Family First: Your Step-By-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family

by Phillip C. McGraw

Book Overview

Do you feel that your family is not what it used to be, or what it has the potential to be? Do you worry that the parenting decisions you're making today may be scarring your child for life? Do you sometimes feel you are in a tug-of-war with the world over who will shape your child's values and beliefs?
With Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family, Dr. Phil offers a new classic on family life -- and gives...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743264932
• ISBN13: 9780743264938
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Review of Dr. Phil's "Family First"

I checked out a copy of "Family First" from the public library. By the time I read a few chapters I returned the library's copy and bought my own. The chapter on "Parenting Style" is worth the price of the book, especially for the little test to determine if your style is authoritarian, equalitarian or permissive. Also helpful is the test to determine if your child is rebellious, cooperative or passive. It is important to know something of your own personality and your child's to determine how you (and your spouse) are going to teach and discipline. I teach "Marriage and Family" for a college and I will be incorporating these two tests in my curriculum. Also, I really enjoyed the stories he told about family. One particularly moving story is when his dad would not let him drive one night because of bad weather. Even though Phil argued his case and lost, he says he is glad his dad didn't relent. His parents loved him enough to set up boundaries. They valued Phil's life more than they did his agreement on their decisions. His dad was decisive and strong and Phil respected that. Phil apologized to his friend for ruining the plans. His friend looked at him with tear filled eyes and said, "I wish my parents cared enough about me to tell me I couldn't go. They wouldn't care if I drove straight off a cliff." Phil writes, "It struck me that though John had asked his parents for permission to go to the game, what he had really needed was for them to provide some boundaries and leadership." (Pp.157-58). Parents, even though discipline is sometimes difficult, it does communicate to our children that we care. I like to use Dr. Phil's book in conjunction with Dr. James Dobson's "The New Strong-Willed Child" and "Parenting Isn't for Cowards" in parenting classes and situations that I teach. (See my reviews on the Dobson books). I recommend all three books.

Useful advice for parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.

Heard the cassette version of FAMILY FIRST, written and read by Dr. Phil McGraw . . . even if you're not a parent or grandparent, methinks you'll find useful advice here about improving any family . . . and it would be a good book for present or prospective teachers to read, in that it contains suggestions as to how to both better understand and relate to children of all ages. In listening, I got the same feeling that I do when seeing Dr. Phil on television--only better, if that's possible . . . it was like having him in front of me, telling me what can and has worked . . . however, I also liked how he gave examples (many from his own life) of times when things didn't work--and what could have been done differently. Perhaps most significantly, I took away this one idea that can be applied to virtually any situation: Don't say you can't contain your anger. That's not true. What is true is that you don't control your temper, as you do when at church, work or at a restaurant with friends. In addition, if you want to create the "phenomenal family" that the author frequently mentions, you'll find the following thoughts helpful: * If there are any problems with a child, the family has to be looked at too. * Continually ask yourself: What can I do today to make my family better? * Best time to get a divorce: When you are past the hurt feelings. * If you want your children to be able to handle anger, then you have to be able to handle it yourself. * The things in life you wont' regret will be the things you don't do. * Provide family members with at least one supportive statement each day. * Don't tell a child what NOT to do.

Thank Heavens for Dr. Phil.

I find Dr. Phil's newest book just super. I have been stuggling with a way for my family to really spend some quality time together.In chapter 3 he gives some great ideas about how to spend time with your family and how to make your kids want to spend more time with you. Although I am not done with the whole book I am really looking forward to reading more words of wisdom from an incredible family man.

Family First.

The title says it all. If your family is dysfunctional, how can your children be successful? I like the no-nonsense approach Dr. Phil brings to all issues regarding family, and I like that he urges us to take responsibility for our own behavior and actions. It is up to us as parents. I also like that he has step-by-step instructions of how to take charge of your family and turn it around.

A good cause

If there's anyone who can tell it like it is, it's Dr. Phil. My wife has turned to him for support in these past years, and has bought each of his books hot off the presses. Her enthusiasm used to baffle me, but then I retired and settle down with her on the couch for what is like a good home-therapy session. We've been looking forward to the family first series on the show, and now that the book - the handbook, the guidebook, is out we read it and are buying copies of it for our children so that our grandkids grow up happier and healthier. Not to say my kids don't know what they're doing, but everyone can use a little bit of help and guidance along the way. This guy's a real honest-to-goodness expert and he knows what he's saying. Having raised three children, I just wish he was around then, telling me what my parenting style is so I could have related better to my kids. My kids struggle with disciplining their kids in these days of no-spanking. I think Dr Phil has some solutions for them. Go out and buy this one, study it, and pass it along! It's for a good cause - there's nothing more important than family.