a biblical standpoint, but in saying this it does not chastise, nor look down on someone for the choices that they made. Instead they explore the biblical teachings and try and provide some context for what is shared in the bible and what it means as a Christian to be in a loving relationship with another.

The book was a great read, both engaging and enlightening and in the end I found that my eyes were opened and that there were a number of points that provided Ah-Ha moments for me in regards to finally putting together the pieces of why God wants us to live in certain ways.

The book is definitely one that will assist anyone going through a life transition, especially those younger in life, but even for those who may have been in committed relationships for years (there is something here for you too)!


----------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions? Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

DVD Review - The Penniless Princess

About the DVD 
Big Idea Entertainment is proud to release their newest DVD VeggieTales®: The Penniless Princess – God’s Little Girl, available at Christian retail stores August 11th and everywhere August 14th, 2012. In this Veggie-version of the children’s book A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Larry the Cucumber stars as Captain Crew and helps to teach an important lesson about knowing your own true worth to his young daughter, Sarah, even if only through his spirit.

Sweet Sarah has everything a little girl could want. But when life takes a turn and she goes from riches to rags, will she realize that her true worth lies not in what she has, but what she has in her heart?

Find out in this inspiring new story from VeggieTales® that reminds kids it’s who they are inside that really counts. This inspiring tale is sure to warm the hearts of children everywhere!

 

Official The Penniless Princess – God’s Little Girl, DVD pre-order link: http://store.veggietales.com/penniless-princess-pre-order-offers.html 

VeggieTales® on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/veggietales


My Take on the DVD
This was another great Veggietales DVD! The messages that this DVD contains is so important to share with all kids today, as it provides a message of love, acceptance and hope as well as a message about the true worth of each one of us. Outside of this there are some great songs and bonus features on the DVD. As a parent I always know that if I let my kids watch this series, they will come out better than when they started and the messages that all of the series contains opens the whole family up for great overall conversations as well (which is always a plus)!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Official LOVE ETC. Trailer Premieres!








LOVE ETC., Jill Andresevic's acclaimed multi-character documentary depicting the many stages of modern metropolitan romance, will be distributed by Paladin, it was announced by company president and CEO, Mark Urman.  The film, which is the first production from Jonathan Tisch’s Walnut Hill Media, had its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival last October, where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary. Set entirely in New York, a city that it explores and embraces in glorious detail, the film will debut in exclusive Manhattan engagements in July before expanding nationally throughout the summer.

Filmed over the course of a year, LOVE ETC. is actually five different relationship stories—all of them real—combined in a single film. With characters ranging in age from 18 to 89, the youthful end of the spectrum is represented by high school sweethearts Gabriel and Danielle, whose first-love romance is tested as graduation nears. On the other end of the spectrum are Albert and Marion, octogenarian lovebirds whose chance meeting turned into a 50 year marriage, and who remain as enamored of one another today as they were when they first married. In between, are two men: Ethan, who is straight and the divorced father of two teenagers, and Scott, who is gay and single, and the soon-to-be father of twins. Despite their complicated lives, both are on a quest to find new partners and believe that love is only one blind date away. The final couple, Chitra and Mahendra, are engaged when we meet them— their big, traditional Indian wedding is the centerpiece of the film—but, once the honeymoon is over, the realities of marriage change and challenge their life together.  A love letter to love itself, Andresevic’s film celebrates the diversity of these couples, as well as the vast and varied city they inhabit.

About the film Urman says, “‘LOVE ETC.’ is as poignant, poetic, and polished as the best fiction, but has the added bonus of being completely real.  I’ve never seen another documentary like it and, in fact, I think we need a new word to describe this utterly original--and enjoyable-- foray into non-fiction filmmaking.”   Director Andresevic added, “While most documentaries are issue-based films, we decided to examine the universal subject of love through five storylines – all of which were documented over the course of a year as the subjects lives naturally unfolded. I believe we created a film that is both authentic and humorous, and feels like a real life romantic comedy, provoking thought, while still entertaining the audience.” About the deal, Jeffrey Stewart, who produced along with Chiemi Karasawa and  Andresevic, says, “We’re so pleased to be in the very capable hands of Mark Urman, the distributor of such acclaimed films as ‘Spellbound,’ ‘Half Nelson,’ and ‘Born into Brothels.’ Mark instantly understood and appreciated the fresh approach of the film and its broad appeal. We have complete confidence in Paladin and look forward to working together.”

