Gloria's Corner » Book Reviews

Interview with Karina Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert

Gloria Oren — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:55 +0000

Good morning everyone.

Today we have with us an author who has been here before, but this time Karina Fabian has her dad, Deacon Steven Lumbert join her. Glad you could join us here today and share a bit about your joint authorship of your book, Why G-d Matters. We will hear thoughts from both Karina and Steven in today’s interview.

GO: Karina to start us off here, tell us a bit about your book and how you came to write a book with your dad?

KF: Why God Matters tells of several experiences from my father’s and my lives that showed us God’s loving hand and that strengthened our faith. Along with the stories of those experiences (think Chicken Soup style), we offer some short lessons on increasing your own faith, plus quotes from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

I was asked to write this book by Tribute Books to fill a hole in their production line. They already knew exactly what they wanted–right to the format. It was actually pretty easy, but I felt intimidated about the assignment because I felt I could only offer an overly feminine perspective, and the book really needed a balance. Then in church, it hit me–I have a deacon father! I called him up and invited him to collaborate and it was the best thing I could have done–for the book and for me.

GO: When two writers co-author a book there is a chance that their writing styles would clash. Deacon Lumbert, when Karina asked you to co-author this book were you concerned about the style issue? How did you work this out so that the finished product was consistent in style?

SL: I didn’t even consider that issue. As this is my first time writing a book, I was excited to work with Karina. She is an accomplished and published author. I had confidence in her. We agreed on a process for reviewing the writing, but I can tell you she is a tough critic.

GO: Karina, I believe this was the first time you’ve co-written a book with your dad. What were the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer during this experience?

KF: Actually, this was the first time I’ve co-written a book, period. I actually think it went easier because it was with my dad. I have to admit, though, I was a little nervous. I know my dad–he’s a dear, smart and funny, but he’s a TALKER, and it comes out in his writing. I know there’d be some serious editing and I wanted to be sure that I not only didn’t wreck his style, but that I didn’t get into arguments.

As it turned out, the biggest surprise was the best. I’d give a critique (one that would make a lot of writers cry, frankly) and Dad would come back with this work that was so improved! Then we’d tweak until they sang. Looking back, I think a lot of his stories are better done than mine, and I’m the one with 20 + year’s experience. I am so proud of my Daddy!

Other great surprises were personal–learning the full story of the Lumbert Trouble Boys. Realizing just how much we meant to each other in our faith journeys as well as our life journeys. God blessed us with the chance to write this book.

GO: Steven, have you written a book prior to this one? I know you’ve written many sermons, which are a different kind of writing, I’d think. What are your thoughts about the experience?

SL: This was the first time ever. As you mention, I have written many homilies/sermons, and many, many reports in my previous work. However, the style used in writing a book is totally different and I had to get used to it. With the experience, I think I will now be writing more effective homilies/sermons as I now realize a more effective way of writing.

GO: Karina, your book is slanted toward a specific religion, but lots of things you write about can be re-slanted towards other ones. E.g. I’m Jewish and also believe in G-d, but in a different way perhaps than you, your father or other religions do. Would you tell us how you could promote this type of book to a wider audience? What would it take?

KF: It’s true, this book is written for a Catholic audience. In fact, we decided to include quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church after Dad used a few as his introductory quotes and we realized how well the Catechism addresses all aspects of living–not just the religious side.

However, the experiences we share transcend religion: learning about generosity from your parents; seeing God’s hand in saving your life; understanding your relationship with God. I think those who are not put off by reading Catholic quotes can find inspiration they can apply to their own relationship with God. Consider it this way: could you read a story about a Buddhist that included quotes from Buddha without feeling threatened? Could you gain something from the experience?

I must admit, though, I’m comfortable focusing on the Catholic audience. My fiction is a different story–and a different interview.

GO: Steven, as an author, how do you want readers to view your book?

SL: As this book is about how God is always present with us, I hope and pray that the readers will begin to see how God is there, how He calls always to holiness of life, even in the everyday happenings.

GO: Karina, all good stories originate somewhere. How did this one get started?

