Howard Brockhouse publishes For Kids’ Sake, Be Great! How Caregivers Create Positive Environments in Separate Homes
Middle River, Minnesota resident Howard Brockhouse has published his first book; For Kids’ Sake, Be Great! How Caregivers Create Positive Environments in Separate Homes.
The book focuses on four simple principles that Howard and his ex-wife did when raising their kids in separate homes. “The most important thing we can do as caregivers is focus on our kids’ wellbeing and that is even more challenging if you’re raising kids in separate homes,” Howard said.
“Another critical component of caregiving in separate homes is the mental health of the caregiver,” Howard said. The book provides pathways for the caregiver so they can be healthy and at their best for the benefit of themselves and their children. “There are a lot of books on co-parenting but very few focus on the mental health of the caregiver and coming out of separation or divorce, we often have a tremendous amount of hurt that needs to be addressed,” Howard said.
The idea for the book came about from a parent-teacher conference many years ago where the teacher was new to the district, and she could not tell that Howard’s daughter was from separate homes. “I told the teacher I needed my daughter’s paperwork mailed to my house, we need copies at my house and her mom’s house. The teacher said, ‘What, I would’ve never known you’re divorced by watching your daughter in class.’ Howard started asking himself what he and his ex-wife were doing and that resulted in a trained educator not knowing his daughter was from a separate home. The book is all firsthand accounts of the things that Howard and his ex-wife did that resulted in their children being healthy and happy. It also describes the things that Howard and his ex-wife did to repair and maintain their mental health coming out of the trauma of separation.
A book signing is being arranged at His Amazing Grace & Co in Middle River, watch for dates coming soon!
Howard is available for interviews, book signings or speaking engagements. More information is found at howardbrockhouse.com
