The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

Using Timeless Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children

Wendy Mogel

• Publisher: Scribner
• Year: 2001
• eBook ISBN:
  9780743212403
• Print ISBN:
  9781416593065
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

New York Times bestselling author and host of the podcast Nurture vs Nurture Dr. Wendy Mogel offers an inspiring roadmap for raising self-reliant, ethical, and compassionate children.

In the trenches of a typical day, every parent encounters a child afflicted with ingratitude and entitlement. Parents want so badly to raise self-disciplined, appreciative, and resourceful children who are not spoiled. But how to accomplish this feat? The answer has eluded the best-intentioned individuals who overprotect, overindulge, and overschedule their children's lives.

Sharing stories of everyday parenting problems and examining them through the lens of the Torah, the Talmud, and important Jewish teachings, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee shows parents how to teach children to honor and respect others. Parents will learn to accept that their children are both ordinary and unique, and treasure the power and holiness of the present.

Mogel makes these teachings relevant for any era, and any household of any faith. A unique parenting book, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee is both inspiring and effective in the day-to-day challenge of raising self-reliant children.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Author Notes
• Chapter 1. How I Lost One Faith and Found Another
• Chapter 2. The Blessing of Acceptance: Discovering Your Unique and Ordinary Child
• Chapter 3. The Blessing of Having Someone to Look Up To: Honoring Mother and Father
• Chapter 4. The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Why God Doesn’t Want You to Overprotect Your Child
• Chapter 5. The Blessing of Longing: Teaching Your Child an Attitude of Gratitude
• Chapter 6. The Blessing of Work: Finding the Holy Sparks in Ordinary Chores
• Chapter 7. The Blessing of Food: Bringing Moderation, Celebration, and Sanctification to Your Table
• Chapter 8. The Blessing of Self-Control: Channeling Your Child’s Yetzer Hara
• Chapter 9. The Blessing of Time: Teaching Your Child the Value of the Present Moment
• Chapter 10. The Blessings of Faith and Tradition: Losing Your Fear of the G Word and Introducing Your Child to Spirituality
• Acknowledgments
• ‘Voice Lessons for Parents’ Teaser
• Notes
• Recommended Reading
• Online Parenting Guide Instructions
• Index
• Copyright