LOVE ETC. was produced by Walnut Hill Media, a company formed in 2008 by Stewart and Tisch, who served as executive producer on the film, and whose own visit to the City Hall Marriage Bureau to obtain a marriage license in 2007 -- an occasion defined by a broad range of couples all united by their common belief in love -- provided the initial inspiration for their maiden production.  Since then, Walnut Hill has completed another documentary, “New York Says Thank You,” which is expected to be released later this year.

In current release for Paladin is Tom Shadyac’s “I Am,” which was successfully launched in Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco and which opens in Los Angeles on March 11th and New York on March 18th.  The company recently announced that it will release the Broadway-themed comedy, “Meeting Spencer,” starring Jeffrey Tambor, on April 8th as well as Steven Peros’ Hollywood-set fable “Footprints,” which is set for an April 15th opening. 



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews? Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Book Review - Road to a Miracle

About the Book 
A man who had always wanted to be a father was able to live out that dream when he married a woman with four kids - triplet boys and a girl. It was his love for those kids that inevitably led to his losing them.

Shaw was the man responsible for the firing of infamous Indiana University basketball coach, Bobby Knight. In the midst of the scandal of which he refers to as "the Knightmare," Shaw lost sight of what was most important by getting caught up in the fame and attention, and with that, he also lost what was most important to him - his family. His wife divorced him, and the children didn't want anything to do with him.

Then at age 65, after changing his life and completing seminary, Shaw receives an email from a man claiming to be a fan of the author that leads to one amazing discovery - the miracle Shaw had been waiting for his whole life. He had a daughter in her 40s. He didn't know she existed. She thought he was dead. And so begins his future - as a father, a grandfather.

After initial visits where hugs abound, his newfound daughter Marni surprises Shaw last Father's Day. The next day tears flow when Marni writes, "Hi there Dad! What a wonderful time we had with you. You made me feel so loved. Know that you are . . . Marni." An inspiring and true tale filled with stories that will surprise, amuse, and move readers, ROAD TO A MIRACLE  will open people's heart, mind and spirit to any miracle that may be winding its way toward them.

My Take on the Book

This book was a breath of fresh air. As I think about fathers day and I read this book, I have to say that I was impressed with the journey that the author has shared with his readers.

You are taken on quite the journey of enlightenment as the author runs from the world that he has known and accepted to knowing and understanding that there was much more in store for him.

I was inspired by this book and the amazing bond that the author has been able to share with his readers. A story that is filled with both love and lessons from a father to his family, you will not be disappointed with the book itself.

As a reader you will find that the book is a very quick read and one that will make you continue to ask, what's next!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Monday, May 23, 2011

Book Review - The Case for Falling in Love

About the Book
Let’s face it, today’s “Relationship Advice Industry” is generally annoying, and for good reason.  Like new miracle diets, most of them don’t work.  Glutted by pop psychology and commercialized fads, the conventional wisdom in today’s books, movies and catch-phrases is over-simplified (“He’s just not that into you”), wrongly analyzed (“Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”), or just plain destructive.



According to Mari Ruti, PhD, that conventional wisdom implicitly convinces women that:



  • …men and women are hopelessly different.
  • in order to attract a man, women must hide their strength, feelings and desires.
  • the only way to catch and keep a man is to manipulate him into new ways of thinking.



She says that these ideas have not only been proven wrong by reality (and history), they’ve proven to be destructive to women’s emotional makeup and psyche.



