Reading Guide Questions

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Discussion Questions from Rosalind Wiseman:

1. How do your own experiences as a child and teen impact your parenting now? How do these experiences impact your interaction with other children—especially if they are mean to your child?
2. In your experience what types of moms and dads from the book have you encountered that you struggle with the most? How do you usually react to them?
3. What are your feelings about Perfect Parent World? Do you think it impacts your community? Do you know of times when it has influenced your behavior?
4. Have you had a "fern moment"? Did you ever convince yourself to come out and talk to the person?
5. How relevant was Chapter 4, the filters chapter to you? What was your reaction to it? Which part could you relate to the most?
6. Why can parents be so reluctant to apologize for their child's behavior?
7. Can you think of times when you have denied your own child's wrongdoing? Why was it so hard to admit?
8. How do parents involvement in school help or hurt the school and their own child's experience in school?
9. Have you ever coached your child's team? What were the things you liked about it and what were the things you found challenging?
10. What stops a parent from confronting another parent when they are angry or upset about something another child has done?
11. What "Check Your Baggage" section did you relate to the most?
12. What part of the book did you agree with the most?
13. What part of the book did you disagree with the most?
     

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Three Rivers. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.