The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents

This beautiful poetry book about parenthood offers a nugget of wisdom and so many meaningful reflections. I just love it. I highly recommend it to all mothers and fathers who are looking to become better parents.

The only book on parenting worth reading. I've read many, and this one I give as a gift to everyone I know who is a parent or is about to be. There are no prescriptions here. It helps you get out of the way of your child's nature and gently guide them thru their own growth.

After I had a really bad week with one of my kids, I thought, "What is wrong with my kid?!" I read a few randomly chosen pages, and then SMACK! Right in my kisser! The randomly read pages were like a huge bucket of water putting out my parental fire. It was suddenly so clear to me that the issue was NOT my child, but was instead ME! Suddenly, it was so clear that how I viewed my children and what they represented was extremely flawed. The wisdom of each "chapter" quickly and easily made me realize that my way of thinking about who they were and who I was to them was more than eye opening. I even started texting some of my parent friends late at night because I was so excited to introduce them to this amazingness. I even randomly gave a copy to someone in one of my parent groups a week later. I can be pretty a intense mama, and reading a single short passage puts out my fire in an instant. Life for us all has been so much more calm since this book has been around. I recommend this book to every parent because every child deserves it. :)

One of the best gifts for new Parents/To be....I've used this book myself for many, many moments over the years and never tire of it. Helps me now as a reminder when I'm with our grandchildren. Let them be, create, learn and enjoy every moment!!

This is not the Tao Te Ching, but it is an excellent collection of parental wisdom that is rooted in the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching. I wish that I had this book when I became a parent. My children are now grown, but I am learning from this book; we never "finish" being a parent, and it is never too late to learn and to improve. I gave this book to my daughter, and I plan to give it to other new parents as well. If you are looking for a translation of the Tao Te Ching, look elsewhere. The author points out in his introduction that this is not a translation, but rather an interpretation of what the author believes to be the essential wisdom of that work applied to parenthood. Click on the book to read inside, and read the back cover. What you read there is an accurate description of this book. Yes, it is true that this is not the Tao Te Ching, but it is an excellent source of wisdom for parenting. My advice is that you buy this book, read it, consult it frequently, and learn to follow the path that has always been within you. That is very Tao-like.

Looking for room to breathe while being a modern parent? Forgetting to enjoy the present? This book is a wonderful reminder on those days when food is being thrown, toys are strewn across the house, and it's an all-out war to get your child into the bath tub.

One of my favorite parenting books. Maybe my favorite, since I always return to it and take away something new each time. I like to gift it to friends with new babies. I’ve had it since my kids were little and now one is an adult and one is in high school…it really grows with you and speaks to you at every stage. Just beautiful and touches deep. #15 is my favorite…

This is a fantastic book for new parents regardless of whether you have any spiritual leanings or not - it's just good parenting advice for anyone. It's in small snippets - my daughter in law reads a page every morning and makes that day's message her goal for the day. I wish I'd had it as a young parent! It's our new baby shower gift!

Highly recommendable, lovely little book full of heartening wisdom. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Make the Ordinary Come Alive Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself."

Highly recommend this book for any busy parent who is looking for quick relaxing read and guidance on how to improve their own and their child’s life and to strength their relationship with their children…Such beautifully written ancient poetic wisdom, as it really promotes love, respect, acceptance and the natural order of things. I also enjoy the author’s own modern take and connection of each teachings, making them more relevant in today’s world. Although I am perplexed and saddened by how such wonderful ancient and wise Chinese Tao teachings on parenting did not get passed to my own Chinese parent’s’ generation, perhaps it all got lost during wars. All was lost but I’m so glad it is found! I’m now even more intrigued by Tao teachings and interested in exploring them further. As far as I know, I am interpreting them as ancient Bible teachings but written for a Chinese audience.

今まで数多くの育児に関する本を読みましたが、私にとって、これに勝るものはありません！ 80の短い詩からなっています。 短い、抽象的な言葉で、ものすごく大きな、そして根本的なメッセージを伝えてくれます。 私は老子や道教のことはよく知りませんが、この本をきっかけに、勉強して みたいと思いました。 例えば・・・ Call difficult things, "difficult", and easy things, "easy", without avoiding one and seeking the other and your children will learn self-confidence. こんな調子です。 裏表紙には、アメリカ女性のオピニオンリーダー、Oprahのコメントが。 この人は、上沼恵美子と黒柳徹子と阿川佐和子を足して３で割ったような存在の人かな？（私見です） 「子を持つ全ての友人に、私はこの本を送ります。」とあります。

i musta bought half the copies of this book that amazon sell! Always takes me to the heart of myself and my child; always opens on the perfect page. I ask my daughter to chose a page sometimes; which she loves, not least coz if i'm being a critical or intolerant parent the page i read will always sort me out! I buy it for all my friends who have babies. The one's who had previous children cry when they read it. You know, we carry some guilt and shame for those times we 'get it wrong', but this book always helps us heal, consider, get back to the heart of love and carry on. His couples Tao te ching is also a total gem. Makes a beaut wedding gift.

Sooo amazing book. Each chapter has soo relevant and though provoking notes. Must read for all parents. Print of the book, size and overall design is efficient and easy for reading. Simple language and very meaningful notes