There are some unwritten rules of parenting that we just know to teach our kids (mostly because our parents enforced them with us): sharing is important, be inclusive, and don't hit. But in this age of new parenting methods (Tiger Mom, Free Range Mom, French Mom, anyone?), a new philosophy is set to cause a stir on the playground just in time for parents to send their tots back to school. It's OK Not to Share, a new book from journalist Heather Shumaker, will hit stores on Aug. 2, and her self-described Renegade Rules turn commonly held household rules upside-down.
Based on the philosophy of the preschool she attended as a tot (and where her own mom still teaches), Shumaker offers up 29 parenting rules that all fall under the umbrella of the Renegade Golden Rule: "It's OK if it's not hurting people or property." With easy-to-follow instructions for following the rules — including tool boxes of sayings and actions for parents — the book is a manual for the parent who's had it with many of today's popular parenting styles. Here are a few titillating teasers from the book.
