Why I Wrote this Book

Every parent wants the best for his/her children and we were no different. Easily, one of the most important milestones in the life of a parent comes on graduation day. It’s a time to reflect on how we’ve done in preparing our kids for independence. Wanting to give our son Michael our best, I decided to compile the most important life lessons I had learned through the years. This would give him the best head start I could think of.
 
When I stared at the 100 life success pointers on my computer screen, it occurred to me that I wasn’t the only parent in this same situation. I knew these success pointers would not only help other kids, but their parents as well. It was then that I realized I had a potential book in the making.
 
But, before proceeding, I felt I needed a reality check. I selected a half-dozen friends from various walks of life to confirm whether this idea made sense. Within a week, the results were in. Everyone said that I was meant to write this book and that it was sorely needed. With their encouragement and blessing, I decided to become an author—and this would be my first book.
 
Besides the personal benefit of writing this for Trittin family use, I began to reflect on why my advisors felt so strongly that this was a “book for its time.” Several things occurred to me:

• Too many graduates are facing difficult transitions and dropping out of college in their first year
• With more out-of-wedlock births and failed marriages, kids are increasingly growing up in single parent households and missing out on the benefits of having a father and mother in the home
• There is real confusion as to whether “real life” subjects like finance should be taught in school or in the home. Consequently, many life skills are falling through the cracks, with our kids being the innocent victims.
• Job opportunities are increasingly scarce for our high schoolers, preventing many from gaining real world work experience in their formative years
• Parents lack a definitive manual that describes comprehensive preparation for adulthood
• Everyone is too busy!

 
So, through no fault of their own, our kids are not receiving the life skills training they need to successfully transition into adulthood. They deserve better.
 
As I’ve progressed in this project, my personal mission has become crystal clear. It is to help fill the life skills gap that is interfering with the progress and success of our kids. I view this book as my first step in a long-term effort.
 
Will you partner with me?