I am constantly looking for good parenting books to read so that I can continue to improve my parenting skills and adjust my focus as my children age and things change. Our family is entering the teenage years, and I am blessed with wonderful children who continue to enjoy homeschooling and being around mom and dad. However, I am praying daily that their love for us and desire to be near us continues even as they grow more independent. I also desire for them to end up confident, happy, and productive adults. As I was growing up, society placed a lot of emphasis on raising successful children, which meant a huge focus on good grades, good SAT scores, and getting into the right college. I am fortunate that my parents also taught me a good values and moral system to guide me through my life.

I have been seriously praying for God to show me the path to take while homeschooling my children during middle and high school, and this book was given to me to review. Coincidence? I think not! When I first started homeschooling, it was all about filling my kid's minds with lots of facts and making sure they got straight As. But lately I have been wanting to focus more on character study and teaching my children to have a heart of service for others as well as gratitude for the lives they are leading. Raising Kids for True Greatness does not focus merely on training children for lives of notoriety and wealth. Instead, the author tells the parent that "grace is the phenomenal power behind true greatness" and that "true greatness is a passionate love for God that demonstrates itself in an unquenchable love and concern for others." Bingo! That's exactly what I've been feeling that I should be zeroing in on with the children. After I read those statements, I knew that God had placed this book in my hands as an encouragement to follow Him.

The book is full of lists of "Ten Ways to ____" for the parent to share with the child. There are lists for any aspect of parenting you can think of: how to be a great friend, classmate, teammate, or member of the family as well as how to have a heart toward God. Dr. Kimmel reminds parents that we are models of behavior for our children. They are watching how we behave as an employee, friend, and spouse. If we expect greatness out of our children, we must first behave in a way that puts God first and shows a servant's heart. If we teach one thing and do another, our teachings are not going to have much of an impact, are they?

Dr. Kimmel doesn't exactly "put down" the parent who is aiming their child toward wealth or fame, but he attempts to redirect that focus. He notes that wealth does not equal greatness, but true greatness may lead to wealth! I am very grateful to have had the chance to read and review this book. It came at just the right time for me. If you want your children to achieve true greatness, you need to read this book!

Product review by Kris Price, Assistant to the Publishers, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, October 2006