Bernadette Defontes
Acknowledgments xi
Note to the Reader xiv
Introduction: What Is a Real Mom? 1
Part One ■ how Can a ReaL Mom Give Her
ChiLdren Love That Lasts for Always? 17 Chapter One ■ From the Sacrificial Mom to the Child Who Can Thrive Without You 19
Chapter Two ■ What Is a Real Mom These Days? 23
Chapter Three ■ Why Being a "Sacrificial Mom"
Is Bad for Your Kids 33
Chapter Four ■ Can Our Kids Make It on Their Own? 45
Part two ■ The 12 Simple Secrets of ReaL Mothering 59
Real Mom's Secret 1 ■ A Mother Who Loves
Teaches Worth 61
Real Mom's Secret 2 ■ A Mother Who Is Firm and
Fair Gives Her Children a Moral Code to Live By 77
Real Mom's Secret 3 ■ A Mother Who Listens
Shows Her Children They Matter 93
Role Model Gives Her Children an Example
Worth Copying 107
Real Mom's Secret 5 ■ A Mother Who Teaches
Values Inspires Character 125
Real Mom's Secret 6 ■ A Mother Who Supports Her Children's Strengths Builds Their Confidence 143
Real Mom's Secret 7 ■ A Mother Who Encourages Independence Cultivates Self-Reliance 161
Real Mom's Secret 8 ■ A Mother Who Applauds
Effort Nurtures Perseverance 177
ReaZ Mom's Secret 9 ■ A Mother Who Accepts
Her Children's Shortcomings Nurtures Resilience 193
ReaZ Mom's Secret 10 ■ A Mother Who Takes
Time for Her Children Helps Them Build
Strong Relationships 213
ReaZ Mom's Secret 11 ■ A Mother Who Laughs
Teaches Joy 231
ReaZ Mom's Secret 12 ■ A Mother Who Takes
Care of Herself Holds Together Her Happy Family 249
The Last Word 269
References 271
About the Author 283
With love to the most extraordinary example of real mothering: My mother, Treva Ungaro acknowledgments
One of my favorite quotes is by François Rabelais: "A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit." This book could not have been written without the remarkable mothers who told me their stories. They are the ones who inspired in me the notion of "real mothering." In particular, special love goes to George and Bonnie Englund, Don and Marilyn Perlyn, and Jim and Anamarie Anthony for sharing their parenting secrets and touching my own life in more ways than they can ever know.
Special appreciation is extended to the following women who offered personal insights, wise perspective, and just plain great tips on real mothering: Kappy Tobin Armstrong, Catherine Ayala, Judy Baggott, Joan Baker, Andrea Bauman, Aubria Becker, Kathy Been, Lorayne Borba, Jane Mills, Marion Card, Marj Casagrande, Daisy Chan, Bernadette DeFontes, Karen Dischner, Margaret Dwyer, Maureen Ferriter, Andrea Funk, Debbie Gibson, JoAnne Gill, Louise Hampton, Lana Hannas, Anne Kalisek, Barbara Keane, Anne Leedom, Kathryn Livingston, Lenore Markowitz, Gaye McCabe, Carole Morgan, Susie Morrison, Cindy Morse, Barbara Namian, Kim Plumley, Michelle Price, Cheryl Rinzler, Murf Ryan, Joan Saunders, Jane Schneider, Patty Service, Lottie Shivers, Margie Sims, Julie Snyder, Shellie Spradlin, Sue Summit, Cathy Tippett, Barbara Turvett, Treva Ungaro, Bong Ying, and Winnie Yiu. Appreciation also goes to Bob Worswick for telling me the story about the boy and the dog and tracking down various facts for story authenticity.
There is also an incredible group of moms who years ago first helped me learn about the power and love of mothering. They were the mothers of my first special education students. I watched them in absolute awe and have never forgotten their influence on their children. A few who could have written the true manual for mothering include Judy Bartee, Mary Grace Galvin, Diane Long, Laurie Mobilio, Rita Pacheco, Mrs. Speciale, and Bindy Wood.
Every book is a group effort, and there are a number of people whom I gratefully acknowledge for helping me make this book possible. I thank Jossey-Bass/Wiley executive editor Alan Rinzler for his friendship, superb insights, exemplary skill, passion, and guidance through every possible step. At Jossey-Bass and Wiley, Alan is surrounded by the finest publishing staff around, whom I thank for their support on all six of the books we've now worked on together: Jennifer Wenzel, Catherine Craddock, Erik Thrasher, Meghan Brousseau, P. J. Campbell, Paula Goldstein, Carol Hartland, Michele Jones, Sophia Ho, Lori Sayde-Mehrtens, Jennifer Smith, and Karen Warner. In particular, I thank my publishers, Debra Hunter and Paul Foster, for the privilege of writing for them over these many years together.
To Joelle DelBourgo, my agent, for her stellar competence and warm friendship, and for lending an ear at always just the right time. Believe me, every writer should have this woman in her corner.
To the staff of Parents magazine, especially Diane Debrover, for the honor of serving on their advisory board and the opportunity of speaking with many of their writers about several of the parenting issues in this book. To Rose Carrano, publicist extraordinaire, it's just been a privilege to work together. To Anne Leedom, president of netconnectpublicity.com, for continuing to be the best backseat cheerleader, and to Steve Leedom, president of nowimagine.com, for creating and up dating my Web sites www.behaviormakeovers.com. and www. micheleborba.com.
Once again, no writer could have a better support system than her own family. To my husband, perpetual supporter and best friend, Craig, and the three greatest sons, Jason, Adam, and Zach, thank you once again for putting up with me. This is the twenty-first book we've written "together," and I would never have been able to do this without you.
And finally to the memory of Max Englund: a child whose life was far too short, but who still taught me so much about the power of love and resilience. I swore I'd someday write about this remarkable boy. So Max, here's to you! I hope I told it right.
Michele Borba
Palm Springs, California note to the reader
All stories in this book are about children and their mothers whom I have interviewed, known, or worked with over the last twenty years. A few stories are composite cases of children I have treated. Actual children's and mothers' names are included, except in those instances where a parent asked that her name be changed to protect her privacy. The exceptions are mothers interviewed for newspapers or written about in books, and those are noted in the References.
Unless otherwise noted in the References, stories and tips are based on interviews I conducted face-to-face, by phone, or through email exchanges with 150 mothers while writing this book. I also surveyed over five thousand additional parents in my workshops about what they felt mattered most in real mothering. Many of their responses are included in boxed tips. A sample of the U.S. cities where these interviews took place includes Albany, Aspen, Atherton, Berkeley, Chattanooga, Chicago, Coco Beach, Dallas, Diamond Bar, Essex Falls, Hays, Kalispel, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Palm Springs, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Clarita, Seattle, Tulsa, and Palm Springs. Canadian cities include Bonnyville, Brandon, Calgary, Cold Lake, Edmonton, Kelowna, Lac la Biche, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Simcoe County, Toronto, Vancouver, Westminster, and Winnipeg.
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