In her new book, the Case for Falling in Love, Mari Ruti urges women to ignore the noise, and redefine how they look for love; what they look for in love, and why they are looking.  By correctly analyzing the search for love—its pitfalls and triumphs—through the prism of Gender Issues, Ruti guides women toward emotionally healthy dating practices, non-combative (yet empowering) attitudes toward dating and the opposite sex, and the preservation of the beauty, mystery and nuance of classic Love and Romance.



Written in a funny, thought-provoking, and sharply intelligent style, Ruti’s Case for Falling Love engages and informs while dispelling today’s Top Misconceptions, such as:



  • In order to make romance work, women need to learn to interpret the “male psyche” and develop a toolbox of luring techniques
  • Women must resort to some variant of “Hard to Get” to win a man
  • To succeed, women must “massage the male ego”
  • Failures at Love are failures in Life
  • …and More



More than just another self-help book, The Case for Falling in Love is a treatise on Love that refreshes and strengthens, while it enlightens and entertains.



About the Author



Mari Ruti was educated at Brown, Harvard and the University of Paris.  After finishing her Harvard doctorate, she spent four years as assistant director of the university’s program for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality.



She is currently associate professor of critical theory at the University of Toronto’s English Department, where she teaches contemporary theory, continental philosophy, psychoanalysis, gender studies and popular culture.  (Her lectures on love, sex and relationships are among the most popular on campus, often filling the classrooms and auditoriums to capacity).



Ruti is the author of two academic books:  Reinventing the Soul:  Posthumanist Theory and Psychic Life and A World of Fragile Things:  Psychoanalysis and The Art of Living.  She splits her time between Toronto, the East Coast, and Maui.

My Take on the Book

I have read a number of self-help books in the past and this one, though geared at women takes a common sense approach to the topic of relationships and falling in love and allows the reader to learn vast amounts of information in a fun and engaging way. I showed some of the parts to my wife and she mentioned that to her it was like the author was speaking directly to her, as if she was a close friend trying to listen and assist in any way she could.

This book has a little bit of everything for the person interested in dating, relationships or just romance. It is not a 100+ Ways type of book, but instead is a book that tries to spell out the truth and dispel many of the myths that exist out in the public eye in regards to relationships in general.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader 
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Monday, February 14, 2011

Bambi Presents Romance






                     

DISNEY ADDS A NEW GEM TO THE BLU-RAY™ DIAMOND COLLECTION


Walt Disney’s
BAMBI Diamond Edition

Releases From The Disney Vault on March 1, 2011

Burbank, Calif., December, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of BAMBI to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection line-up of Disney’s greatest animated-classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, BAMBI Diamond Edition features the loveable and adorable wide-eyed fawn and his forest friends in Blu-ray high-definition on March 1, 2011.
The Diamond Edition debut of BAMBI, Walt’s fifth full-length animated classic, is an endearing tale about a young prince of the forest who learns valuable life-lessons about friendship, love, and the miracle of life. The movie is a must-own coming-of-age story that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has especially packaged with families in mind - providing the ultimate, interactive hi-def home entertainment experience with a newly enhanced digital restoration, enhanced picture and sound, games, activities and more.
The new BAMBI Diamond Edition will be available as a 2-Disc Disney Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada, a High Definition Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $19.99 US/$39.99 Canada, and/or a Standard Definition Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $14.99 US/$24.99 Canada. Those who wish to own the standard definition DVD version of BAMBI will need to wait seven additional weeks – until April 19, 2011.

Disney’s new “Second Screen” technology, which is being introduced for the very first time on the BAMBI Diamond Edition release, will further transform the at-home movie watching experience by empowering viewers with the ability to engage with film content on multiple media platforms and bring them to life in their own hands at the touch of a button. By simply downloading the new Disney Second Screen App onto an internet-connected computer or iPad™* and synching it to the movie, consumers will instantly be able to dive deeper into the film by engaging with fun interactive elements like animated flipbooks, galleries, photos, trivia and more.

