Dr. Ross-Glazer writes with clarity, wit and humor…not only bringing to the reader the expertise of the clinician, but also the trial and error experience of a real mom. A great gift for your child’s future.”
You’ve probably landed here because you’re looking for a good parenting book. As a parent and child therapist, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned in my years of living and working with children. My goals in writing this book are to help parents:
The parenting techniques I teach are simple, straightforward and easy to master. What’s more, these concepts are not just applicable to children. Once you learn them, you’ll find they work in a variety of situations and with people of all ages. You’ll have tools you can rely on throughout life.
Gold Medal - National Indie Excellence Award
Silver Medal - Readers' Favorite Book Awards
Seal of Approval - The National Parenting Center
Children can create challenging situations for their parents, caregivers, and teachers, because they are speaking a different language from the adults in their life, Dr. Diane Ross-Glazer explains. Children speak the language of the heart (feelings), while many adults speak the language of the head (thoughts/logic). Ross-Glazer demonstrates how this leads to a head-heart disconnect, which leads to breaks in the child-adult relationship. She goes on to explain how to repair this disconnect for those who are already experiencing it, and how to nurture and protect the head-heart connection for those who are just starting out.
Many parenting books, including this one, cover topics such as natural consequences, logical consequences, and positive discipline, but Ross-Glazer has a very direct, forthcoming, and simple writing style that will help an overwhelmed adult with a place to start. The topics introduced and discussed in the book are not for a person advanced in the study of positive parenting, but rather serve as an introduction for those who are looking for more information on how to speak to their children lovingly while still setting limits.
The discussion of how children are reacting with their feelings is well supported by Ross-Glazer’s research, and although not cited in the work, I’m familiar with the background she’s using to support the concepts. The corresponding information on how adults are reacting with their thoughts is also enlightening, in particular the quote regarding the usage of “that” in I feel statements.
The exercises provided were thoughtful and useful, although I have not yet done them all. I was able to glean some new tactics for raising well-rounded, self-disciplined, and perfectly imperfect children, and look forward to working through more of the exercises with my children. The step-by-step how-tos on reacting to children by using head-heart language are already proving quite useful.
As Ross-Glazer states, parents are not perfect, and while I am not a perfect parent after reading this book, I am much improved.
Sometimes when you give a parent a parenting book they dismiss it as “been there, done that.” We could not have received a more polar opposite reaction. Parents reported they had numerous “Ah-hah! moments. Why? Because the book teaches you how to communicate with your child on a whole new level by essentially learning a second language, theirs! As adults it is very easy to forget how the mind of a child works. Until you can think like a child, you can’t reason with one. Most parents speak the language of thoughts, whereas children speak the language of feelings. This book is a guide to understanding the language of feelings and how they relate to your child while creating a pathway for communication. It explores the head-heart connection and gives you a step by step guide to repair the connection along with a system for maintaining it. This isn’t an overnight fix, in fact it is going to take a lot of practice. Fortunately the author provides helpful exercises to practice the techniques of identifying problems and then making the right connection with your child. The book is an easy read giving you a clear roadmap through what can feel like uncharted territory. Parents felt that Ross-Glazer’s writing style was easy to digest and light-hearted enough so that you never feel like you’re being judged or preached to. The big takeaway is that it’s never too late to learn and apply these techniques in your home.
“In this well-written, must-have/how-to book, Dr. Ross-Glazer gives us a clear, concise guide for understanding and implementing healthy, essential parent-child communication skills. She outlines a pragmatic, step-by-step procedure for shaping a safe, empathic emotional environment in which to encourage connecting the heart (feelings) with the head (thoughts). Her concrete examples provide parents with a recipe they can follow to foster constructive change for themselves and their children.”
“Funny but serious,When Parenting Is A Foreign Language made me laugh and made me think. There are a lot of child-rearing books out there—this is also an adult-rearing book. Dr. Ross-Glazer’s special insight is that parenting is a second language—a language that you, yourself, the parent, once spoke when you were a child; and forgot when you learned to speak as an Adult. Dr. Ross-Glazer’s advice, based on her nearly thirty years of practice, is, therefore, that you need to remember your feelings; you need to relearn that language you once spoke, so that you can communicate clearly with your child, and your child can communicate clearly with you. This is a smart, humorous, and kind book—immensely informative.”
“My work is about nurturing a child’s intelligence. Diane Ross-Glazer’s work is about nurturing a child’s heart and emotional well-being. Children need both. In When Parenting Is A Foreign Language, Dr. Ross-Glazer will teach you how to guide your child through those difficult moments so they grow up in touch with their feelings and able to handle whatever life throws their way. This book is a must-read for every parent!”
“Are you looking for a refreshing guide that’s full of parental wisdom? Diane Ross-Glazer’s voice offers tremendous insight on how we must connect to our own feelings and to those of the young ones in our homes if we truly want to relate to and understand each other. Her engaging stories and practical suggestions will strengthen your bond with your children, putting your kids on the path to emotional health for a lifetime.”
“Dr. Ross-Glazer writes with clarity, wit, and humor sharing her insights and acknowledgment of the importance of the head-heart connection in parenting. Providing a simple, but explicit guide to the “do’s and don’ts” of head-heart communication, Dr. Ross-Glazer brilliantly stresses the need for validating and affirming the growing child’s feelings. Not only does Dr. Ross-Glazer bring to the reader the expertise of the clinician, but the trial and error experience of a real mom. A great gift for your child’s future.”
"This is a “must-read” book for every parent! Understanding the simple concept of a head-heart connection will not only make parenting easier, but will help you raise children that grow up to be happy, emotionally healthy adults. What more could any parent ask?"
