Just Tell Me What to Say Book Review: Best Parenting Tips Script

Just Tell Me What to Say is a unique – and useful book. It is a “common sense” script that gives words to the science and ideas behind parenting today. What do I mean by that?

A lot of parenting books have big ideas and grand plans. And then you and I – the parents – are left to interpret those grand ideas into actual words, into the day-to-day life we are living along with work and mortgages and dinner that is not cooking like the recipe says it will and the doorbell ringing. I don’t know about you, but at that point translating some large parenting theory into what I say then and there at that stressful moment does not work.

Betsy Brown Braun tackles this problem with actual words – hence the tagline “sensible scripts and tips for stressed parents”. She gives sample sayings and dialogues for almost *every* imaginable situation. In fact, when reading this book, I was dramatically struck by 1) how based in common sense it is and 2) how much volume there is to this book. A lot of books pack some good tidbits in between a tremendous amount of fluff. There is no fluff in this book. It is more of a manual than a book, and frankly, I love that.

Now, I have to add my normal disclaimer – the author does have a definite parenting philosophy that comes through in her suggestions. You may or may not agree with it. I don’t necessarily agree with all of her ideas – though I only disagreed with a few. *That is not the point here.* This is a book where the point is to give you words, to give you ideas, to give you the realization that you can change these situations.

Let me back up and say that again – you can change things with your words. How cool is that? There are a lot of people who get frustrated by some of the dynamics in their parent-child relationship, and I think her message is very encouraging for them: you can do this. Your brain, your ideas, your words – can do what you want to accomplish.

I will also delicately add that if you are a person who comes from a divorced home, an abusive home, or any kind of childhood situation you did not like and do not want to replicate – this book is for you. Again, you do not and should not agree with every premise and every philosophy she has. Just see this as a way to rewire your brain and give you some useful starting point parenting tips if there are aspects of the parenting example you had that you do not want to replicate.

In short – this book is worth every penny, if only for the fact that you get a tremendous about of substance for your money here. A great value, and a great asset for any parent.

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