More than Happy: The Wisdom of Amish Parenting

In the tradition of Bringing Up Bebe and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, an in-depth look at the practices and principles of Amish parents and how they raise children who are self-sufficient, hard-working, and remarkably happy.The more time Serena Miller spent in Holmes County, Ohio, doing research for her popular Amish novels, the more she began to notice something--Amish children were the happiest children she’d ever seen. Despite not having modern toys and conveniences, they are joyful, serene, calm, and respectful--not to mention whipping up full meals and driving buggies before most of us will allow our children to walk to school alone. And yet, when she started asking questions about what these parents were doing differently, she was startled to learn that happiness is not a goal Amish strive for at all. In More Than Happy Miller uncovers many surprising insights, including the significance of real responsibilities, the wisdom of unplugging from technology, the value of unstructured time to play, the importance of firm rules, and the importance of each teenager’s freedom to decide what is best for their future. Full of practical takeaways, More Than Happy shows you how to apply the basic principles and parenting techniques the Amish use, so you can raise happy, well-adjusted kids.

Prior to writing novels, Serena Miller wrote for many periodicals, including Woman’s World, Guideposts, Reader’s Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and TheDetroit Free Press Magazine. She has spent many years partnering with her husband in full-time ministry and lives on a farm in southern Ohio near a thriving Amish community.

Paul Stutzman was born into an Amish family in Holmes County, Ohio. Shortly after his birth, his family left the Amish lifestyle and joined a strict Conservative Mennonite church. Paul continued to live among and mingle with his Amish friends and relatives his entire life, married a Mennonite girl, and remained in the Amish community working and raising a family. He is the author of Hiking Through, a memoir about the Appalachian Trail. He lives in central Ohio and can be found at PaulStutzman.com.