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

Well let me just say Dr. Phil has done it again. This is an amazing book that comes from the heart. Dr. Phil uses the story of his own life experiences growing up in this book. He shares personal and I'm sure quite hurtful memories from his own childhood. Whether you have yet to start your family, have just started a family, or if you have been a family for a long time this book has something for you to grow as a person and as a parent.I know I personally got this book to help me change my ways as a parent because my ways weren't working and it wasn't fair to my family. This book has made such a huge difference in how I am raising my family, and of course kids don't like change but once they realized I wasn't going to revert back to my old ways they finally came around and our home is finally a peaceful home, and we only have the help of Dr. Phil and some work on our part to thank.I highly recommend this book to anybody who is living in a home where peace and quiet never seem to exist, where teenagers think they run the show, where discipline is lacking and so is structure. This book will change your life if your willing to put in the work needed to change. It won't help if you don't work at changing your ways. But when you are ready than this is the book you will need. You won't regret it and your family and friends will thank you, because whether you know it or not everyone around you can see the disfunction in your family. Trust me it wasn't until after applying everything we learned and the kids started going along with the new program. I had people say wow, now I actually won't mind having you all over, then would tell me how the old us really came across to everyone. It was a real eye opener for us, and we won't ever revert back to our old ways. Ever.

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.

Wonderful and an amazing book, it comes in handy with so much amazing information.

The CD set contains 6 CD's with a downloadable PDF file (75 pages) that replaces the workbook. The workbook is 200+ pages but is MUCH more broken down if you need that.The program is interactive, pausing now and then for you to read from the printout. However, the CDs are good to play in the background or in the car for refreshing or letting it sink in.The PDF file needs Adobe Reader (free online) to print. I had trouble doing this. I realized that after downloading Adobe Reader I had to go into my start-up menu and search for Adobe, right click it and create a shortcut for the desktop. Put in the cd, open Adobe Reader and go to File, select "open", and from the drop-down box at the top select the Drive the says "family First". The PDF file will appear and you can print it out.I have the book and find the CDs much easier to follow and find time for. I synced it to my Ipod and can knit/wash dishes etc while I listen. My kids can play and be loud without disrupting my "reading".

The book arrived in a timely manner. It was in great condition. We have added to our library collection.

Enjoying this book. Picking up some good things, I was looking for a little different area of help with a situation, it sounded like this book may have covered topic I was looking for, but hasn't as yet. Still in all a good read and Dr. Phil always good tips to pick up to help improve and help make me a better contributor to my family.

First off I have to admit that I was already a big fan of Dr. Phil coming in but I do love this book on tape. Some of the valuable lessons I learned in this book are:-to compromise and negotiate with your kids-to let them define their own path in life-not to set consequences that are impractically harsh-to have your kids take pride in the family they belong to and be proud they are a...(McGraw, etc. fill in blank)-And to establish customs and routines that are special to your family

I had been looking for this book all over, none of the book stores around where I live carried it. My daughter mentioned to check Amazon, so I checked and found the book I was looking for and couldn't belive the price, $6.00, I was very surprised, I placed my order and received it in 3 days from the time I ordered it.I was very happy with how fast I received it and it was in great shape. I will, again shop with Amazon, it was a great experience.Thank you,Maria

Some great tips, even for a UK reader, and useful advice. I like the tone of Dr Phil. he is not patronising and you feel like the advice really makes sense.

Very informative, good read

You can't even begin to imagine how this book changed our family's lives!I had a 14 y.o. daughter who was angry and controlling... and out of control. I'm here to tell you it's never too late to put into practice what is recommended in this book. I followed, step by step, every one of the recommendations in this book and it works! Now I recommend this book to everyone I know whether they have difficult children or not.Thank you Dr. Phil for writing this awesome life-saving book!

I have no family on my own yet, but this was a great read so that I know now what to expect, and what is the right and wrong way to do things in the family. It is not very detailed, but some great general advice and common sense. A framework for harmonious home.

Havent even had time to read it, but lets be real.. we all know its going to be good .. Dr Phil is the bomb