KF: These stories started with a Navy man who fell in love with a Catholic woman while stationed in Puerto Rico. His father made him wait until he was 21 to get married, so June 24, 1966, two days after his birthday, Steven Lumbert married Socorro Vicenty. I was born April 19, 1967, and my sister, April 12, 1968. He and Mom raised us to love God and to love others, and by far, their example was the greatest teacher.

Our stories are examples from our lives. We hope they will teach as well.

GO: Steven, have you and Karina considered writing another book together? If so, is anything planned within the next few years? What would it be about?

SL: I have thought about it, but before any decisions are made, I think Karina and I both agree we need to see how this one goes.

KF: The manuscript wasn’t even finished and Dad was asking, “What shall we do next?” LOL. Right now, I have a backlog of obligations in the fiction realm. We’re going to revisit this question next year.

GO: Karina, has your relationship become better or worse having worked on this book with your dad? Would you recommend this to other writers?

KF: Oh, I can’t recommend one way or the other–it would totally depend on the father-daughter relationship. I’m not sure even we could have had such an easy time if we’d tried this ten years ago.

However, I do feel closer to Dad, and frankly, that was one of my ulterior motives behind asking him to collaborate. With my family moving around the country and Dad and Mom so busy with church, many of our phone calls devolve into reciting our To-Do lists! This gave Dad and me a focus for sharing more about ourselves.

We do recommend that families take time to share their faith stories. In fact, we suggest this at the end of the book. Further, we have a page on our website, www.whygodmatters.com, for folks to write in about little experiences that have enhanced their faith.

GO: Steven, what advice would you give to a writer considering teaming up with a parent to co-write a book?

SL: First thing to do is make sure that your relationship to each other is strong enough to withstand criticism, especially when the child is criticizing the parent. I think that if the relationship is strong enough to withstand that, then pursue it further.

Working with my daughter on this book has been a most enlightening experience. Even though I am the parent here, and supposed to “know it all,” I found that our relationship as father/daughter has become more profound as we both wrote of our experiences of God.

GO: Before we wrap up today, do either you or your dad have anything else to add? Can you tell my readers how they can purchase this book and where they can learn more about you online?

KF/SL: Why God Matters has the Catholic Writers’ Guild Seal of Approval, which testifies to its Catholicity. We hope to see it in Catholic book stores–so if you frequent a Christian or Catholic book store, please ask them about ordering it–and maybe getting some copies to share with their other customers.

You can get more information, see the book video and share your stories at www.whygodmatters.com. There’s also a link there for purchasing the book.

For those who prefer Amazon, here’s a link: http://www.amazon.com/Why-God-Matters-Recognize-Daily/dp/0982256531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274127345&sr=8-1

GO: Well thank you both for stopping by today. Hope you’ll be back soon

KF/SL: Thanks, Gloria! We really appreciate your hosting us.

Please leave any comments you wish or questions for Karina or Deacon Steven Lumbert.

If you have a nonfiction book just published, or due out soon and would like to be interviewed, post a comment.
Which nonfiction author(s) would you like to see interviewed here? Leave a comment.

Book Review–Mom’s Story: a Child Learns About MS by Mary Jo Nickum

Gloria Oren — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:11:35 +0000

Mary Jo Nickum
Mom’s Story: a Child Learns About MS
Chalet Publishers, 2009, 74 pages, $9.95
ISBN: 978-098408365-7
Fiction

“I found Mom sitting on the floor and I rushed
to her as she started to get up.”

Amy, the youngest child of three children was
worried, scared, and puzzled about what was
happening to her mother. First she had fallen,
then she dropped a plate of food, and complained
of eye pain. Something was wrong, Amy knew
this but didn’t know what.

Kelly and Tony, Amy’s twin siblings were worried
too. They all hoped the doctors could find what
was causing all of these changes in their mother.

Sent to a neurologist for testing, Amy’s mother
was finally given an answer. She had Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) and would have to make certain
adjustments but she wasn’t going to die. This
news was a great relief for all three youngsters
and her husband.

This is a book every parent with MS needs. It
provides a clear explanation which a child can
understand.

Nickum’s style is simple and clear in words a
young reader can grasp. I loved the way Nickum
shows a frightened young child facing the unknown
that is taking place right in front of them. Although
this is a book for children, I learned a lot
about MS.

