Welcome to Parenting Magic

My name is Dennis and I have four wonderful daughters.  Over twenty years ago I got this great idea to have a family.

While my wife was pregnant with our first daughter I decided to do a little research and see what I was getting into. The more I read the more I felt I needed to know. This learning process involved dozens of library books. I attended a couple of excellent seminars, including all the cassette tapes and books. I assembled a complete library of my own about how to raise happy, healthy and highly motivated children with high self-esteem.

Several years later I felt I had enough knowledge to become a competent parent. My youngest daughter is ten years old and not a day goes by that I don't use some of that knowledge. My oldest daughter is doing her doctorate work at Yale University. My second daughter is working hard to dual major in music business and music production at Berklee College of Music.  My third daughter is a delightful high school student.  She is an accomplished pianist and active in chorus and drama as well as being an exceptional student. Daughter number four is a promising sixth grader and excellent clarinet player.

I am convinced that these simple principals, properly applied, will produce outstanding children.  By reading some of the pages on this site I am sure you will find ways to improve your parenting skills.  You will find all of the key topics to help you with your goal of raising brighter children with high self esteem.

As you spend some time browsing the pages of Parenting Magic I am sure you will find a lot of tips that do work like magic.  Good parenting is not about always being the bad guy just to keep your kids inline.  It is about making children want to be good on their own so you can enjoy being a good parent. 

This is a quick tip that truly does work like magic.  If you want your child to do something use this simple procedure.  Ask - Tell - Promise   Start by asking your child to do something.  If you do not receive a favorable response tell the child to do it.  My way of telling the child is usually a stern "now" or sometimes just a certain look that means I am serious.    I seldom ever go beyond this request.   None of my children ever want me to promise them they will do something.  I never spank or mistreat my kids in any way but I do have ways, that will all be explained, to get my kids attention.  One of my major pet peeves is listening to a parent tell a child over and over again to do something.  A lot of times this ends in the parent giving up and the child winning the battle.  A parent must be an authority figure, you cannot lose battles.  A win - win situation is always best, but you cannot lose.  I enjoy being around my children. I seldom have to yell or get mad at them.  I believe that is what good parenting is all about.

Enjoy this site and I hope somewhere in these pages you find some answers or tips that may help you as a parent.  I also hope you will share your successes with me and my site visitors.  Helpful tips for raising brighter children are always welcome.