Book Review: They're Your Parents Too! by Francine Russo

I was recently sent the book, "They're Your Parents Too!" by Francine Russo to read and review. The book also has a byline after the title, "How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents' Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy."


Information on book:

Adult siblings are fighting, simmering, and even suing each other over caring for their aging parents. Francine Russo's new groundbreaking book, "They're Your Parents Too!:How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents' Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy." (Bantam; February 2010) was written by a journalist who has her finger on the pulse of the latest trends in family issues. Russo defines a new stage of life, the twilight transition, that will prove critical for the baby boomer generation and those to follow.

By: Francine Russo

ISBN-10: 0553806998

ISBN-13: 978-0553806991

Publication date: January 27, 2010

Category: Parenting/Family

ARP: $26.00

My take on the book:

This book is a valuable resource for anyone who is dealing with caring for an aging parent(s). Reading this book put some things in perspective for me. Things that I have not put much thought into. But probably should. Because my mother and especially my mother-in-law are getting up in years.

I learned reading, "They're Your Parents Too!," that this generation of adult children are dramatically different from those in previous generations. In the past who would take care of aging parents was pretty much a given - it was usually the daughters in the family. But now with a generation of working women that is not the case. Also with better educated adults it has lead to people moving further away (for jobs, etc.,) from their parents then in the past.

Also there are people having children later. So they are still raising their own kids when their parents start to need care. Another factor in today's society that has made care giving of our parents different is just the simple fact that people are living longer then ever before. So there is more likelihood parents are going to need care at some point.

"They're Your Parents Too!" covers everything from acknowledging your parents aging to avoiding distrust and power struggles when one sibling has been given financial authority. The book also covers reconciling with siblings and distilling tensions that may still simmer after parents die. These are just a few of the topics one can gain knowledge from in the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is facing decisions with caring for their aging parents. Or anyone for that matter, because it is never to early to start planning for this.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of "They're Your Parents Too!" by Francine Russo for the sole purpose of reviewing the book. Receiving a complementary copy of the book in no way affected my review. I received no monetary compensation.