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Advance Praise
Its always been said kids dont come with handbooks. Well, now they do! This is a wonderfully insightful guide to raising well-rounded, independent, and unique children. Easy to read, concise, and leaves little room for error! I would highly recommend this read to every family at any stage of parenting.
Dr. Megan Yee, MD, Family Medicine Physician, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI
It has been my privilege to know the Mui family for approximately 18 years. From grandparents to their youngest son. The Mui children Kyle, Amanda, and Ryan exhibit a common denominator of confidence, extreme talent, and a balance of humbleness that is so rare. Owning a martial arts studio has given me the opportunity to train with each of the Marvelous Muis (a nickname well known at Studio Kicks). Their skill level and commitment to training have been an inspiration to all who know them and Rudy and Shirleys children are a testimony to their positive parenting skills!
Leslie Lam, Owner, Studio Kicks Cardio and Martial Arts Training Center, Los Gatos, CA
While Rudy and Shirleys parenting approach would be considered non-traditional by many, the proof of their success lies in Kyle, Amanda, and Ryan. As an educator of 40 years, I would recommend any parent in todays era to consider their approach with an open mind. Many great tips for raising successful children.
Lily L. Yee, Retired Career Educator, Detroit Public Schools, Troy, MI
I am grateful to my parents for giving me the freedom to make my own choices so that I can do the things that I love. As a result, I own my accomplishments and failures because they are my choices. My parents always pushed us to be the best that we can be and gave us the tough love it takes to get us there. But at the end of the day, I know that they will always be my biggest cheerleaders and thats all I need to know.
Amanda M. Mui, Daughter, Atlanta, GA
As both a parent and a mental health professional, I really liked this book. It is easy to read and full of great advice. And a lot of the great advice applies not just to being a better parent, but it also applies to living our own lives as adults in a more fulfilling way.
Dr. Patrick Fitzsimmons, MD, Psychiatrist, Los Gatos, CA
Wow, another book on parenting. Whats special about this one? Everything! Heres whats in it for you: parenting as directed, you can have your very own drama-free household; develop children who love and respect themselves, each other, their parents, their own friends, and their parents friends; raise young adults who demonstrate an interest in, and a great attitude toward, almost any positive aspect of life; and finally, enjoy some well-earned peace of mind for YOURSELF when your offspring reach adulthood. Ive never observed any other style of parenting that gets these kinds of results. And, its been both fascinating and a pleasure to watch over the past 15 years Ive been a friend of the family. If I could bottle these kids and sell them, Id be a bazillionaire.
Carol Spears, Christian Childrens Ministry Teacher and Advocate for Humanitarian Causes, San Diego, CA
This book is dedicated to our parents, Jun Moo Mui and Yat-Kom Gin, Kai-Tung Woo and Yut-Shim Woo, and to our children, Kyle, Amanda, and Ryan Mui.
Our parents had the courage to emigrate halfway around the world with limited language skills and financial resources. They learned to make a living, created a safe home, helped us through college, and taught us many of the values we have been able to pass on to our children.
Most importantly, our parents demonstrated that determined focus, hard work, a sense of humor, perseverance, humility, honesty, integrity, optimism, and good citizenship are the hallmarks of a successful life.
Kyle, Amanda, and Ryan have embodied the best of their grandparents and parents, each pursuing their own path, independent of their parents and their classmates. We cannot be more proud of each of them and look forward to seeing them pursue their passions and working hard to accomplish their goals.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the caregivers, educators, coaches, instructors, family, and friends who have had a hand in raising our children and who helped educate us about the key principles necessary to raise a Power Kid.
An old proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child and we are particularly thankful for our village, which includes Tammy White, Kai and Shim Woo, Ken and Ron Woo, Dr. Lewis Osofsky and Oskie Pediatrics, Chuck Nip and Jih-Ling Chiou, Lillian Mosier, Roger Adams, Brenda Thornburg, Erin Stacey, Tami Senner, Sue Dvorak, Rosalba Sokhanvari, Coach Karriem Stinson, Carol Zink, Ray Fowler, Jaron Olson, Kerry Enzensperger, Ming-Jung Chen, Larry and Leslie Lam, Tim Dilbeck, Rich Branden, Pat McGale, and the rest of the teachers and faculty at St. Andrews School, the Harker School, Menlo School, and Studio Kicks Cardio and Martial Arts Training Studio. We would not have been successful without your gift of time, dedication, and care.
Thanks also to Mitchell Levy for encouraging us to write a book, Rajesh Setty for his excellent editing skills, Diane Vo for keeping us all on task, and the rest of the THiNKaha team for believing in the value of our message, helping to refine our ideas, encouraging us, and promoting #POWER KIDS tweet Book01.
Why We Wrote This Book
Our daughter, Amanda, was the first to suggest that we write a book about parenting. Having been a student advisor, resident advisor, and now a senior resident advisor in college, Amanda has seen firsthand the diffierent outcomes of various parenting styles with each new freshman class; its refreshing that she continues to thank us for raising her the way we did.
Like most new parents, we have had more instruction on learning how to drive a car than on learning how to be good parents. Existing parenting books are either too theoretical and formulaic, too lengthy for busy parents, or too specifically personal and difficult to apply. And grandmas and grandpas, though full of wisdom and well-meaning, tend more often to want to spoil your kids than to encourage them to do things for themselves.