The more time Serena Miller spent in Holmes County, Ohio, doing research for her popular Amish novels, the more she began to notice something—Amish children were the happiest children she'd ever seen.
Despite having no modern toys and conveniences, the Amish children she saw were joyful, serene, calm, and respectful—not to mention able to whip up full meals and drive buggies before most of us will allow our children to walk to school alone. But when she started asking questions about what Amish parents were doing differently, she was startled to learn that happiness is not a goal the Amish strive for at all—and yet it is the end result.
More than Happy explores the day-to-day practices and cultural influences that make Amish children some of the most mature and well-adjusted children around. More important, this book reveals why Amish parents don't struggle with the same self-doubt, indecision, and harried lifestyles that nearly every Englisch (non-Amish) parent faces daily.
In her quest to understand how the Amish do it, Miller uncovers many surprising insights, including the significance of real responsibilities, the wisdom of unplugging from technology, the value of unstructured time to play, the importance of firm rules, the benefit of living in a connected community, and the impact of teenagers' freedom to decide what is best for their future. From getting fussy babies to sleep to instilling the value of responsibility in teenagers, the Amish way of parenting has much to teach all of us.
While many of us admire the simple lifestyle of the Amish, most of us won't be hitching up a buggy and ditching the iphone anytime soon. But that doesn't mean we can't learn from them. Full of practical takeaways, More than Happy shows you how to apply the basic principles and parenting techniques the Amish use so you can raise happy, well-adjusted kids (even if you don't don a bonnet).
