Who's in Charge?: A Guide to Family Management

Robert B. MacIntyre is head of the Centre for Relationship Therapy and
Education in Orangeville, Ontario.

Taking the management of a small corporation as her model and metaphor,
Maggie Mamen outlines the attitudes and skills that “senior
management” (parents) needs to develop “trainees” (children) from
the early stages to the point where they are ready to move out and set
up their own family corporations. Written in a breezy style that owes
much to the consultation and lecture circuit, her book provides advice
and examples drawn from her practice.

In answer to the question posed in the book’s title, Mamen argues
that responsible parenting requires a combination of warmth and clear
guidelines. Problems occur when there is a failure on the part of
“senior management” to clearly communicate to “trainees” the
rules and structure of the “corporation.” This guide to effective
child rearing includes a good bibliography.