ScreamFree Parenting
BOOK REVIEWS
“Parenting isn’t about controlling your kids. It’s about learning to control yourself.”
Parenting tests your leadership skills. Isn’t it?. Hal Runkel’s ScreamFree Parenting gives a whole new twist to what it means to “lead by example.” If you can keep calm during a toddler meltdown or convince a teenager that chores are, in fact, not optional, you’re already on your way to mastering patience, persuasion, and crisis management—all at once. This book shows you how parenting can teach you to be a better leader, one peaceful interaction at a time.
Why This Book Matters
In ScreamFree Parenting, Runkel makes a bold claim: great leaders (and parents) don’t control others; they control themselves. Turns out, the techniques we use at home to keep things running smoothly are actually solid leadership principles. Staying calm, setting boundaries with empathy, and letting go of the need to micromanage? That’s the stuff of top-tier leadership, whether you’re raising kids or managing a team.
Key Takeaways for Future Success
Staying Cool Is a Superpower: Nothing teaches you to keep your cool like parenting. Runkel argues that staying calm when everything’s falling apart around you isn’t just a parenting skill—it’s a leadership superpower. Calmness is contagious, and when you keep it together, so does everyone else. (Well, usually. Let’s not get too ambitious here.)
Ditch the Control, Build the Connection: Ever tried to force a kid to eat their veggies? Then you know that control is an illusion. Runkel shows us that building genuine connections based on respect goes way further than trying to rule with an iron fist. It’s a lesson every leader can use: people (kids included) want to feel understood and trusted, not micromanaged.
Boundaries Aren’t Just for Your Sanity—They Help Others Thrive Too: Runkel reframes boundaries as tools for growth rather than restrictions. Clear, empathetic boundaries give kids the structure they need to learn independence and responsibility. It’s the same in any team—you set the expectations, and people grow into them. Plus, it saves everyone from those “Didn’t we talk about this?” conversations.
Personal Connection or Application
I realized that my biggest “leadership fail” at home was trying to control everything (hello, multitasking meltdown). Now a days I am trying to experiment with self-control instead of “kid-control.” I focus on staying calm, setting realistic boundaries, and letting my kid take more responsibility. Turns out, treating your family like a team can really work (and it’s a lot more fun than constantly playing referee).
Quote to Remember
“Every relationship is a dance, and the only person you can control is yourself.”
This quote gets to the heart of Runkel’s approach. Trying to control others only leads to resistance, but learning to control ourselves? That’s the secret sauce to better relationships, whether you’re parenting, managing, or just trying to keep the peace.
How It Helps You Look Ahead
ScreamFree Parenting isn’t just a parenting manual—it’s a guide to becoming a calm, grounded leader. It helps you see that when you manage your own reactions and emotions, you create a ripple effect that reaches everyone around you. Whether you’re tackling toddler tantrums or leading a team meeting, Runkel’s advice shows you how to respond thoughtfully instead of reactively. And, let’s be real, after reading this book, you might find yourself ready to take on the world (or at least the next family dinner) with a whole new perspective.