Red Hot Internet Publicity: an insider’s guide to marketing

Gloria Oren — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:23:52 +0000

Penny C. Sansevieri
Red Hot Internet Publicity: an insider’s guide to marketing
your book on the Internet
Cosimo Books, 2009, 275 pages, $18.95
ISBN: 978-1-60520-724-7
(Nonfiction, publicity, marketing)

“Nowadays, it’s no longer a matter of whether you can
get published, it’s a matter of getting you book noticed.”

Sansevieri covers everything an author needs to plan a
successful publicity campaign. Red Hot Internet Publicity
covers everything from A to Z: from understanding social
media, to taking your book on tour on the Net, to building
an effective Website and all the way to automation.

It is always good to use more than one source as a
reference, but if you can’t afford more than one, this is
the one to get.

Sansevieri tells us that the trick to effective manipulation of
the Net is to find your potential customers by interesting
them in your book because it’s what they wanted to begin
with. Today this is best done by using Web 2.0, the
consumer driven Net. The important thing is to create
consumer buzz, toot your horn in the right places and
the media will catch up with you.

Working on a website and can’t decide what colors to
use? Let Sansevieri solve your problem with the color
guide in her book. Colors send messages so use them
accordingly.

Most important is to remember to take it step by step.
follow the steps in this book and you’re sure to see a
change. Now I’m off to walk the talk, and follow the
traffic driving tasks to increase traffic to my revised sites.

I previously took this workshop topic presented by the
author at the Muse Online Writers Conference and later
at the Willamette Writers Conference. I had to have this
wonderful resource so I could turn to it whenever I have
a question about something related to publicity. I highly
recommend this as the “Bible of Publicity” which should
find a place in every writer’s bookshelf.

Visit Penny Sansevieri at

www.PusuitOfLight.com.

What do you think–is parental abuse a cycle passed on from
generation to generation? Have you read this book? Leave a
comment or questions for Sandy below.

Till next time,

Gloria

Repost: Book Review – Micah’s Child by Lang Buchanan

Gloria Oren — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Micah’s Child
Lang Buchanan
Dragonon Inc., Mason, OH, 2006
504 pages
$17.95
ISBN: 0-9763398-5-4

“I walked to the back of the room to turn out the lights
on that half of my portable classroom and saw a twice-folded,
handwritten note. Usually, I would have just thrown it away
but not this time. The unrecognized scribble said, “It’s
started again with my Dad. I have hinted about it with my
teacher but not really told him. I wish he were my father.”

Micah’s Child by Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan is a story
of finding oneself and coming to terms with the troubles of
one’s past. Catherine Scott, AKA Cat, a high school English
teacher, mother of two college aged children and wife to
Marshall, lives a life of a socialite amongst the wealthy in her
Atlanta neighborhood. Cat harbors a secret that causes her
grief in the form of self-guilt for the death of her firstborn
daughter years before. Also teaching at the same high
school is the new math teacher, Micah Marlowe, at first a
mysterious character whom we know little about, but later
revealing his very human side. Together they make a
wonderful team both as teachers and as good friends.

Marshall, Cat’s husband, is self-conscious of his appearance,
is a troubled sleeper, and a bit egoistic as seen when he says,
“You know what. I can’t deal with this right now.” Marshall is
dealing with lots of stress due to work issues and family issues.
He’s a lawyer and believes in the all work no play ethic forgetting
things like their anniversary. When Cat mentions it he replies,
“Damn. That’s right…Not this year, Cat,” and asks her to “Help me
pack. That’ll give us a few minutes.”

Cat feels lonely as an empty-nester. Her children are off in college
no longer living at home. Now when Marshall travels for business
she’s alone. That’s when the memories and guilt feelings strike and
she says to no one in particular “If it weren’t for me, she’d be alive.
I let my baby die.”

This makes the reader want to keep turning the page to find out
what did happen to the baby. Though she lives a socialite life, Cat
feels out of place, as she puts it, “Living at the top of the economic
ladder, I was at the bottom rung of despair.”

There’s also a mysterious cloud over the fatherhood of Tess, Cat’s
baby that died. Who was he? Cat tells us it wasn’t Marshall so it must
have been someone from before she married. Not until she tells Micah
Marlowe the story of Tess’s death do we find out. And be prepared for
a shock, because it wasn’t what I was thinking all along while reading
the book. Intertwined throughout is the story of Nellie and David, young
kids growing up in the South. I never really got the reason for this
flashback story line as I kept thinking perhaps these kids were Cat and
Micah as youngsters, not so.

