Wrestling with Parenthood: Contemporary Dilemmas.

Gylantic Publishing, 1995. Trade Paperback. Very Good. GREAT BOOK! NO SPINE CREASES & MILD WEAR ON COVER. A FEW LIBRARY STAMPS, NO MARKING IN TEXT. From Booklist: Parenting is about meaning, values, and commitment and, according to Matus, is a state of mind, not a job. Here, he explores the ways in which parents' particular motivations to have children, willingness to invest ego and time in child care, and skill at managing the negative qualities of their own temperaments influence their children's full, timely maturation. In addition to counsel on how to attain those "givens" of good parenting, Matus offers parents guidance in modeling a favorable "Adult Ideal" to their children in order to provide kids with the motivation to grow up. He advises on coping with specific obstacles inhibiting psychological growth and on seeking solutions to factors, such as divorce and learning disabilities, that add stress to family life. His approach to the essential issues of parenting is thoughtful, provocative, and encouraging, yet Matus is realistic and frank in his assessment of the sacrifices good parenting requires and in his acknowledgment that some adults are unsuitable for parenting's challenges. Kathryn Carpenter