The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting: Raising Children with Courage, Compassion, and Connection

This book is like having a conversation with your best friend about parenting and relating to her/him completely! This book is NOT a "how to" book and doesn't preach any methods or try to sell a new parenting fad. Brene talks about a handful of subjects associated with raising children and then draws on her personal experiences and scientific research to teach how we can recognize and respond to the emotional development and needs of our children. She is amazing because she shares her and her family's personal stories that any parent can relate to; the book never feels as though she is talking down or telling you how to be a 'better' parent. Brene has a unique and rare ability to teach a reader/listener tools by sharing her experiences and subsequent analysis of her own parenting experiences. I preordered this book and it was well worth the wait! I've now recommended this 'book' to all of my friends. I'm a little bias, as a I am a huge Brene Brown fan. The format of this book is in 'sessions' which really helps to conceptualize each of the topics. I chose the audio book format so that I could listen to it with my husband. Listening together had benefits I never considered, as we were able to listen to it together (in the car) and pause the book to make comments and have discussions at the end of each segment while things were fresh in our minds. Brene is the narrator (many people complain when there are others narrator her other books), she is very easy to listen to.

This is truly the best parenting book I have EVER read (or listened to). Hands down. I've listened to it twice, and plan to revisit it again; it was life-changing. I have consumed many parenting books, and this one really hits home, dealing with underlying issues that most other books ignore (the importance of self-worth (how parents model this), the difference between guilt and shame and learning how to make connections). The recording is spoken by Brene Brown herself (not an annoying narrator). It is easy and very engaging to listen to. I wish she read all of her audio books. If you have read other books by Brene Brown, there is some redundancy of information, but this one clearly applies her ideas to parenting in a new way. It is worth listening to; I highly, highly recommend this.

GREAT lessons. It has helped me remember nothing is perfect in parenting (or life) and to enjoy even the most embarrassing situations. Like when my 18 month old, who's obsessed with tags, wants to carry my huge thong underwear around while she holds the tag and sucks her thumb. I wasn't in the mood to fight over handing over my thong one day, so let her carry them into the car (planning to take away before entering a business). As I am getting her out of car, she is holding my HUGE thong underwear, sucking her thumb, when up pulls someone who is highly entangled in a litigious situation with my work (and I am very involved). The person just gawked at my kid holding some thong underwear. That's what I call imperfect parenting. I own it.

This book on CD has helped me start parenting in the Whole Hearted approach and I can already see a difference in my children and our household. I will listen to this over and over again when I need inspiration, Brene Brown is wonderful and I want to read all of her books! If you are looking for a new approach to parenting that will make you and your children feel complete, this is the place to start!

Excellent tips

Life changing!!! Brene Brown alone is life changing but every parent MUST have these CD's. I found tangible techniques to help me parent more effectively, to feel more confident, how to have heart to heart authentic, vulnerable, couragous conversations with my kids that foster connection and create love that mulitplies. Anything that has Brene's name on it, get your hands on because she is hilarous, brilliant, authentic, and inspirational (and that's just the beginning of my wonderful thoughts about her work)!

After hearing about this CD from our own counselor, we purchased this CD and as parents, we found so much value in it. We learned things we never knew before and couldn't stop listening. For an Audio resource, Brene does a wonderful job keeping listeners engaged while delivering very hard and important messages on parenting. Her own personal examples also do a great job with getting her point across further. I would recommend this set to any parent I know!

I bought this for my son & daughter-in-law, listened, and kept it for myself. I'm in my sixties and enjoyed a fantastic, loving, caring, supportive home. And yet. This has helped me better understand why I did what I did raising my two sons - helped with my perspective. I believe in open communication, and have made a commitment to have an adult-adult conversation with my sons and daughter-in-law. Of course, I have purchased another set of CDs. THANK YOU Brene.

I like the CD format. It lets me listen to this on my way to and from work. Brené Brown’s work is always so great. She’s always spot on.

Me encanto, pero dice al final que sigue pero se acaba

I love listening to her. Her message is simple and hits hard. I love how her advice is tangible and her hands on approach is much appreciated. After listening to her, I feel like I have tools to use and try with my kids and every part of my life. I recommend this cd, because its the author that speaks and I don't always take the time to read.

What a wonderfully insightful presentation for anyone involved in raising children. Berne has used her acclaimed understanding of the innate need of humans to connect deeply and wholeheartedly (inhibited by shame and fear of unworthiness) to paint a compassionate and empathic picture of the trials and opportunities of parenting. Her story telling skills and her unique ability to explain difficult and contentious parenting experiences make this a wonderful resource to building secure and happy families. As an adoptive parent and now family therapist, this has given a wonderful fresh insight into aspects of parenting that have long mystified me. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who takes their parenting seriously and wants the truly best outcomes for their children.

Excellent and insightful. The author is very authentic as usual.