Meet Mark and Becky, two normal parents trying their best to raise normal kids. But as their children grow older, these sincere parents have a growing sense that they are in over their heads. After all, it's not like children come with a 445-page instruction manual or a 24-hour customer service line. Yet the problems and difficulties Mark and Becky face are not unusual or far-fetched--in fact, they are the normal, day-to-day battles most parents share. So why is it still so hard? Because no one showed them the basics of good parenting. In Confident Parenting, Jim Burns weaves together the fictional story of Mark and Becky with common sense and accessible parenting tips and strategies. Part story, part information, each chapter explores a different aspect of parenting, such as balancing self-care with family care, and includes the ingredients involved in proper discipline. With more than 20 years of experience counseling hundreds of families and children, Burns offers time-tested advice in a painless and creative way, helping parents everywhere lay a positive foundation for raising healthy families.