Grow Up

The New York Times bestselling author of Unfu*k Yourself helps cut through our anxieties about being a “good parent” so we can take charge of our lives and show our kids how to take charge of their own.

Gary John Bishop has helped millions of people break free of self-sabotaging behaviors. Yet we all seem to feel like we’re failing at this thing called parenting. Common wisdom isn’t working—our kids are struggling. Gary argues we don’t need more tips, tricks, and techniques, we need an overhaul of who we are. We’re never going to measure up to the “perfect parent” model we’ve built up in our heads—a Frankenstein version of mom and dad cobbled together from our childhoods, our parents, cultural ideals, social media, and everything in between.

We want to be good parents, but our pasts hold us back. If you’re thinking: “I can’t be a good parent because I had a shitty childhood, bad parents, or a traumatic experience”—stop! Let go of what came before and start taking action in the present to be the person that nurtures their child from a place of love, forgiveness, and integrity. By doing so, you are modeling and equipping your kids to confidently face the world and thrive.

Whether you are a parent, want to be a parent, or simply have parents, this book will cut to the heart of who you are and how you show up in the world—to fully take charge of the direction of your life and show your kids how to follow theirs.

Parenting Without Perfection: Gary John Bishop challenges the fantasy of the “perfect parent” and helps you show up with more honesty, love, and integrity. Break Generational Patterns: Let go of the childhood wounds, family baggage, and old beliefs that shape how you parent and who you think you have to be. Raise Confident, Capable Kids: Learn how taking charge of your own life can model resilience, responsibility, and self-trust for your children. Real Talk for Modern Parents: Skip the endless parenting hacks and techniques—this book argues that lasting change starts with an overhaul of self, not more tips. For Parents and Future Parents: Whether you’re raising children now, planning to someday, or still working through your own relationship with your parents, this book cuts to the heart of how you live.