LICENSE TO PARENT

A guide to parenting from two former CIA agents.

Based on their years of experience with the CIA, the Hillsbergs share their advice on parenting. Told primarily from Christina’s perspective, the narrative begins with an overview of their careers. During the early stage of their relationship, Christina was intrigued by Ryan’s parenting style, noting that his three children from a previous marriage seemed mature for their ages. “More than anything,” she writes, “Ryan sought to instill in his kids a spirit of adventure and knowledge of the world.” Initially apprehensive about his teaching them skills that she felt were advanced—e.g., how to use a knife or drive a motorcycle—she soon got onboard, and they began applying these same principles to the children they had together. Interweaving interesting anecdotes from their professional careers as well as applicable examples involving their children, the Hillsbergs share their key principles of raising children to become strong, safe, and independent adults. Among the skills they examine are security awareness, communication strategies, and financial responsibility. As the authors explain, children are more capable of doing things on their own than many parents believe. Unfortunately, in this era of helicopter parenting, children have often “failed to launch.” In addition to teaching children basic survival skills, exposing them to various cultures and perspectives, and offering opportunities for them to develop their own personal hobbies and interests, the Hillsbergs discuss the importance of building trust with your children, the benefits of allowing them to fail, and knowing when striving for perfection can be detrimental. As Voltaire said, and the authors echo, “perfection is the enemy of good.” By sharing their story, they hope readers will be able to use these techniques to shape their own children into security-conscious, confident, and well-rounded adults—while also giving parents a little peace of mind and reduction in anxiety.

A fresh and fascinating perspective on child-rearing.