Stephanie Nesja
Parenting is a rewarding, yet daunting, part of life. Challenges will always come and go, but learning the steps and how-tos to navigate through different storms is a must.
Local author and certified Parent Coach and Educational Trainer Dana Parisi penned her debut book—already an international bestseller on Amazon—Parenting Marathon: The 10-Step Guide to Navigate Parenting Challenges, to provide parents and caregivers crucial steps to take during some of the most difficult seasons of parenting. Parisi uses running as a metaphor to compare marathon running to parenting. She defines a “parenting marathon” as a “challenging and prolonged season of parenting that requires perseverance, strength, perspective, and skills” as well as an “opportunity for growth” for both the parent and the child. She walks (or should I say “runs”?) her readers through her own personal experiences and struggles as a marathon runner, while comparing her own progress and struggles of parenting her own four children.
Parisi’s four children—two biological, two adopted—inspired her desire to write Parenting Marathon as she learned (and continues to learn) to navigate each of her children’s unique personalities and struggles with ADHD, trauma, anger, aggression, and over-stimulation. Feeling alone like many parents often do, Parisi was tired of feeling stressed, frustrated, hopeless, and discouraged, so she and her husband hired a parent coach when they felt they ran out of options, even though it was difficult to admit they needed help. “It was humbling to recognize that I needed more tools in my parenting toolbox,” Parisi said. After success with her parent coach and recognizing she wasn’t truly alone in her own marathon, Parisi decided to earn her own certification, which eventually led to writing her book.
“Parenting Marathon isn’t another typical self-help parenting book, nor is it a quick fix.”
Parenting Marathon isn’t another typical self-help parenting book, nor is it a quick fix. Written for caregivers and parents of all kinds, including single, foster, adoptive, step, and biological. Parisi describes her book as a guide for readers to lean into while on their own parenting journey. Parisi hopes her own stories and parenting mistakes will help readers feel they’re not alone, but rather they will “feel equipped to keep persevering in their specific challenge.” The book provides a way to look deeper into the issues at hand to create real results by providing different techniques which require dedication and persistence as part of the marathon training.
Parisi equips readers with 10 steps, beginning with defining and setting goals and ending with beginning the marathon. During each step, Parisi includes a “Your Turn” section with thought-provoking questions and personal application to allow readers the opportunity to stretch their minds and reflect on their personal goals and journey, as well as provide a way to hold themselves accountable and be intentional in reaching these goals beginning with even just “one thing they can do differently” as a parent, Parisi said. A recap is also included with a brief chapter summary, as well as an inspirational quote. A free downloadable PDF is also available with the questions to use like a workbook. Parisi hopes readers will utilize these tools to help care for themselves by learning how to show up for their children to help both the children and parents succeed, while not feeling alone in the process. “I hope that readers feel seen,” Parisi said.
Make sure to run on over to the Altoona Public Library on Monday, October 30 at 6:30pm to learn more about Parenting Marathon and to attend Dana Parisi’s book signing and reading! Copies will be available for purchase for $16.95. Parenting Marathon is also available at Jacob’s Well Church Resource Center in Eau Claire, as well as on Amazon in both paperback and eBook formats. Visit Parisi’s website for more information about her book and to learn more about parent coaching through Lives Touched Coaching, LLC.