Film Synopsis:
As morning light breaks across the meadow, a young deer named Bambi is born and hailed as ‘Prince of the Forest.’ Soon Bambi emerges from the thicket on wobbly legs, much to the delight of his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, and Flower, the bashful yet lovable skunk. But the fun of nibbling on fresh blossoms and frolicking through the woods is only the beginning. Exploring his new world, and guided by the wisdom of Friend Owl,Bambi learns valuable life lessons with every adventure – experiencing the power of friendship, family, and love along the away.

The Making of the Film:
BAMBI was Walt Disney’s fifth animated full-length feature film which released in 1942 during World War II and took approximately five years in the making due to the exquisite artwork and attention to detail of each and every scene, character and figure.  The artwork itself was created by some of the legendary “nine old men,” including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl and Eric Larson and in order to achieve the film’s unprecedented level of realism, animators modeled anatomical studies using live animals (including a pair of fawns named Bambi and Faline) and imbued each with a uniquely endearing personality. Bambi’s delightful forest home received the same painstaking attention to detail, as background artists painted hundreds of landscapes based on extensive field research and nature photographs. 

Walt Disney broke the longstanding animation tradition by casting child actors in the roles of Bambi’s young animals, including Bobby Stewart as Baby Bambi, Donnie Dunagan as Young Bambi, Hardie Albright as Adolescent Bambi and Peter Behn as Young Thumper. The cast also includes Sam Edwards as Adult Thumper, John Sutherland as Adult Bambi, Paula Winslowe as Bambi’s Mother and Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book’s Kaa, the snake) as Adult Flower.
Film Accolades:
BAMBI was nominated for three Academy Awards® for Best Song (“Love Is a Song,”), Best Sound Recording, and Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. To date, BAMBI is No. 3 on the list of American Film Institute’s Top 10 Animated Films of All Times. And in 2004, the movie was commemorated with a first-class U.S. postage stamp and in the 1990’s the film inspired astronomers to name a pair of asteroids after the adorable characters – Thumper (April 20, 1993) and Bambi (October 17, 1995). 

Bonus Features:
            Backstage Disney:
·      Inside Walt’s Story Meetings-Enhanced Edition - A fascinating, multi-tiered, interactive story-telling experience. Go                              back in time with dramatic voice re-enactments of the moments with Walt that led to the creation of this classic film.
·       2 Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes
   ·       Deleted Song: “Twitterpated”
 ·       Blu-ray Galleries—A collection of the extraordinary images originally created as part of the design process for BAMBI.

Family Play: Games & Activities:
  ·       Disney’s Big Book of Knowledge: BAMBI Edition— An interactive educational gaming experience that uses the film as a learning tool. Players can customize their own Big Book of Knowledge and learn all about forest creatures, seasons andmore! Each time a player completes a task, they are rewarded with new stickers to decorate their Big Book of Knowledge.

Digital Exclusive:
  ·       The Golden Age

Classic DVD Bonus Features:
  ·       The Making Of BAMBI: A Prince Is Born—A comprehensive look at the making of BAMBI covers the story, the characters, the actors, the art design, the music and the history of Walt Disney’s classic film using behind the scenes footage, production stills, animation, artwork and multiple interviews withperformers and behind the scenes participants.
    ·       Tricks of the Trade (excerpt)—In an episode from the 1957 Disneyland TV show, Walt narrates the story of the multiplane camera, an animation innovation crucial to the production of BAMBI.
      ·       Inside the Disney Archives—Disney Supervising Animator Andreas Deja guides viewers through Disney’s Animation Research Library, where artwork from past Disney animated feature films is stored, including early story sketches of Bobo the rabbit,” (who became Thumper),  glass paintings made for the multiplane camera and more.
    ·       The Old Mill—Winner of the 1937 Academy Award® for Best Short Subject/Cartoon, The Old Mill was a testing ground for several techniques critical to Walt’s artistic vision for BAMBI, including the multiplane camera, animating realistic animals and experimenting with such natural occurrences such as wind, rain and lightning. 
   ·       DisneyPedia: Bambi’s Forest Friends 

Disc Specifications:

