Elevate Your Parenting,
Elevate Your Life
With insightful books, expert guidance from a renowned child and adult psychiatrist, and a community of high-achieving parents, you'll uncover troves of knowledge each month that will change the way you think about parenthood.
NICE TO MEET YOU
I'm Dr. Marissa Caudill
I've had the privilege of working with thousands of families in my 15 years as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. In my clinical work, especially with adolescents and their parents, I was often struck by difficulty both parents and teens had in changing their responses to each other. Although they both were trying their hardest, ingrained interaction styles had become problematic and were causing heartache and suffering. Even when both parents and child were trying their hardest, they were often stuck in a painful pattern. I found myself wondering, "What if I had met these children and parents 5-10 years earlier? What if, during those formative years, we could have paved paths that helped them build trust and open communication?"
This is now my dream, to work with as many parents of pre-teen kids as possible, to help parents forge strong bonds, define shared family values, inspire their kids with masterful emotion regulation, practice gratitude, embrace and celebrate failure in order to build grit and persistence, and live lives that their kids will view as worth growing up to live.
Now, I invite you to join me on a journey of proactive parenting with The Empowered Parents Book Club.
Check out our book list for 2024 →OUR 2024 BOOK LIST
(Purchasing through these links will make a small donation to The Parent Doctor Foundation at no additional cost to you)
JANUARY
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen R. Covey
This book by Stephen R. Covey imparts practical wisdom for family success. Advocating family meetings, promise-keeping, and balance, Covey guides a shift from dependence to interdependence, enhancing family bonds. His concise insights offer invaluable tools for the well-being of families.
FEBRUARY
The Family Board Meeting by Jim & Jamie Sheils
This book introduces a three-step method for building lasting connections with your children. This global phenomenon reduces screen time dependency and enhances parent-child bonds, fostering authenticity and increased happiness at home. The guide assures a delightful and meaningful experience, creating an enduring family legacy in minutes.
MARCH
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
In "The Gap and the Gain," Dr. Benjamin Hardy introduces a transformative concept: measuring progress against your former self, "The Gain," instead of an unattainable ideal, "The Gap." This positive psychology approach boosts motivation, confidence, and future success, offering a straightforward path to happiness and achievement.
APRIL
Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck
In "Mindset," psychologist Carol S. Dweck unveils the power of mindset in shaping success. Contrasting fixed and growth mindsets, she explores how belief in the ability to develop skills leads to thriving. Dweck extends her insights to parenting, teaching, management, and athletics, introducing the idea of a false growth mindset and delving into a deeper, truer growth mindset. Beyond individuals, she applies the concept to group cultures, providing insights on motivating and transforming lives.
MAY
The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
"The Whole-Brain Child" by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson offers 12 science-backed parenting strategies, simplifying the understanding that a child's decision-making brain is developing. With age-specific tips, it empowers parents to foster balanced emotional and intellectual growth, creating a healthier parent-child connection through actionable neuroscience insights.
JUNE
Brainstorm by Dr. Dan Siegel
In "Brainstorm," Daniel Siegel challenges misconceptions about adolescence, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping adult selves. Contrary to viewing it as mere "immaturity," Siegel explores how adolescence teaches crucial life skills, offering a roadmap for understanding the adolescent mind through an inside-out approach rooted in brain development research.
JULY
The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber
"The Opposite of Spoiled" by Ron Lieber advocates open conversations about money with children to raise financially wise and grounded young adults. Providing practical guidance, Lieber addresses topics from the tooth fairy to part-time jobs, offering a values-based philosophy and a blueprint for instilling virtues like generosity and modesty.
Get the book here
AUGUST
How to Raise an Adult
"How to Raise an Adult" by Julie Lythcott-Haims challenges helicopter parenting, advocating for a philosophy that fosters self-sufficient young adults. Drawing on research and personal experiences, Lythcott-Haims exposes the harms of over-parenting, offering practical strategies for fostering resilience and inner determination. A rallying cry for competent, confident next generations.
SEPTEMBER
Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields
In "Raising Good Humans," embrace mindful parenting for kind, confident kids. Break free from reactive habits with powerful strategies. Navigate challenges using mindfulness skills for stress, respectful communication, conflict resolution, and reflective listening. Break generational patterns, respond skillfully, and create a positive impact for kids and future generations.
OCTOBER
Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace
"Never Enough" by Jennifer Breheny Wallace delves into the pressure on students to succeed and the resulting mental health challenges. Wallace investigates toxic achievement culture, tying it to societal issues like income inequality. Drawing on interviews and a parent survey, the book exposes the pervasive notion tying a child's value solely to achievements. Insights from child psychologists emphasize the importance of children feeling valued for who they are, not just their accomplishments.
NOVEMBER
Thrivers
In "Thrivers," Michele Borba addresses rising stress and mental health struggles in high-achieving students. Drawing on 40 years of experience, Borba identifies seven character traits essential for success and happiness, offering practical ways to instill them in children, empowering them to thrive.
DECEMBER
The Self-Driven Child
"The Self-Driven Child" by Ned Johnson and Dr. William Stixrud addresses stress and motivation in high-performing kids. Their solution focuses on giving children agency and control, drawing on brain science and behavioral therapy. The book provides concrete advice, emphasizing the importance of allowing kids to make meaningful decisions for true independence and success.
Get the book hereHow does the book club work?
Sign Up To the Book Club for Free
Just click any of the green buttons, share your name and email, and you're in! Expect a fun email with links & schedules.
Join the Facebook Group
We will email you a link to our Book Club's Facebook group where you can interact with other parents on topics related to the books, or any general parenting concerns.
Get the Book for the Month
Get a hard or audio copy of the monthly book and dive in!
You can get your copy (sometimes at a discounted price) from this page or from our emails.
Join our live virtual Book Club
Join me in the Facebook group for the monthly live Zoom session. I will share a summary and insights about the book, and you can ask me any questions or make comments. Please join even if you haven't read the book!