Not only are Cat and Micah excellent teachers, their students adore
them. If we had more teachers like them today who weren’t afraid to
do innovative things in their classrooms, perhaps the level of learning
would improve. Cat teaches English. What high school student adores
English, especially when reading boring writing? Cat has a way of
making things interesting. Much role-playing goes on in her classroom
and aids in learning. When it comes to grammar she has a unique way
of relating to her students and the lives they live. Explaining verbs Cat
tells her class, “Verbs are males because they act up in front of the
female nouns.” She describes clauses as “Women are independent
clauses and men are dependent, just like in everything. Always
cleaning up your mistakes.”

Micah teaches math and brings math to life by experiments, bringing in
speakers, and showing videos. Micah’s motto is taken from Emerson,
“The whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.” He has a
poster of this hanging in his classroom. Micah explains math as “part of
all of nature; including human nature,” and adds, “There’s a
mathematical reason the spiral of a seashell elicits wonder and a sense
of beauty. Symmetry is the basis of all existence.” But sometimes doing
such things can lead to trouble as was the case with Micah after a guest
speaker appeared in class and showed a video. What happened is for you
to find out when you read the book.

In general, I loved the book and read the whole thing in less than a week.
There was only one part that I had issues with. Monica, one of the
socialite wives, was talking to Rita, another socialite wife, and Cat when
out of the blue she remarked, “Didn’t the Nazi’s make lampshades out of
the Jew’s skins?” Cat tried putting her in place and ending the topic but
Rita didn’t get it when Cat responded, “How horrible.” Rita popped in with,
“It’s true. Can you imagine Shari’s skin as a lampshade?” Cat tried again,
“That’s not even funny. In fact, it’s downright scary.” Rita responded,
“Come on, Cat. I was just having fun. I like Shari. I don’t care if she’s a
Jew.” Cat retorted, “Fun? Do you realize what you just said…”Not only
did Cat feel out of place amongst these elite women, she was also the
most decent and sane one of them all. What I don’t get though is why
this conversational interchange on this topic had to be included to
begin with.

Anybody who works in a difficult population school should read this book
and learn from Cat and Micah, how to bring their subjects to life in the
classroom and how to stand up for what you believe is right. The overall
technique of interlaced back-story, flashbacks, and the main story line
make this a book that is hard to put down once you start reading. It’s
fiction, mystery, romance, and thriller all in one. It brings issues
confronting us today to light. It shows the different opinions of parents
in the school setting and makes you wonder about some of the parents
stances. No wonder some kids are so troubled.

Although both Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan claim that the book isn’t
about them, there are a lot of similarities. Michael is a math teacher and
an archeology treasure hunter like Micah. He wrote the Honduras scene
and all the male parts for Micah. Diane was an English teacher like Cat
and wrote the rest of the book. They both taught at a high school
together at one point but wrote the book mostly by email. The result was
a wonderful achievement for a first novel.

Micah’s Child deals with all kinds of issues from marital problems,
alcoholism, abuse to honesty and good to others. Micah’s Child kept me
on my feet. I didn’t get the meaning of this title until the end but it was
good that way. Read it to find out who really was Micah’s Child. This
book will be a great revelation and you won’t be sorry. So look for Micah’s
Child by Lang Buchanan (notice how the authors combined their names)
and start reading it now.

Till next time,

Gloria

Repost: Book Review–Quo Vadis, Israel? by H. Peter Nenhaus

Gloria Oren — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:00:01 +0000

H. Peter Nennhaus
Quo Vadis, Israel?
Outskirts Press Inc., 2008, 113 pages, $11.95
ISBN: 978 -1- 4327- 1459 – 8
Current Events, Jewish

“Within the turmoil of fears, fury, self-righteous fervor and demonization, nobody in Israel worth his salt would willingly embark on a campaign of atonement.”

