These messages are powerful and we end up spending too much precious time and energy managing perception and creating carefully edited versions of families to show to the world. Based on 12 years of pioneering research, Dr. Brene Brown off ers a new perspective of the subject of perfect parenting. She states, "It's actually our ability to embrace imperfection that will help us teach our children to have the courage to be authentic, the compassion to love themselves and others, and the sense of connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life." Dr. Brown proposes that the greatest challenge of wholehearted parenting is being the adult that we want our children to grow up to be. The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting is a practical and hopeful program for raising children who know that they are worthy of love, belonging, and joy. Drawing on her research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame, Dr. Brown invites listeners on a journey to transform the lives of parents and children alike as we explore how to cultivate wholeheartedness in our families.

    Pregnant women are told to avoid cold cuts, sushi, alcohol, and coffee without ever being told why these are forbidden. Rules for prenatal testing are similarly unexplained. Moms-to-be desperately want a resource that empowers them to make their own right choices.When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. Debunking myths and explaining everything from the real effects of caffeine to the surprising dangers of gardening, Expecting Better is the book for every pregnant woman who wants to enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy.

    Fit to Burst is chock full of humorous examples and fresh advice covering issues familiar to every mom such as guilt cycles, temptations to be ungrateful or bitter, and learning how to honor Jesus in the mundane things. But this book also addresses less familiar topics, including the impact that moms have on the relationships between dads and kids, the importance of knowing when to laugh at kid-sized sin, and more.Fit to Burst will help us be moms who parent with the story in mind rather than the snapshot, who know how to both give and require much from their children in the everyday mayhem, and who understand the importance of biscuits.

    We call this imprisonment schooling, yet wonder why kids become bored and misbehave. Even outside of school children today seldom play and explore without adult supervision, and are afforded few opportunities to control their own lives. The result: anxious, unfocused children who see schooling—and life—as a series of hoops to struggle through.In Free to Learn, developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that our children, if free to pursue their own interests through play, will not only learn all they need to know, but will do so with energy and passion. Children come into this world burning to learn, equipped with the curiosity, playfulness, and sociability to direct their own education. Yet we have squelched such instincts in a school model originally developed to indoctrinate, not to promote intellectual growth.To foster children who will thrive in today’s constantly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Drawing on evidence from anthropology, psychology, and history, Gray demonstrates that free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally resilient. This capacity to learn through play evolved long ago, in hunter-gatherer bands where children acquired the skills of the culture through their own initiatives. And these instincts still operate remarkably well today, as studies at alternative, democratically administered schools show. When children are in charge of their own education, they learn better—and at lower cost than the traditional model of coercive schooling.A brave, counterintuitive proposal for freeing our children from the shackles of the curiosity-killing institution we call school, Free to Learn suggests that it’s time to stop asking what’s wrong with our children, and start asking what’s wrong with the system. It shows how we can act—both as parents and as members of society—to improve children’s lives and promote their happiness and learning.

    From the authors of international best-selling marriage book The Love Dare comes The Love Dare for Parents, a 40-day journey of “dares” challenging one or both parents to understand, practice, and communicate Christ-like love to their children.Easy to read and work into a busy schedule, The Love Dare for Parents is designed to “turn the hearts of parents to their children and turn the hearts of children to their parents” (Malachi 4:6) so that moms and dads can more fully enjoy and delight in their children while maximizing the positive impact they have on their lives long term. Each day brings a promising key verse from Scripture, a biblical principle about love that applies to parenting, a specific challenge the parent does for the sake of their child, and space to journal thoughts and reflect on what happened that day. The Love Dare for Parents even includes access to a FREE online parenting assessment, helpfully keyed to select material in the book.Parents, take the dare!

    It's for those who have ever wondered what happened to all their ideals for what having children would be like. For those who have ever felt like all the "experts" have "clearly" never had a child like theirs. For those who have prayed for a mentor. For those who ever felt lost and alone in motherhood.In" Desperate" you will find the story of one young mother's honest account of the desperate feelings experienced in motherhood and one experienced mentor's realistic and gentle exhortations that were forged in the trenches of raising her own four children.Also in Desperate:* QR codes and links at the end of each chapter that lead to videos with Sarah Mae and Sally talking about the chapter* Practical steps to take during the desperate times* Bible study and journal exercises in each chapter that will lead you to identify ways in which you can grow as a mom* Mentoring advice for real-life situations* Q & A section with Sally where she answers readers questions

    Perhaps this is why so many mothers deal with insecurity and uncertainty as they do their best to raise their children in a challenging and ever-changing world. If you've ever gone to bed disappointed with yourself, if you've ever felt like you weren't measuring up, or if you've ever wished there was a manual for motherhood, #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer has just the book for you. In The Confident Mom you will be encouraged that you are not alone -- God is with you and He wants to help you with the challenges you face each day. Through inspiring stories, Biblical principles and Joyce's own valuable life lessons, there is no doubt you will discover the path to a new confidence and joy in motherhood. No matter your age, the size of your family, or the circumstances you find yourself in, The Confident Mom will help you become the joyful, confident mother God created you to be!

