If you are having problems parenting, or looking for a foundation, or just trying to read everything you can about parenting, then this is a good book. All that being said, I wanted to like this book more. That’s also annoying, but again, it is useful to help check your own feelings and reactions. Tripp also does a good job of shining a spotlight on parents as sinners. I’ll catch myself in a moment with Sprout, when I’m angry and thinking, why in the hell did you do that? Then I kind of laugh and think, well, you are just a tiny fallen human. It can be kind of funny, sometimes, honestly. That can get old, because at times you feel, what’s the point, then? It is incredibly useful however, like much in the Biblical Counseling movement that Tripp is a part of, the focus on someone’s sinful nature is a good place to start. You don’t model well and have problems being a good parent because you are sinful. Your child has problems because she is sinful. If you are familiar with reformed theology, you’ll have a decent idea of what is coming in this. This book is a mix of good reminders, frustrations, and challenges of parenting. That is his starting point, and it only gets more challenging from there. That is wrong though, as Tripp points out, your most important goal is to teach your child about God, who He is and what He has done for us. My answer is typically something about independence and teaching your kid to take care of herself. What would you say if asked? I know it’s not to make my kid happy. Probably the most interesting part is a reminder of the most important roll for you is as parent.

I guess the best summary would be to say that it is solid reformed theology and how it relates to parenting.

You are not going to find anything about sleep training, how to deal with allowances, or curfews in here. That can be incredibly frustrating and challenging as you read. The main difference being that there is nothing ‘practical’ about this book. Pretty good summary, right? This is an interesting book because the approach is very different that most parenting books. My Rating –If You are Looking for Something Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family

Paul david tripp parenting book