BLU-RAY
DVD
Street Date
March 1, 2011
April 19, 2011
Direct Prebook
January 4, 2011
February 22, 2011
Distributor Prebook
January 18, 2011
March 8, 2011
Suggested Retail Price
2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada; High Definition Movie Download = $19.99 US/$39.99 Canada; Standard Definition Movie Download = $14.99 US/$34.99 Canada
2-Disc DVD = $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada
Feature Run Time
70-minutes
70-minutes
Feature Rated
G
G
Technical

FastPlayÔ enabled
Aspect Ratio
1.33:1
1.33:1

Sound
7.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio,
5.1 Dolby Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT)

Languages
5.1 Dolby Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT) French and Spanish Language Tracks
5.1 Dolby Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT) French and Spanish Language Tracks
Subtitles
English SDH, English ESL, French & Spanish
English SDH, English Line 21/CC, French & Spanish

About Disney’s Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection:
Disney’s Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studio’s most prestigious animated classics. The Collection will be comprised with many of Walt Disney’s most treasured animated classic titles to be released through 2016. These titles represent the highest level of picture and sound, feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content, and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

About The Walt Disney Studios:
For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!  For more information, please visit www.disney.com.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Friday, February 4, 2011

Book Review: Gift of the Magpie

About the Book
When Max falls in love with Regina—a magpie with a fetish for shoes—he thinks of the many ways to make her smile. The two spend the summer together, searching for food and footwear, while laughing until their feathers shake.

From cowboy boots to penny loafers and pearly pumps, Max hopes to find the perfect shoe for building a nest. But after he surprises Regina with an old sneaker, she takes flight. Brokenhearted, he joins a new flock, and Regina wonders if he will return. Will these two lonely love birds ever reunite.

Janeen Mason’s vibrant illustrations, set to warm backgrounds of blushing pinks and reds, are the perfect complement to this sweet love story.


About the Author
Besides serving on the board of directors of the Friends of the Blake Library, Janeen Mason is the secretary of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. She is also a member of the Children’s Book Council and is the past illustrator coordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in the state of Florida. Mason has received such honors as a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, the U.S. Maritime Literature Award, and the National Award for Excellence in Communities. In addition to illustrating Pirate Pink and Treasures of the Reef; The Pirate, Pink; Kissimmee Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter; Kissimmee Pete and the Hurricane; and The World’s Greatest Explorer, she is the author and illustrator of Ocean Commotion: Sea Turtles and Ocean Commotion: Life on the Reef, all published by Pelican.

My Take on the Book
This book is beautiful both in story and in artistic display. The author does an amazong job of sharing a story of love and friendship. My girls also loved the fact that though Magpie Max was completely enamored with Magpie Regina, she was (like many women) in love of other things, namely shoes! The color and beauty within this book drew my girls in and they simply loved the storyline as well as the illustrations.

I was so impressed with this book, I went to our local library to find other books that had been written by the author, as I knew my girls would love these other books as they loved this one.



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Cupid's Valentine's Day Message to Parents: L.O.V.E.


Cupid's Valentine's Day Message
to Parents: L.O.V.E.
By Gary M. Unruh MSW LCSW
Parents are constantly under the microscope. Whether they're being compared to Chinese mothers, or childless Aunt Susie is giving her two cents' worth of parenting advice, parents are all too often left shaking their heads in aggravation. "Isn't there a simpler, less frustrating way to raise my child?"

Yes, and it's called fully developed parental love -- the age-old Valentine's message shined up for twenty-first-century frustrated parents. After counseling over 2,500 children and
Loving Family
parenting four of my own, it has become clear to me that tapping in to love's transforming power is the only way to go. Love covers all the essential parenting requirements:
L for Limit-setting, O for Openly communicating, 
V for Valuing, and E for Empathizing. One thing is certain: the more humans feel loved, the more they fully live life.
Here is a quick look at what fully developed parental love looks like.