As I began reading Nennhaus’s book I had no idea where it would lead. Why? Simply because I didn’t know that Quo Vadis meant “Where are you going?” Throughout the entire book there is no explanation as to why the author chose to use Latin, a language no longer in use, in the title, nor did Nennhaus give the phrases meaning. After reading this book and still confused about its meaning I Googled the term to learn what it meant. Furthermore, as a title – Where are You Going, Israel? – as someone who has lived in Israel for fifteen years including the period of the Yom Kippur War, I say to everyone that Israel isn’t going anywhere. Whether you like it or not the state of Israel is here to stay.

Nennhaus’s solution of moving the land of Israel to the Kaliningrad Oblast is a joke because it isn’t even up for sale; at least I could find no proof of this claim. In 2002 the Deputy Governor of Kaliningrad Oblast, Vladimir N. Prudnikov said, “From 1991 when the market transformation started in Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast is developing as one of the centers for the Russian Federation’s integration into European economy. This was precisely the original concept aimed at developing the region as a bridge connecting the economies of Russia and Europe.”
http://www.cbss.st/documents/cbsspresidencies/7lithuanian/committeeofsenior/
dbaFile488.html

Why would any country put money into large-scale developing of an area they supposedly would be willing to part with, especially when it is the only non-freezing port on the Baltic Sea? If that is too old proof that it isn’t for sale, Kaliningrad hosted the Belarus exhibition just two months ago [Feb 2008]. Sorry but Kaliningrad will never be the new Jewish homeland, though it may once again come to be known as Koenigsburg.

To clarify the main point in the issue I’ll paraphrase the words of a man I highly admire and listen to on a regular basis, Mr. Dennis Praeger, who said just a few days ago on his talk radio show “Israel has always been the land of the Jews known as the first Jewish commonwealth (the First Temple), the second Commonwealth (the Second Temple), and now the state of Israel. There will never, ever be an Israel without Jerusalem. The proof of our existence on the land of Israel was shown many times through archaeological digs. Israel was never, ever, ever Palestine.”

Nennhaus assigns twenty-nine pages to the Kaliningrad Oblast, more than any number of pages allocated to any chapter in the book relating to the topic of the solution to the Israel-Arab conflict. I found this very distracting and it left me wondering whether he really knew what he was talking about.

This is what Israel is really about:
• Pre-statehood we overcame Pharaoh, the Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish Inquisition, the Pogroms in Russia
• Over 60+ years ago the Nazis herded the Jews like sheep to slaughter. We survived.
• With statehood but no army, Israel, a new state with 650,000 Jews, was attacked by seven Arab nations. Israel’s population was a tough people with nowhere to go but we prevailed. We still are a tough people and we will prevail again.
• Israel became a state on land which was mostly desert. Look at it today. Proof of survival.
• Three of the strongest armies in the Middle East, bearing modern armies and Soviet Russian weapons, attacked Israel in what became the Six Day War (1967). Israel prevailed.
• Today Israel is a thriving country, with its own army, a strong Air Force and a high-tech economy. Israel exports millions worldwide. Large U.S. companies such as Intel, Microsoft and IBM develop their products in Israel
• As stated on the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, “From state-of-the-art surgical lasers and intelligent sensors to unique computerized monitoring systems, Israeli devices save lives every day.” Have you heard about the Pillcam? Guess what – it was developed in Israel.
• The only countries in the world to send satellites into space were the U.S., Russia, China, France, England, Germany and Israel.
• The world’s nuclear power family includes the US, Russia, China, India, France, England and Israel. (Israel doesn’t admit it but everyone knows it)

Look back at history. Every nation or culture that messed with the Jewish people was destroyed – but we survived and thrived. If you doubt this than try to answer the following questions: Where has the Egyptian empire disappeared? What about the Romans – who speaks Latin these days? Any news about the Third Reich today? The Jewish people are a Nation from the Bible. From the slavery in Egypt to this day we still speak the same language. Yes our morale is low, so what? Wouldn’t yours be, too, if you were losing so many innocent people including children? But we still celebrate festivals, go on living, and visit friends. We will overcome and win after all. Israel is here to stay, where it is, not in the Kaliningrad Oblast.