    But she can find power in her seemingly endless and ordinary tasks when she sees how they symbolize her covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. In this insightful exploration of domestic life, Stephanie Dibb Sorensen shows how everything a mother does, from folding laundry and washing dishes to refereeing arguments and taking temperatures, is designed to bear record of the Savior’s atoning mission. Through scriptural exploration and personal experience, she illustrates how the ongoing chaos of an active home enables a mother to develop the Lord’s attributes as a creator, teacher, healer, provider, and cleanser—thus giving her the opportunity to do for her family, on a smaller scale, what Christ does for the human family.[Release Date in March 2013]

    Dust bunnies show up on the stairwell, social commitments clutter the calendar, and our families demand daily attention and care. At times, just catching our breath seems like an impossible feat.So where is God in all of this? Does he care about the way we unload the dishwasher or balance the budget? Do the little things like changing diapers or cooking meals make a difference? And how can we use our spheres of influence for God's glory and our joy?Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working woman splitting time between the office and home, Gloria Furman--writer, pastor's wife, cross-cultural worker, and mom--encourages us to see the reality of God's grace in all of life, especially those areas that often appear to be boring and unimportant. Using personal examples and insightful stories, her richly theological reflections help us experience the gospel's extraordinary power to transform our ordinary lives.

    Spock”-like reference that is both reassuring and realistic—now updated to reflect the many advances in neonatology.Preemies, Second Edition is the only parents’ reference resource of its kind—delivering up-to-the-minute information on medical care in a warm, caring, and engaging voice. Authors Dana Wechsler Linden and Emma Trenti Paroli are parents who have “been there.” Together with neonatologist Mia Wechsler Doron, they answer the dozens of questions that parents will have at every stage—from high-risk pregnancy through preemie hospitalization, to homecoming and the preschool years—imparting a vast, detailed store of knowledge in clear language that all readers can understand. Preemies, Second Edition covers topics related to premature birth, including: What are your risk factors for having a premature baby? Can you do something to delay early labor? What do doctors know about you baby’s outlook during her first minutes and days of life? How will your preemie’s progress be monitored? How do you cope with a long hospitalization? Are there special preparations for you baby’s homecoming? What kind of stimulation during the first year gives your baby the best chance? Will your preemie grow up healthy? Normal?

    It delves beneath the surface of typical conflicts by addressing the underlying emotions that can lead to challenging behavior. This playful and revolutionary approach to parenting will show you how to: gain cooperation while avoiding power struggles, decrease sibling rivalry and aggressive behavior, solve homework and bedtime problems, help your children overcome fears, strengthen your connection to your children, and bring joy and laughter into your home. Developmental psychologist and parent educator Aletha Solter is the founder of the Aware Parenting Institute, and she is recognized internationally as an expert on attachment, trauma, and non-punitive discipline. Her books have been translated into many languages.

    You’ll learn how to set up an art space, how to talk to children about their artwork, how to choose the best art supplies (without breaking the bank), how to repurpose and organize the piles of art created, and even how to use kids' art activities to soften everyday transitions.  The more than sixty engaging kids' arts and crafts projects included here are accessible and developmentally appropriate for one- to eight-year-olds, and they’re a far cry from the cookie-cutter crafts many of us did in school as kids. From bubble prints to musical chairs art, these kids art activities allow children to explore art materials, techniques, and ideas as they grow more creative every day. With activities for downtimes, action art for releasing energy, and recipes for making your own art materials, this book is your guide for raising an artful family.

    But sometimes, it just sucks. I know. I'm Amber Dusick and I started my blog Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures because I needed a place to vent about the funny (and frustrating) day-to-day things that happened to me as a parent. Turns out, poop is hilarious! At least when you're not the one wiping it up.This book won't make your frustrating moments any less crappy. But these stories about my Crappy Baby, Crappy Boy and my husband, Crappy Papa, will hopefully make you laugh. Because you're not alone. And sometimes the crappiest moments make the best memories. Parenting is wonderful! And also, well, you know.

