The Real Purpose of Parenting

The Book You Wish Your Parents Read

By: Dr. Phillip B Dembo

Narrated by: Dr. Phillip B Dembo

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

The Real Purpose of Parenting is a series of stories and life lessons from the world of a therapist, known as The Parent Coach. Very well-intentioned, well meaning parents are at the point of crisis with their kids because their own best parenting efforts are NOT producing the children they want them to be. And there, according to Dr. Phil Dembo, lies the problem.

In The Real Purpose of Parenting, even the best parents are capable of smothering the growth of their kid’s life. This can happen because the truth of who the child is, and what the child truly needs is often overlooked or ignored in the agenda that many parents lay out for their kids. Thus...often landing the family in a colossal melt down.

Dr. Dembo shows simple family “turn around” strategies that reframe the real purpose of parenting and gives each family, and child, their own salvation.

©2012 Dr. Phillip B. Dembo (P)2012 Gildan Media, LLC

Critic reviews

“If only we all could have had Dr. Phil Dembo as our father! His book reads less as a self-help manual and more like insights from a wise elder.” (Vickie Falcone, M.A., author of Buddha Never Raised Kids & Jesus Didn’t Drive Carpool: Seven Principles for Parenting With Soul)

A Parenting "must read" essential

This is wonderfully written, easily understood and very logical. If you are a parent of a challenging teenager, this is a great reference for motivation and consequences.

Simply Awesome

What did you love best about The Real Purpose of Parenting?

The concepts and philosophy are so important for every parent and every child. Hearing it from the authors own voice made it that much more powerful. Simply an awesome experience!

What did you like best about this story?

There were so many stories in this book that are relevant to life and families today. I found myself having trouble turning off the audio.

Have you listened to any of Dr. Phillip B Dembo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

To my knowledge, this is his first performance and I felt he was just wonderful. His passion could be felt in every word he spoke.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Real Purpose Of Parenting
The Film You Wish Your Parents Saw

All parents need to hear this

If you could sum up The Real Purpose of Parenting in three words, what would they be?

An important book

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the real stories the author told in his own voice. It felt so personal, like I was sitting in the same room with Dr. Dembo and he was talking directly to me. I could relate to all of the stories that he told.

Have you listened to any of Dr. Phillip B Dembo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have heard Dr. Dembo speak before. He is a wonderful speaker. He has a great voice and is enjoyable to listen to.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

One thing that I will remember from the book is to respond to my children, not react.

Any additional comments?

I wish everyone would listen to Dr.Dembo's words. They are very important to all parents and children.

must read/listen for all, parents or future parent

Really insightful and right on the dot. I wish my parent had had this knowledge and will make sure to apply this teaching for the benefit of my children.
Thank you Dr Dembo

MUST READ/LISTEN AUDIO BOOK FOR FATHERS!!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Real Purpose of Parenting the most enjoyable?

The author relates to the readers with authentic experience and is emotionally one with the reader's concern to succeed as a father.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me reflect and think on my personal parenting choices and how they affect my children long term. It made me confront the reality of parenting, the seriousness of its effect on another human being (my kids), and helped me to realistically assess my overall parenting/leadership/role-model/coaching skills.

Any additional comments?

this book will convince and convict you to try harder to love, forgive, be patient, be a coach, be a leader, be a motivator, be a good listener, and be understanding to your children.

A wonderful book

Would you listen to The Real Purpose of Parenting again? Why?

Yes as it has real life examples with helpful insights

What did you like best about this story?

The frankness and honesty

Have you listened to any of Dr. Phillip B Dembo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Children live out their own experiences not our picture of what those experiences should be

Any additional comments?

Worth every cent and more

Nuggets of wisdom let down by poor delivery

As a new parent I found a lot of value in certain elements of this book.

I love the idea that the role of parents is to coach and guide the development of their child through the perspective of the child's emotional experience rather than to force behaviour based on the parent's picture of the way a child should be and act. To respond rather than react. There are good uses of stories as both examples and warnings spread throughout the book which are used to illustrate this theme.

This core concept is very much let down by its delivery, both the in the writing style and, to a greater extent, the narration.

The narrator (the author himself) has an extremely nasal voice and a very monotone delivery. At times he seems bored by his own writing. The attempts at humour throughout the book fall somewhat flat, and a few areas of the book have an almost smug tone to them.

Despite the drawbacks of the narration, there is still great value to be found in this book. I will definitely take some of the ideas (leaving a few others) and try to incorporate them into my approach as a parent.

This book changed my life and relationships!!

Where does The Real Purpose of Parenting rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is one of the shortest but also the most profound books on audible!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Real Purpose of Parenting?

The stories that he tells hit so close to home. The entire book was full of memorable moments. I will not forget any of the hypothetical family characters.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration takes a while to get used to. Dr. Dembo has a strong Midwest accent. He does a great job of narrating once you get used to the accent. I'm glad I kept listening!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story of the family whose oldest son is in law school, the story of the girl who asked for more time with her parents, and the overall concept of a persons identity vs. their family's expectations of them were all very moving. They helped me understand, as a 26 yr old, why I felt so lost and unhappy, and how to confront those feelings without 'going underground.'

Any additional comments?

Please write more books Dr. Dembo!!!!!!!!!!!

Best parenting book and life book I've ever read

If you could sum up The Real Purpose of Parenting in three words, what would they be?

Fantastic. Life changing.

What did you like best about this story?

How simply understood his message was.

What does Dr. Phillip B Dembo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He reads this book, so the flow and heart in the book resonates through his voice.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Real Purpose of Parenting?

I am currently putting into practice what I learned from Dr. Dembo with my nephew who is being raised by my parents. I also have a little girl and don't want to parent how my parents' parented. Understanding the dynamics of family struggles and clarifying the pitfalls we go through will help guide me to respond and not react.

Any additional comments?

Dr. Dembo is absolutely amazing!!!! I wish I had known him when I was younger. I wish my parents had known him. The world will be a much better place with this book.

Great story, but hard to listen to.

I thoroughly enjoyed the message Dr. Bembo had to share in this book. His take on parenting is inspiring and I hope I am able to implement a lot of the advice.

On the down side his voice and inflection were a bit dry to listen to. Things like speaking the word "sigh" instead of just sighing was a bit weird for me. But he is a doctor not a voice talent so I tried to look past that.