Book Nook: The Not-So-Friendly Friend

Some kids have always struggled with appropriate boundaries in relationships. My older daughter was not very good at setting boundaries early in life, and often got taken advantage of. Now, with Covid-19 having affected how kids were able to socialize, this book I got to review can be even more useful for parents.

The Not-So-Friendly Friend, is written by Christina Furnival, mental health therapist and mom. In the book she gives tools to teach children how to create healthy boundaries to make sure friendships are fulfilling. She covers the types of boundaries - physical, emotional, intellectual, and so on. She also handles the dangers of not establishing boundaries well, and touches on mental health tools when bullying happens.

The book provides a great tool for parents to talk about these concepts in a non-threatening way. There are plenty of ways this book can open up dialogue and parents can point out things that they may see in their child's friendships as well, as a way of reinforcing what's in the book.

To learn more, please visit christinafurnival.com. 

Christina Furnival, MS, LPCC is a wife, mom to two young children, licensed psychotherapist, writer, and children’s book author. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, she has worked in a variety of settings including a domestic violence center, hospital program, a non-profit providing parent support, education, and coaching, outpatient clinics, and telehealth. Christina is passionate about supporting parents and children to understand themselves better, navigate challenges with confidence, and live the life they want. 

Christina founded the internationally enjoyed blog, Real Life Mama, after going through postpartum depression and anxiety to support other moms going through the same time.

Christina's writing has grown and evolved beyond her blog, enabling her to secure a children's book deal with PESI Publishing for an entire series focused on vital social-emotional skills. The Not-So-Friendly Friend: How to Set Boundaries for Healthy Friendships, inspired by friendship challenges her daughter faced, is the first in the Capable Kiddos book series.