The Antithesis of Tiger Mother: New Book by Dr. Andrea Weiner, Founder of Emotionally Smart Beginnings

The Antithesis of Tiger Mother: New Book by Dr. Andrea Weiner, Founder of Emotionally Smart Beginnings

More Than Saying I Love You: 4 Powerful Steps That Help Children Love Themselves

Dr. Andrea “Andie” Weiner, founder of Emotionally Smart Beginnings, social and emotional expert says, “Every child is born loving, yet this birthright of love can be eroded by home and outside environments causing unloving behaviors. In her newest book, More Than Saying I Love You: 4 Powerful Steps that Help Children Love Themselves, Dr. Andie shares her tools, tips and exercises guiding parents on how to instill this skill set of self-love into their child’s life.

“It is a common belief that by saying 'I Love You' it translates into a child loving his or her self. Teaching and instilling self-love is more than saying those three words for a child to know and understand their own birthright of love and to be able to tap into that reservoir of unlimited love, compassion and acceptance they are entitled to,” explains Dr. Andie.

More Than Saying I Love You is Dr. Andie’s 18-year journey of teaching self-love to her daughter, Aly. Chapters begin with love letters to Aly, sharing childhood memories – from Aly being teased about her “yellow hair” to questioning herself about getting into college – to help illustrate each lesson she was intent on teaching her daughter.

The four steps are first defined; explained for what purpose; demonstrated with exercises and finally, summarized with “heartfelt points”:

• Creating internal appreciation
• Instilling empathetic acceptance
• Embracing truth or consequences
• Living loving kindness

The results from these steps are children who love themselves and appreciate their talents. They are accepting of who they are, make good choices, and live with their best interest in mind. By living these behaviors and being accepting and compassionate towards themselves, they can in turn be the same towards their friends, peers, siblings, and parents. “Today we see the lack of self-love. Bullying leading to children committing suicides. Sexting and increased teen pregnancies,” she explains, comes from the erosion of being born a loving being. “If you loved yourself, would you abuse your body with drugs or alcohol? Would you choose to cheat rather than have the confidence and pride to study in order to pass a test? If you are looking for an antidote to many of the social issues plaguing children then help them learn to love themselves. It’s probably the best gift any parent can give their children,” she adds.

Parents of children of all ages will find this book a valuable tool for teaching self-love. It is also Dr. Andie’s hope that parents will learn that this journey is not a unicycle but a tandem ride, and that within this journey, just as she did, all can learn to be more loving towards themselves.

Dr. Andrea Weiner has her doctorate in education and is a child therapist who has concentrated her research on children’s social and emotional well-being for the past 25 years. Her first book The Best Investment: Unlocking the Secrets of Social Success in Your Child has been praised by parents and educators. She is a frequent guest on television and radio talk shows and popular speaker.

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Katherine E. Sansone, 888-553-0235