Book Recommendation for Educators and Parents -Keepers of the Children

Keepers of the Children
Native American Wisdom and Parenting

by Laura Ramirez

Excerpt from a review written by Bob Collier of Parental Intelligence:

In her book Keepers of the Children, Laura Ramirez has combined her expertise in child development with her understanding of Native

American perceptions and the customs and rituals that have grown

from them to produce and analysis of the art and science of successful

parenting that's both comprehensive and highly original.

This is much more than a 'training manual' for the aspiring parent. It's

a deeply spiritual book that explores important issues of human nature

and development that transcend both Native American and 'western'

cultures. It will appeal to parents of all races and creeds who desire

to expand their abilities beyond the mere mechanics of 'child management' to the attainment of true parenting success.

This book once read, can be referred to again and again for good ideas,

for comfort and support, for hope and inspiration. Virtually every page is a reminder of something we can do as parents to make the world a better place for our children and for ourselves and others.

Here's an excerpt from a review by Marilee Niehoff, Ph.D. published in the July 2005 edition of AHP Perspectives. It was written from the perspective of a mother of five and practicing psychologist of thirty years.

Keepers of the Children emphasizes the mutuality the author

identifies in parent-child relationships. While other parenting

books may be overly child-centered or focused on the parents'

actions, this book builds a conceptualization of childrearing that

asks the parents to engage in a process of self-analyzing where

they are in their own spiritual journey. Critical to this process is the

entering into awareness of how childrearing can be a vital aspect

of personal growth and maturation for both parents and children.

She begins with a story and then urges her reader to reflect on what

kind of story they have been creating for their child. In doing this, she

seeks to draw the parent into a mode that operates from vision, rather

than from fear. Throughout the book, she guides parents toward an

appreciation and acknowledgement for their child's uniqueness. Giving

their child a secondary, spiritual name can be an important symbol of

this.

Establishing healthy rhythms within family life also plays and essential

part in creating an environment for this relationship to flourish. Ramirez looks at the way discipline, the establishment of family codes, ritual dialogue building and conscious commitment all form an important process whereby "your child becomes the muse to the sage in you and you become the leaping-off point for your child."

As a mother of five children, four girls and a boy, I think this book is

excellent for the fact that it sees parenting as an organic process, a

relationship that must be constantly assessed and tended to as a living

thing. This is not a book with stock answers about every child: rather, it formulates the beginning of a process that will have unique meanings and outcomes for each individual.

Developmental psychology has much to learn from Native American

philosophy as this book seamlessly illustrates. The richness of the culture lends itself to key insights which add depth and meaning to the dialogue on parenting.

I have worked in developmental psychology my entire life and early on became sensitized to American indigenous culture as a deeply informing social, cultural, and spiritual resource. This book is an excellent starting place for people of all races, creeds and backgrounds to formulate questions that look on their own unique identity and tradition as an important resource for their growth and parenting process.

As [the author] herself urges, "the time is ripe. The children await you."