Till next time,

Gloria

Repost: Book Review–Lifeliner:The Judy Taylor Story by Shireen Jeejeebhoy

Gloria Oren — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:00:18 +0000

Shireen Jeejeebhoy
Lifeliner: The Judy Taylor Story
iUniverse, 2007, 186 pages, #16.95
ISBN: 978-0-44544-8
Nonfiction, Biography

“This is my third date with the knife,” she jokes as she sees the surgical resident come in to prep her on the afternoon of October 21. “You ought to put a zipper in. It’d be much easier to unzip me when you want to play with my innards.”

Lifeliner is the amazing, unforgettable story of a young woman who becomes seriously ill at a young age and with the devoted care of her gastroenterologist survives for over twenty years.

Judy Taylor was a woman of great courage and a natural fighter. She was also the first patient ever to be treated with in-home alternative feeding techniques and the first such patient to survive the longest.

Lifeliner is Judy’s story, but it is also the story of her devoted gastroenterologist, Dr. Jeejeebhoy, who improved upon early records of alterative feeding methods and created the Total Parenteral Nutrition system (TPN) and it’s portable versions for home care. For this Dr. Jeejeebhoy was dubbed “King of TPN”.

Judy, trained in nursing, married with three young daughters was put on a new birth control pill in 1966 which caused the development of intestinal blood clots. These clots eventually led to the loss of her digestive system. Until then, this situation meant starvation and death, but with Dr. Jeejeebhoy overseeing her care Judy became his test subject and survived long enough to be able to return home with a brand new home method of alternative feeding. Using this system Judy survived for over twenty years. For Judy this meant being a mother to her daughters, a wife to her husband and the opportunity to live life as she wanted.

Jeejeebhoy, the doctor’s daughter met Judy when her father was invited to a BBQ at Judy’s home and was asked to bring his family. Knowing Judy personally enabled the author to contact people Judy knew and to produce a story that will live on for a very long time.

Jeejeebhoy’s style of writing sets the right pace as we follow Judy’s medical difficulties. If you like reading about medical developments and down-to-earth humanitarian doctors and the relationships that develop between them and their patients, than this book is for you. It is truly a fascinating and eye-opening story which was well written.

What I found especially entertaining was the nicknames Judy came up with for her devoted doctor — Dr. Cowboy and Dr. JeeJee which she later shortened to Dr. Jeej. A very ill woman indeed but her sense of humor shines out throughout her ordeal. This is a must read for anyone suffering from a similar condition as well as any terminal illness that might require alternative feeding such as AIDS, some cancers, etc. If you want a book you can’t put down, get Lifeliner into your hands, you’re in for a wild ride with one awesome woman and the genius of a devoted doctor.

Till next time,

Gloria

Repost: Book Review–When Parents Hurt by Joshua Coleman Ph.D.

Gloria Oren — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:45:50 +0000

Joshua Coleman is a down-to-earth individual, both as a parent and as a psychotherapist. His writing is clear and understandable to any parent reader in search of help in the hurtful area of adult children who still live at home yet remain disrespectful of their parents.

… this is a wonderful book, a major eye-opener, (providing)insight to dealing with my own children.

Coleman’s subtle touch of humor in an otherwise serious issue helps to make this an easy read. An example, would be in his description of the meaning of “No”: “However, he has trouble understanding the consonant and vowel combination that forms the word “No!” As a mother/writer I never thought of the word NO as a problematic consonant vowel combination. Perhaps Coleman is unto something bigger here. Perhaps some of the other issues that lead to conflict with our adult children go back to cognitive problems in misunderstanding other consonant vowel combinations.

Some other statements Coleman makes in his book, When Parents Hurt, that reached out to me were:

“Over the course of your pregnancy, it was your budding baby, not you, who was in charge of your body…well before there was a teenager to talk balk to you, there was a fetus with its own agenda and strategy to insure that it got a full serving of what it needed to survive and thrive, including potentially endangering the well-being of the very person who was giving it a place to live.”

Think about this. From day one the mother provides shelter for her fetus, her developing child. How many things can you think of where the fetus let you know of his/her strategy?

When I was pregnant with my second son, I knew that when I went to get his older brother from pre-kindergarten, he would let me know he wasn’t too happy about it by kicking me in my side. A call for attention? Perhaps, but it definitely was a strategy used to get my attention.

This is a long overdue book and one that every parent, whether in conflict with a teen or adult child or not, must read.

Till next time,

Gloria