Dr. Ray Guarendi Archives - Amazing Catechists

3 Awesome Catholic Parenting Books

Dr. Ray has been a trusted source of advice for parents for decades. He is the father of 10 adopted children, has a show on EWTN, and has written numerous books to help parents. I also enjoyed his recent interview on the Lila Rose Show.

Here are some of his recent books that we have enjoyed and found helpful!

Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime: The Best Gift You Can Give Your Kids

by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Published by EWTN

I always enjoy Dr. Ray’s books. They are laid out in a logical manner, and he is an excellent (and entertaining!) writer and teacher. This book is a collection of the many FAQs that parents have asked him about disciplining their kids. This book includes 10 chapters that are jam packed with the best Catholic parenting around. After raising his own kids and helping countless families, Dr. Ray knows what he is talking about.

Read my full review here.

Drama-Free Discipline

by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Published by EWTN

This book is composed of short scenarios or dialogues written in the form of a play or script. When I read them, I could see the scene unfolding with the parents and children. He sets each “scene” with a prologue, and interjects into the dialogue with his advice and tips. He corrects where the parent could improve, and he offers advice that would discipline and teach the child in a more effective way. The scenarios start with the toddler years, and progresses all the way through the teen years. Each scenario ends with an epilogue to give Dr. Ray’s closing advice and thoughts. These were my favorite, as they were often witty and made me chuckle.

Read my full review here.

Being a Grandparent: Just Like Being a Parent…Only Different

by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Published by EWTN

This one is for the grandparents! In this book, Dr. Guarendi devotes time to a variety of difficulties that may emerge in family relations. But, unlike other books I’ve seen, he peppers common-sense ideas in the midst of these situations.

Some examples would be: grown children moving back home after a separation or divorce, difficulty getting along with a son or daughter-in-law, dealing with different parenting opinions, and even situations when grandchildren are used as pawns and visits are curtailed.

Read our full review here.

Being a Grandparent: Just Like Being a Parent…Only Different

By Mary Linge

Being a Grandparent: Just Like Being a Parent…Only Different

by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Published by Sophia Institute Press

As a seasoned grandparent and now a great-grandparent, I really enjoyed this Being a Grandparent: Just Like Being a Parent…Only Different. It is a practical handbook for first-time grandparents as well as seasoned ones – you can always learn some new things, right?

Dr. Ray’s Approach

The chapter titles all gave me a chuckle. Dr. Guarendi speaks from experience after many years as a clinical-psychologist for young and old. He has heard the dilemmas of parents and grandparents as well as their children of varied ages.

His approach to problems that families experience is full of common-sense and good humor. He covers many situations that didn’t exist when these grandparents were raising their kids (who are now parents of their own). He covers materialism, technology, different marital situations and the world we’re living in.

What Sets This Book Apart

Dr. Guarendi devotes time to a variety of difficulties that may emerge in family relations. But, unlike other books I’ve seen, he peppers common-sense ideas in the midst of these situations.

The main idea of this handbook is….

“The grandchildren already have parents; and we are not them!”

You can find Being a Grandparent: Just Like Being a Parent…Only Different from Sophia Institute Press.

Are you a parent looking for parenting advice? Read our review of Dr. Ray’s book for mom and dads here.

Drama-Free Discipline

By Alex Resch

Drama-Free Discipline

by Dr. Ray Guarendi

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Parenting is a beautiful, rewarding, and sanctifying gift! As our family welcomes each new addition, my husband and I are amazed and marveled with the unique personalities of each individual little soul that God creates. Each child also needs to be raised and disciplined in his or her own special ways. Some children need more firm correction, while others respond better to gentle correction. Dr. Ray Guarendi has covered practically all of the bases in his new book: Drama-Free Discipline.

The Structure of the Book

The book is composed of short scenarios or dialogues written in the form of a play or script. When I read them, I could see the scene unfolding with the parents and children. He sets each “scene” with a prologue, and interjects into the dialogue with his advice and tips. He corrects where the parent could improve, and he offers advice that would discipline and teach the child in a more effective way. The scenarios start with the toddler years, and progresses all the way through the teen years. Each scenario ends with an epilogue to give Dr. Ray’s closing advice and thoughts. These were my favorite, as they were often witty and made me chuckle.

You can see a sample scenario in the book preview here.

An Enjoyable Read with Practical Advice

Dr. Ray’s writing is enjoyable, entertaining, and digestible. The scenarios are short, packed with realistic and relatable examples, and include sound advice. His tone is laid back and light, and he is full of wisdom. I found myself nodding along when I often agreed with Dr. Ray, and I also learned some helpful tips and gained some new perspectives. We haven’t reached the teen years in our home yet, so I really appreciated the diverse examples and tips for those years.

I really like how the book isn’t laid out like a list of rules to remember and implement, but rather concrete problems or situations paired with practical tips to solve them.

Parenting through a Catholic Lens

There is so much conflicting advice on parenting and child-rearing, and I think it is so important to find authentically Catholic parenting advice to guide us. Dr. Ray speaks as a Catholic parent himself, sprinkling in tips and thoughts on prayer and virtue growth. However, the Faith is not overly emphasized in the book, so I think it would be a helpful tool for all parents, regardless of Faith. In fact, I think it would be a gentle evangelizing tool for new parents in particular.

If you, or a friend you know, is looking for practical parenting advice that can be digested in enjoyable, small chunks, be sure to check out this book!

You can find Drama-Free Discipline from Sophia Institute Press.