    Embedded in the collective psyche is the notion that discipline is the cornerstone to achieving these goals. Out of Control offers a never-before-published perspective on why the entire premise of discipline is flawed. Dr. Shefali Tsabary reveals how discipline is a major cause of generations of dysfunction. The author goes to the heart of the problems parents have with children, challenging society’s dependence on discipline, daring readers to let go of fear-based ideologies and replace them with an approach that draws parent and child together. The key is ongoing meaningful connection between parent and child, free from threats, deprivation, punishment, and timeouts — all forms of manipulation. Parents learn how to enter into deep communion with their children, understanding the reasons for a behavior and how to bring out the best in the child. Far from a laissez-faire, anything goes, approach, this is how a child learns responsibility and takes ownership of their life, equipped with character and resilience that flow naturally from within.

    Thinking differently can actually change our parenting dynamic.This powerful book will review and examine what the journey to adulthood entails, along with a clear look at those parenting efforts that have proven not to work over the years. “Many hours and much emotional energy are spent in parenting strategies where nothing positive is produced.”Gist is a fascinating look at many aspects of life that wouldn’t typically be associated with parenting. But, the result is a new way to think about parenting that is effective, efficient, and enjoyable. The book’s focus on life-readiness offers parents a new lens through which to see their parenting interactions and translates to an approach that eliminates many of the power struggles and ineffective patterns that can rob families of much of their joy.

    Unfortunately, 70% of kids drop out of organized athletics by the age of 13. Most of these children quit because our youth sports culture has taken the ‘play’ out of ‘play ball.’ A shift in values, the rise of expensive youth sports models, and the myth of abundant athletic scholarships has led parents and coaches to focus on wins instead of enjoyment, and trophies at the expense of development. As a result, every day increasing numbers of children quit playing sports that are no longer enjoyable. Conventional wisdom is wrong. In Changing the Game, John O’Sullivan draws upon three decades of high level playing and coaching experience to take us behind the scenes of competitive youth sports, and demonstrates how they have changed from being a fun pastime to an ultra competitive, adult centered enterprise that is failing our children. He then teaches parents that the secret to raising happy, high performing children begins by helping them attain a positive mindset, and an enjoyable youth sports environment. By following seven actionable principles of high performance, parents can give their children a competitive edge, while at the same time making youth sports a positive experience for their family, their community, and their country. “The romance is gone, the fun has disappeared, and children no longer simply ‘play’ sports,” says O’Sullivan. Changing the Game is a call to action to reverse this trend. It will change how you think about youth sports. It will teach you the secrets of high performance. It will help your children to perform better. And it will put the “play” back in “play ball” for all of our young athletes. Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to change the game?

    Presented in bite-sized chapters perfect for busy parents and written in L.R.Knost's signature conversational style, 'The Gentle Parent' is packed with practical suggestions and real-life examples to help parents through the normal ups and downs of gentle discipline on the road to raising a generation of world changers.

    Instead of relying on rewards, incentives, threats, andpunishment, you’ll learn how to identify heart lessons to teach your child and implement them in practical ways.The ChristianParenting Handbook by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, founders of theNational Center for Biblical Parenting, compiles fifty parenting principlesthat use heart-based strategies to teach you how to face daily challenges. Whenparents focus on the heart, kids learn to ask different questions about life.Instead of asking, “What’s in it for me?” they learn to ask, “What’s the right thing to do?” You’ll soon see howa heart-based approach to parenting looks deeper and brings about greater,lasting change.The daily interaction you have with your children can impactthem for the rest of their lives. With these fifty heart-based strategies,you’ll develop your own biblical philosophy of parenting and gain perspective,greater motivation, and confidence that you’re moving in the right direction.As you envision a positive future for your children, they’ll experience hopeand direction and you will too. Start applying these principles today!

    Whereas her older son, Chase, is a Lego-loving, sports-playing boy's boy, her younger son, C.J., would much rather twirl around in a pink sparkly tutu, with a Disney Princess in each hand while singing Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi."   C.J. is gender variant or gender nonconforming, whichever you prefer. Whatever the term, Lori has a boy who likes girl stuff—really likes girl stuff. He floats on the gender-variation spectrum from super-macho-masculine on the left all the way to super-girly-feminine on the right. He's not all pink and not all blue. He's a muddled mess or a rainbow creation. Lori and her family choose to see the rainbow.   Written in Lori's uniquely witty and warm voice and launched by her incredibly popular blog of the same name, Raising My Rainbow is the unforgettable story of her wonderful family as they navigate the often challenging but never dull privilege of raising a slightly effeminate, possibly gay, totally fabulous son.Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader’s guide and bonus content

    Discover how zinc deficiency can cause picky eating and affect growth. The panoply of problems caused by dairy and gluten. How to cure sleep disorders with melatonin, hyperactivity with magnesium, anxiety with fish oil. Kelly Dorfman, a nutritionist whose typical patient arrives at her practice after seeing three or more specialists, gives parents the tools to become nutrition detectives themselves. She shows how to recalibrate children's diets through the easy E.A.T. program, and how to get kids off drugs—antibiotics, laxatives, Prozac, Ritalin—and back to a state of natural well-being. "In her terrific book, Kelly Dorfman clearly explains how to decipher the clues to nutritional disorders that affect the body and brain. Parents will find it packed with sound advice and useful information." —Maurine Packard, MD, pediatric neurologist A Nautilus Book Award Gold winner.

