Conscious Parenting: Using the Parental Awareness Threshold

“Parenting is perhaps both the most important and most difficult challenge we face as adults. Dr. Saul’s years of practical experience in providing parenting guidance provide a platform for the ideas he presents here. Relationships are critical to being a successful parent. Relationships that are developmentally appropriate to the needs of the child, relationships between both parents and the rest of the family and relationships between the family and the community provide a framework for promoting optimal health and development. Dr. Saul provides a guide to parenting that encompasses a conscious awareness of the vital importance of these connections.”

“In his latest book, Conscious Parenting: Using the Parental Awareness Threshold, Dr. Robert Saul offers families a way to incorporate adult self-reflection and age-suitable parenting strategies. His suggestion that parents take the time to identify their own feelings when faced with a parenting dilemma leads to greater awareness of the child’s perspective as well. Filled with examples from birth through the teen years, this book includes valuable tools for supporting families as they find a path to resolve conflicts in ways that support children’s autonomy and build positive adult/child relationships. The ultimate goal, of course, is to help parents and others in raising caring and responsible citizens.”

“Much of what influences children and youth does not occur in a classroom, but at home. Indeed, the success of our K-12 educators depends on knowledgeable and caring parents who are aware of and address their children’s physical, emotional, and academic needs. Few people have a clearer understanding of this than Dr. Robert Saul. In Conscious Parenting, Dr. Saul—drawing on his previous scholarship and decades of experience as a pediatrician—offers both timely information and effective strategies that parents can use to build healthy and meaningful relationships with their children, especially during this hyper-competitive and highly stressful era in which we find ourselves. It is not an exaggeration to say that teachers could have a much greater impact on their students if more parents would implement Dr. Saul’s recommendations. Anybody who cares about the people who will shape our future should read this book!”

“Advice that every parent can use and embrace. Dr. Saul teaches us that parenting is hard but can be mastered with practice and insight. In the hyper-competitive world of contemporary American parenting, Dr. Saul’s advice in Conscious Parenting is a breath of fresh air that every family will benefit from reading.”

“Dr. Saul’s Conscious Parenting offers a brief, down-to-earth approach to the complexities of parenting in the 21st century. By defining the Parental Awareness Threshold, Dr. Saul is encouraging adults to be mindful of the goals that we all hold dear for our children, and he is reminding us to be purposeful in all of the interactions that we have with our children. Although implementing this approach demands a willingness to pause, reflect, adapt, and perhaps even apologize, Conscious Parenting teaches us how to develop the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships that build the healthy children of today, the responsible citizens of tomorrow, and the engaged, conscious parents of the next generation.”

“Imagine you have a magic wand and with it you can create Heaven on Earth for you as a parent and for your children. This book is that magic wand!”

“Dr. Saul’s Conscious Parenting book provides an extremely valuable tool for the parenting journey. Building on his lifetime of pediatric experience and his previous books, he continues to be a valued advocate for children and parents everywhere.”

“With Conscious Parenting and the PAT, Dr. Robert Saul offers parents more than just a tool for a better, happier life. He offers a treasure map that can help frustrated, tired mothers and fathers find their way through the seasons of raising children. Parenting isn’t easy, yet most of us get more guidance and expert instruction on using our smartphones than growing new humans into adults. Bob’s wisdom derives from decades as a parent—but not a perfect one, he says—and as a pediatrician. Few people I have ever met care more about children and ensuring that they have every opportunity available to them to reach their potential. No child comes with an instruction manual. As parents we bring our personalities and even our own childhood experiences into our roles, but often we do so automatically, without examination. Becoming a conscious parent can change that. Far from a theoretical work or a medical report, this book is an accessible, usable guide that can be used by parents, grandparents, and educators to thoughtfully and deliberately interact with children, even when they test every ounce of our patience. It is indispensable for community programs and workshop leaders who are reaching at-risk families or simply those who want to do better than the generation before. The goal is simple. The work is difficult. But this short book can help guide the way.”

“Bob Saul has been involved with parenting directly and in his lengthy and passionate work as a pediatrician with children and families over time. This book offers direct and relevant guidance to parents in this exciting and at times difficult journey.”

“As a parent, I think back on my worst moments, and inevitably they are the ones when I was in conflict with my children. Things were going down the tubes, we were both upset, and no one went to bed happy. What if there was a way to replace all of these moments with episodes of loving kindness, when we understand what our children need and respond appropriately? Pediatrician, father, and author Dr. Robert Saul now adds to his estimable body of work Conscious Parenting, a book that offers solutions to the hardest moments in parenting by helping us become more aware caregivers. Introducing the concept of the Parental Awareness Threshold, Dr. Saul synthesizes the newest and most exciting developments in psychology, philosophy, and mindfulness to offer parents a system that will help them cope with the most challenging moments that child-rearing has to offer, an opportunity to turn tears into hugs and children into warm, caring adults.”

“Remember these three words: Parental Awareness Threshold. They are your guide to raising better children in our post-Columbine, smartphone world. Dr. Saul continues to break new ground in Conscious Parenting, giving us all a roadmap to becoming better parents who will produce happier and healthier children.”

“Bob Saul continues his advocacy for children with a thoughtful approach to parenting in his new book, Conscious Parenting. As an educator for 45 years, I have seen the results of good and less-than-good parenting. This book provides the tools for those who want to be good parents. We need to create a short course for parents to help them lead their children to be healthy, happy and productive adults with Conscious Parenting as the textbook. Thank you, Dr. Saul, for your passionate advocacy for children.”