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X-Plan Parenting

Become Your Child's Ally—A Guide to Raising Strong Kids in a Challenging World

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About The Book

Winner of the Gold Medal for Best Christian Family and Parenting Book of 2020 by the Illumination Book Awards

The creator of the viral parenting concept the “X-Plan” illuminates the importance of awakening your child’s unique strength—while also taking an introspective look at your own life story to become a better parent.

Last year, father and former teacher Bert Fulks’s simple parenting idea went viral: if your teenagers find themselves in a situation where they feel uncomfortable or trapped, they can text a family member an “X.” That family member will then call, giving the teen a way out, while still maintaining their freedom—and no questions will be asked.

Now in X-Plan Parenting, Fulks expands on the how and the why behind his plan, emphasizing the importance of developing trusting relationships with our kids. Drawing on biblical principles, Fulks’s approach illuminates how even though we want the very best for our children, we sometimes parent from a place of brokenness and a desire for control rather than support and encouragement. We focus on our mistakes and painful growing up moments and the things we wish we’d had when we were kids instead of what’s best for our own children right now. This dynamic can pit kids against their parents and create rifts in the relationship.

Fulks advocates for an alliance between children and parents instead of an “us vs. them” mentality. Rather than spending so much time coaxing or battling our kids, Fulks inspires us to work with our kids instead of against them. And rather than trying to right our own past wrongs vicariously through our children, he urges us to recognize where we need healing so we can provide authentic strength to support our kids’ unique journeys.

There is a tender art to disciplining our kids, and X-Plan Parenting serves up laughter and tears, hard questions, and plenty of grace to moms and dads who want their kids to love God and lead passionate, joyful lives in an unpredictable world.

About The Author

Bert Fulks is a former psychology and world history teacher and a father of three. With nearly thirty years’ experience working with kids, Bert’s unique insights as a dad, educator, coach, camp leader, youth adviser, and speaker provide wisdom, understanding, and compassion to parents and kids. He splits time as a writer, musician, and speaker, and runs a veterinary practice with his wife, Laura. He is also the founder and co-director of Empty Stone Ministry, INC, a Christian non-profit that specializes in camps/retreats, small group events, and ministry to drug-addicted youth. Bert and his family live in Huntington, West Virginia.

Product Details

Raves and Reviews

“A valuable, devoutly Christian, and empathy-based concept of parenting in the digital era...a clear design and engaging prose, with plenty of rich autobiographical details."

– Kirkus Reviews

"What I love about this book is that it teaches parents how to trust their children, how to partner with them, protect them, and be an advocate for them...Powerful, well-written, and moving. Highly recommended."

– Matt Mikalatos, author of Sky Lantern: The Story of a Father's Love and the Healing Power of a Simple Letter

"Christian principles guide this work, but many of the ideas, such as the "X" plan, will likely resonate with a wider audience."

– Library Journal

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