Sara Dimerman

This book was reassuring in some ways because I found out that, yes, I am a normal parent. It is good to know that the feelings I experience are not abnormal, or exceptionally horrible. It is also clear and easy to read. However, after reading it, I don't think I want to be a normal parent. I want to be better than that. While it is very nice to know that I am more than likely a "good enough" parent, I don't want to continue to experience the frustrations and anger that have become such a common part of my life since both my girls entered adolescence. So, seeking to be a more peaceful and calm parent, I found another book, by Kazdin, about raising defiant children and that book has helped me immensely. No, things aren't perfect yet, but they certainly are easier. I wish I could remember the complete title, but I can't find it at the moment. I suppose I also need yet another book on home organization!… (más)

After reading this book, I now realize that the title says it all. Am I a normal parent? It isn't a book on how to deal with being a parent, raise children, or even have any type of influence on a child's life, it is simply about making a parent comfortable with the feelings that often accompany parenting. Dimerman works through this book beginning with a diverse array of "normal", moves through everyday situations, and ends with a statement that basically says "what is normal to one person is not normal to others." So, at the end of the book, everyone can walk away saying to themselves, "yeah, I am normal."
One pleasant surprise in this book seemed to be Dimerman's recurring theme. Though not spoken in these words, it seems she often went back to recommending parents parent by common sense. I like the concept and have thought too long that too many "experts" tell us how to raise our children and not enough tell us to follow our gut.
At the same time, Dimerman makes exceptions for lying in one chapter stating that children could not tell the difference between our (parents') "little lies" and the important, "big lies." Perhaps it is because there is no difference. A lie is a lie. Children will not always remember what we say, but they will always remember how we act.
Overall, "am i a normal parent?" was a very easy read. If you are able to pick up the parts that encourage you to follow your own common sense in raising your children, it is a good book.… (más)

Wow, with a title like this, who WOULDN'T read it? My only question before beginning this book was whether the author made any judgments about whether "normal" behavior was actually beneficial.

I'm grateful to report that even though she more than adequately covers nearly EVERY parental question imaginable, with data from families in both Canada and the United States (as well as families that have recently immigrated from India and China, among other places), she doesn't hesitate to chastise some very common parental faux pas. I find this refreshing and encouraging.

This book is really great, and would be a terrific gift for a new parent, as well as those farther along the parental path. I highly recommend it.… (más)