Why Attachment Matters
In the episode "What Is a Healthy Parent? Marriage and Healthy Co-Parenting" from Faith Together, hosts Dr. Leon Blanchette and Lindsey Bush are joined by Dr. Lisa Gassin, a psychologist and professor at Olivet Nazarene University. Together, they dive into the key elements of healthy parenting: love and structure. Dr. Gassin shares insights on how these foundational principles build trust and foster strong parent-child relationships, which are essential for passing down faith to the next generation. The discussion also touches on overcoming challenges in family dynamics and the importance of seeking help when needed. This episode offers practical advice and encouragement for parents navigating the journey of raising children in faith.
A Few Books Dr. Gassin Likes
Please note: these are not books written from an explicitly Christian perspective, but they are either tried and true communication advice (Book 1) or based on extensive research (Books 2 & 3). It is always wise for us, as Christians, to read with a discerning heart, but the vast majority of information in these books is consistent with a Christian worldview and can be useful as we build our families.
You may find different covers on the actual book you find, as there have been several editions of at least the first two of these.
This book is a classic in terms of communication with children. It is part of the “How to talk” series, and you can find other version focused on teens and very young children. Depending on the edition you get, there may be goofy stick figure drawings in it, but the info is still solid! The skills here are a crucial part of parenting, although they may not be enough for a comprehensive disciplinary plan in those cases where one is needed.
Dr. John Gottman is probably the most prolific and influential researcher in the USA on healthy marriages. You can find this book and other research-based resources on his website, www.gottman.com. Some of the information in this book will be helpful for all sorts of relationships, not just marriage.
This is a different sort of parenting book. It’s not so much about telling you how to relate to your child, but it leads you through a combination of information about child development and questions to help you think about your own upbringing. Such questions are important, in that they help us reflect on what we unconsciously learned about ourselves and parenting as we grew up. This reflection, in turn, allows us to be more deliberate in our choices about how we interact with our own children.