The Parenting Shelf

Out
John Sovec, LMFT
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781839974243, $17.95, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Out-Parents-Supporting-Lgbtqia-Through/dp/1839974249

Synopsis: The coming out process for LGBTQIA+ adolescents and young adults = can be a terrifying moment, not only for themselves, but also for their fam= ily and friends. When intense emotions are running the gamut of concern, sh= ock, joy or even anger and acceptance, it can be tricky to process how you = feel while giving your child the support they need.

Offering essential guidance and advice, "Out: A Parent's Guide to Supportin=
g Your LGBTQIA+ Kid through Coming Out and Beyond" by counselor and therapi=
st John Soveck is here to help you with chapters that explore LGBTQIA+ term= inology, understanding the coming out process, effective communication stra= tegies, talking to your LGBTQIA+ kid about sex, the parents' process of acc= eptance, and the family coming out process.

Importantly, this guide also covers a wide range of lesser-known orientatio=
ns such as pansexuality and asexuality as well as dedicated chapters on tra=
ns youth and the often overlooked grieving process for parents with stories=
of lived experience throughout.

With a unique three step strategy, you and your family can support your LGB= TQIA+ child's newly shared identity, create a stronger family unit, and mov=
e towards a more open, affirming relationship based on honest communication=
and understanding.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented -- especially=
for the non-specialist general reader seeking to know what to do (and why)=
when they realize that their child is gay, "Out: A Parent's Guide to Suppo= rting Your LGBTQIA+ Kid through Coming Out and Beyond" is essential and unr= eservedly recommended reading. A core addition for personal, professional, = and community library Parenting & LGBTQ+ instructional reference collection=
s and supplemental curriculum studies lists, "Out" is also readily availabl=
e in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: John Sovec (https://www.johnsovec.com) is a licensed therap= ist, counselor and coach who specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ teens and=
their families during the coming out process. John has written for Huffing= ton Post, Medium and Good Therapy and appeared on the Ricki Lake Show, OWN,=
Shahs of Sunset, Raising Whitley, BRAVO, Fox News, The Washington Post, an=
d LA Talk Radio. He is the host of OutTalk and lives in Pasadena, Californi=
a with his husband.

Raising Good Humans
Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
9781684033881, $16.95, PB, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Good-Humans-Parenting-Confident/dp/168403388=
8

Synopsis: A kinder, more compassionate world starts with kind and compassio= nate kids. With the publication of "Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to=
Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids"=
, Hunter Clarke-Fields shares with parents and caregivers powerful and prac= tical strategies to break free from "reactive parenting" habits and raise k= ind, cooperative, and confident kids.

Whether you're running late for school, trying to get your child to eat the=
ir vegetables, or dealing with an epic meltdown in the checkout line at a g= rocery store -- being a parent is hard work! And, as parents, many of us re= act in times of stress without thinking -- often by yelling. But what if, i= nstead of always reacting on autopilot, you could respond thoughtfully in t= hose moments, keep your cool, and get from A to B on time and in one piece?

With the help of "Raising Good Humans", parents will find powerful mindfuln= ess skills for calming their own stress response when difficult emotions ar= ise. Also featured are strategies for cultivating respectful communication,=
effective conflict resolution, and reflective listening. In the process, y= ou'll learn to examine your own unhelpful patterns and ingrained reactions = that reflect the generational habits shaped by your parents, so that you ca=
n break the cycle and respond to your children in more skillful ways.

When children experience a parent reacting with kindness and patience, they=
learn to act with kindness as well -- thereby altering generational patter=
ns and creating a kinder, more compassionate future. With this essential gu= ide, parents and caregivers can see how changing "autopilot reactions" can = create a lasting positive impact, not just for your kids, but for generatio=
ns to come.

Critique: Given all the stresses, pressures, and anxiety creating condition=
s of modern life upon the family, "Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to = Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids" = readily qualifies as essential reading for any and all parents wanting, see= king, and trying to create a better world for their children -- and grandch= ildren! While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book f= ormat (Kindle, $9.99), "Raising Good Humans" is especially and unreservedly=
recommended for professional, community and academic library Parenting and=
Family Conflict Resolution collections and supplemental curriculum studies=
lists.

Editorial Note: Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, (https://mindfulmamamentor.com)=
is a mindfulness mentor, coach, host of the Mindful Mama podcast, and crea= tor of the Mindful Parenting online course. She coaches moms on how to cult= ivate mindfulness in their daily lives. Hunter has more than twenty years o=
f experience in meditation and yoga practices, and has taught mindfulness t=
o thousands worldwide.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
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reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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