L is for Limit-setting. Whoever invented the word love knew that the first letter needed to stand for limit-setting. Children are not born demonstrating good conduct; they need to learn acceptable behavior. Parents train their children best using two limit-setting activities: teaching good behavior and teaching a child how to stick with something until it is done (hard work pays off). Children need to learn the benefits of hard work, like giving up a fun weekend with friends to get a project done well. The right mix of fun and games with hard work will result in a responsible, resilient child.
O is for Open Communication. One of the most important needs of a child, or anybody for that matter, is to feel understood. That requires open communication. When a three-year-old hits his sister, the natural parental response is to yell and send him to his room. With open communication, understanding is the first step. Parents achieve this by calmly asking the child what made him so upset, then listening -- with no "buts." When children feel understood, they become more comfortable with themselves, more self-assured. Then, after understanding, the L comes back around -- limit-setting consistently.
V is for Valuing. At the heart of love is the letter V for valuing and validating. The need to feel valued is as important for children as their need for food. Telling children what they did right every day builds self-confidence. Children feel most valued when parents validate their feelings, especially during conflict. When Jared whines about chores, validate his frustration with "You are really frustrated and it's no fun to pick up," and then firmly set limits. He can stop whining and pick up his mess, or go to his room. A valued child is a child who wants to learn good behavior.
E is for Empathy. The learned ability to stand in another person's shoes ensures less risk for physical health problems and develops kindness, compassion, and quality intimacy. That's what happens when parents are successful in teaching their children all aspects of love, especially the valuing component. When children feel valued from the get-go, they know firsthand all about empathy. Over and over again I've seen these children become very empathetic individuals. The most gratifying success in life is enduring, close relationships -- one of the best results of developing empathy in our children.
Conclusion: When parents fully unleash their love, they can expect to raise responsible, loving, resilient children. Thank you, Cupid, for Valentine's Day -- a day devoted to experiencing the transforming power of love.
Gary M. Unruh, MSW LCSW, is a child and family mental health counselor with nearly forty years of experience. He is the author of the 2010 award-winning bookUnleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids (www.unleashingparentallove.com).



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Book Review: Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer

About the BookAccording to Romance Writers of America, romance fiction tops the publishing charts with $1.37 billion annual sales* - Now that's sexy.  Clearly, romance is alive and well in the world of publishing.  Readers can't get enough, which is why the timing is ripe to unleash a book that goes beyond the fictional bedroom doors…between the story-filled satin sheets…to uncover the intimate secrets behind the real romantic relationships of more than 65 beloved, bestselling romance novelists.
Linda Lael Miller, Mariah Stewart, Robyn Carr, Heather Graham, Joan Johnston, Kat Martin, Pamela Morsi, Sabrina Jeffries, Eloisa James, Rachel Gibson, and many others share what has made their own true romances loving and lasting.  At the heart of Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer (HCI Books -- $14.95) is the author--bestselling romance writer Amelia Grey.  Together these ladies of luscious language tell secrets about their own true loves.
Readers will enjoy glimpsing into the exclusive and private world of their favorite romance writers.  Humorous, poignant, and entertaining from beginning to end, Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer reveals what it takes to have your own happily ever after, just like the ones your beloved writers are creating…and living.
Amelia Grey is a pseudonym for Gloria Skinner, the author of more than 20 books and winner of the Booksellers Best Award and Aspen Gold Award for writing as Amelia Grey.  Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she has won the Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter, the Maggie Award, and the Affaire de Coeur Award for best historicals.  Her books have been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs and have sold to many countries in Europe, Russia, Indonesia, and China.  She grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle, and has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for more than 35 years.  Learn more about the author at: www.ameliagrey.com.

My Take on the Book
This book is a treasure trove of great short examples of what love should and could be. I loved the fact that there were so many authors sharing their thoughts on love. and what was best about this was the fact that these individuals are supposed to truly know what they are talking about (as they write about it in their novels). I would have liked to have seen some male authors possibly, but maybe they would not have been able to give the same type of background and insight that these authors provide.

Each section is short and to the point and most of all, easy to read. If you are looking for a great book that gives you many of the steps that each of us should consider in our loving relationships, look no further!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader 
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com