Preface
Here it is, my third published work and second written entirely by myself. Everything Voluntary: From Politics to Parenting was an anthology I edited and self-published in May of 2012(1), as a primer to the philosophy of voluntaryism. Toward a Free Society: A Short Guide on Building a Culture of Liberty I wrote between December 2014 and January 2015 as a series of columns at Everything-Voluntary.com and published soon thereafter in booklet form(2). The present work likewise began life as a series of columns at Everything-Voluntary.com.
My hope with this booklet is to change your family life for the better. I want you to have the best relationship with your children as you possibly can. Like me, you may have had them for this reason: to enrich your life now and later. I am firmly opposed to the idea that punitive- or violence-based parenting is compatible with these goals. This booklet begins the exploration on why, but to really get the most it has to offer, pay attention to the footnotes and Further Reading at the end. If I had to recommend two books to give you the tools necessary to raise your children right, those would be Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon(3) and Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Laura Markham.(4)
I would like to thank my friend Chris Brown for introducing me to Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn, who likewise has my sincerest gratitude. And were it not for my loving wife, Julieta, I would not have the amazing children that I do, nor would I have had the support I needed to change from a violent and punitive father toward someone my children deserve.
(1) Available in several formats at https://skyler.link/evcbook1
(2) Available in several formats at https://skyler.link/evcbook2
(3) Available in several formats at http://skyler.link/amznpet
(4) Available in several formats at http://skyler.link/amznpphk