Nothing hits close to home like a book that presents the dilemma that all parents face: giving their child independence while also keeping them safe and protected. Sheff does what you’re “supposed” to. He reads the right parenting books, he sends his son to the right private school, he relentlessly focuses on parenting his son. His son still ends up addicted to drugs, the worst being methamphetamine.
The rest of the book details the struggle the father deals with as he watches his son change back and forth from a beautiful, loving boy to a lying, stealing, drug addict. This book makes you stop and think about what you would do in the same situation. It also causes you to worry!
After reading this, you may begin to consider moving to a remote part of Montana or joining the Amish in Pennsylvania. The world has changed, and keeps changing. As parents, we are up against different problems than our parents were before us. The thought of seeing your child ruining themself is terrifying. As much as we don’t like to think about it, we should all be prepared to face the things we fear most in the name of our children.
Aside from the worrying, Beautiful Boy will leave you hugging your own child a little bit tighter, and hopefully preparing to parent in a new age.
