'How to be a good parent in a Bad Marriage' - Would this be a book title people would be interested in?

[londongurl]

A friend of mine has just written a book with the above title. I will say more about it when the book actually goes into publication, but I was just wondering if that title is something that would grab people up front? Any feedback greatly appreciated

Sounds like the sort of book that, if you bought it, you woul dhave to hide from your spouse.

My first reaction would be that the way to be a good parent in that situation would be to get out of the marriage. But that would be a very short book.

For me... no... One, because I'm happily married and two, because I think largly in this day and age, those in a bad marriage have (OR should have) the option of divorce.

So, I suppose a better title, for me, would be how to be a good parent when you are no longer with the other parent.

I would be interested in a book entitled 'How to be a good parent, when you DH buggers off to a job overseas and gets to do all the fun stuff on a weekend while leaving all the crap stuff to you' but I think I might have to write that one myself.

Good point TrillianAstra... the main focus of the book really is where the marriage or relationship isn't working, and its been accepted mostly by both parties and they have decided to stay for the sake of the children. Not normally the way things work in the day and age I know..

I think you could only buy it on Amazon rather than Borders

ladyGlencora my sentiments exactly

Agree with LGP.

And also imagine taking it to the till...

I think staying 'for the sake of the children' is one of the most damaging things you can do for them.

IMHO

...as said, erm, said...

Seeing as how role modelling is one of the major important things you do as a parent, I would be a bit sceptical about a book which may advocating role modelling a bad marriage.

ladyglencora, twolittlekings,... yes that's what people think that a bad marriage is not good for children... but statistically two parents even if the relationship isn't good (but obviously not abusive) are better than one. But! At this point I have to say that I am NOT a parent, have no idea what I would do faced with any of these challenges, and am here merely doing research for my friend. (thanks for your repsponses so far btw)

sorry may advocate or may be advocating

blah blah brain ache

I wouldn't buy it with that title.
I hopefully won't be needing it but there must be more subtle titles that would work...
"For the sake of the children."

Not sure about the whole concept but "For the Sake of the Children" would be a great title.

That is a great title ohIdoliketobebesidethe thank you will make the suggestion... great that you don't need a book like that too

What said said. I can't imagine a mainstream publishing house touching this - it's not the sort of thing people admit to wanting to read about, although I suspect a lot of people secretly would be interested in such a book. But I agree that the best way to parent in such a situation is not to be in the marriage.

Oh two people saying the same thing! Interesting....

"statistically two parents even if the relationship isn't good (but obviously not abusive) are better than one"

In what way?

If you're talking about the tired old cliches of criminality, A levels, unemployment, homelessness, violence, alcoholism etc., all those statistics level out when you factor in for poverty. The only reason 2 parents are "better" on the whole, is because they tend to have more money. Once you start weighting the figures to take account of income, they go flat and there is no significant difference between one or two parents.

For the Sake of the Children sounds like misery memoir, not a self-help book. Your friend would be hard-pressed to place this in a self-help section as they tend to want more 'up-beat' titles. Does she have a publisher?

daisyj Well, with regard to mainstream publishing... its going to be an ebook, so it is the sort of thing that one could buy can keep private, if necessary.

I keep wanting to write alternative titles: 'How to be a Good Parent in a Barren Loveless Sham'

no...sounds self defeating before you even read it!

LOL that sounds a cheerful tome.

Well, the interesting thing is its written by a guy, daisyj, and written from personal experience, who stayed for a long while after most men would have left for the sake of the kids.

HerBoomWhizzBangitude. was quoting from his book.. can't and cut and paste the research because the book isn't published yet...

How to be a good parent while enduring married misery?