PARENTING'S A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT. Local parent coach Dana Parisi recently published a guide to navigating parenting, and it's already seen international success. (Photo via Unsplash)

Already an international bestseller on Amazon, local Parent Coach and Educational Trainer Dana Parisi’s debut parenting self-help book, Parenting Marathon: The 10 Step Guide to Navigate Parenting Challenges, uses marathons as a metaphor, comparing the mentally and physically rigorous events to the challenges of parenting.

Recognizing her own struggles as a mother of four children – two biological, two adopted – Parisi knew she needed help learning to navigate through her children’s battles with ADHD, trauma, anger, aggression, and over-stimulation. Parisi and her husband hired a parent coach. “It was humbling to recognize that I needed more tools in my parenting toolbox,” Parisi said. After receiving successful coaching, Parisi knew she wanted to help others with their personal parenting marathons and became a coach herself.

Dana Parisi

Using her own experiences and struggles, Parisi leads all types of parents – single, foster, adopted, guardian, step, biological – through 10 steps, beginning with goal setting and ending with beginning the marathon. Parisi provides a “Your Turn” section, allowing readers the opportunity to answer application questions for goal reflection and to help parents succeed in helping their own children, even if they only begin with “one thing they can do differently,” Parisi said. A free downloadable PDF is available to use as a workbook. Parisi hopes her book will allow readers to “feel equipped to keep persevering in their specific challenges.”

Sprint over to Altoona Public Library (1303 Lynn Ave., Altoona) for Parisi’s book signing and reading on Monday, Oct. 30, at 6:30pm to snag your own copy of Parenting Marathon for $16.95. Parenting Marathon is also available locally at The Local Store, Jacob’s Well Church Resource Center, and on Amazon in both paperback and eBook format.

“I hope that readers feel seen,” Parisi said. 

Learn more about Parisi’s work at livestouchedcoaching.com.