Parking Lot Rules & 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children - by Tom Sturges (Paperback)

About the Book

Philosophical, sensible, and empowering, these 76 ideas for raising healthy, happy children subscribe to a simple premise: It is impossible to respect a child too much, but it is worth the effort to try.

Book Synopsis

When Tom Sturges became a father, he wanted to be the greatest father who ever walked the earth. So Sturges asked a lot of questions. He picked up ideas, advice, and tips from parents, grandparents, even rock stars and sports legends-anyone who had unique insights to share. The result is this practical, inspiring rule book for raising healthy, happy, safe, and cherished children. Philosophical, sensible, and empowering, these 76 ideas include such gems as:

- Teach your children that they have to follow the "Parking Lot Rules" whenever they are in (you guessed it) a parking lot. They must stay close. There is to be no trailing behind. No racing ahead. No exceptions.
- Let your child feel welcome and loved from the instant he or she walks into a room. "Smile When You See Them," and leave no doubt that, at that moment, your child is the most important person in your world.
- Since parents who yell intimidate, and those who use a calm tone inspire, "When You Get Upset, Whisper"-and make sure your message is heard.
- Follow "The Bill Walton Rule" If you can't be on time, be early.
- When your children accomplish something great in sports, use "The ESPN Rule" by telling the story in intimate detail and filling them with the belief that they can do it again and again.

Parking Lot Rules puts a fresh new spin on parenting, in an inspiring handbook full of heart and kindness that will resonate with joy and meaning for parents and children everywhere.

Review Quotes

"A well-written, entertaining, and supremely practical guide to leading our kids into adulthood safely and strongly. Even as a so-called parenting expert, I found myself surprised by Sturges's creative solutions and strongly motivated to put them into place in my own home."--Hal Runkel, family therapist and author of ScreamFree Parenting

"Packed with practical insights, wisdom and fun, Parking Lot Rules hits the bull's eye when it comes to helping our children. Every parent must read it."--Meg Meeker, M.D., author of Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters

"Tom Sturges has gotten the recipe for parenting just right: five parts love, three parts struggle, two parts humor and a dollop of wisdom. His suggestions for a wide variety of parenting problems are practical and funny. I wish I'd read these rules (especially "Almost Always Skip the First Thing That Comes to Mind") before I'd raised my two children."--Michael Thompson, Ph.D., co-author of Raising Cain

About the Author

Tom Sturges is a mentor, teacher, coach, and volunteer, and the father of two sons, now ages ten and sixteen. He is Executive Vice President and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group.

Many of the ideas in Parking Lot Rules were nuanced and matured while he mentored a group of 32 at-risk children at a South Central Los Angeles public school. He received commendations from several civic and national leaders for these years of volunteerism and this story will be told in the forthcoming documentary, Witness To A Dream.

Tom also created a learning program that develops creativity in children via the writing of lyrics, melodies and recording the finished songs. Every Idea Is A Good Idea has been an integral element of the MBUSD Gate Program for five of the last six years, reaching more than 360 students. Tom also teaches The Music Business Now at UCLA Extension, a course central to the UCLA-E Music Business Certificate Program.

Sturges, who lives in Manhattan Beach, California, is a golfer, and an inventor and the son of legendary writer & director Preston Sturges. He is also the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Academy Of Recording Arts & Sciences.

Parking Lot Rules & 75 Other Ideas For Raising Amazing Children is his first book.