    This indispensable means of grace directs our children to seek Christ daily, preparing them to go out into the world as fully functioning Christian adults, who love Christ and see all of life in relation to Him.

    Through their adventures, Ripley discovers startling truths about how attitudes, parenting, and rigorous teaching have revolutionized these countries’ education results.In The Smartest Kids in the World, Ripley’s astonishing new insights reveal that top-performing countries have achieved greatness only in the past several decades; that the kids who live there are learning to think for themselves, partly through failing early and often; and that persistence, hard work, and resilience matter more to our children’s life chances than self-esteem or sports.Ripley’s investigative work seamlessly weaves narrative and research, providing in-depth analysis and gripping details that will keep you turning the pages. Written in a clear and engaging style, The Smartest Kids in the World will enliven public as well as dinner table debates over what makes for brighter and better students.

    It's about listening, understanding, responding, and communicating. Written by children's book and parenting author, L.R.Knost, 'Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages' is an introduction to the ideas behind gentle parenting and to its practical application in each of the developmental stages of childhood.

    Her mission is to let parents know that there are other ways to cope with a toddler apart from putting him or her on the naughty step or resorting to controlled crying. This book will fill a gap in the market, helping parents enjoy their toddlers, understand the limitations of current popular toddler parenting methods such as sticker charts and time out, and to have the confidence to ignore the current mainstream 'experts' and parent their own child with trust and empathy. Chapters include: Why toddlers are not mini-adults; the importance of night-time parenting; coping with a picky eater; communication - toddler style; avoiding difficult situations; the importance of unconditional love and why you don't need to be permissive to parent respectfully.

    When normal childhood behavior is viewed as normal instead of something to be corrected and controlled, communication creates the bridge to guide children toward developmentally appropriate growth, maturity, and independence. Written by best-selling parenting and children's book author and mother of six, L.R.Knost, 'Whispers Through Time: Communication Through the Ages and Stages of Childhood' is a rethinking of mainstream parenting's perception of normal childhood behaviors coupled with simple, practical approaches to parent/child communication at each stage of development from tots to teens.Other books by L.R.Knost include her best-selling parenting guide, 'Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages' as well as her children's picture books, 'Petey's Listening Ears,' 'A Walk in the Clouds,' and the soon-to-be-released 'Grumpykins' series which are humorous and engaging tools for parents, teachers, and caregivers to use in implementing gentle parenting techniques in their homes and schools.

    First steps, little league (or ballet). Maybe the child would play piano or make you proud on the Honor Roll. There'd be eventual graduations, college, even marriage and grandchildren. You might dream it out that far. Or not. Every parent has hopes. No parents wish for pain—their own, or a child's. Then you had a premature delivery in a foreign country. And the words swirling around you said a different kind of "what if." What if something was wrong? The dream was at risk—or so it seemed. Would you be ready for that? Could you make peace? Or would it take you down?These are the questions author Gillian Marchenko faced as she woke up after an emergency C-section in Ukraine. Only her newborn child could answer them, in time. But first she had to find a way to hear more than the words "Down syndrome." Sun Shine Down. A memoir.

    In fact, there are seven critical times in each of our lives when God wants to give us a powerful message of identity and destiny. In The Power of a Parent's Blessing Craig Hill explains each of these times, answering key questions such as:- What is the key identity question to be answered in your child's heart? - When is the appropriate time to bless? - What are potential consequences of not blessing? - What is the role of each parent in blessing at this specific time? - What are practical tools to use in blessing?It is never to late to start your children on the road to fulfilling their destinies. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or step-parent, these powerful blessings will help the children in your life to prosper.

    But the rest of us wish that parenting came with operating instructions. Now it does. The result of thirty years of scientific research, Alan Kazdin’s The Everyday Parenting Toolkit will guide you through every developmental stage—from toddler to teenager—and make you a more relaxed, confident, and competent parent. The rigorously tested strategies in this book will not only help change your child’s behavior, they will also decrease the stress in family relations, increase your joy in parenting, and help build a more nurturing home life that can directly improve children's mental and physical health and school success. You won’t find abstract philosophy here. You’ll see every point, every strategy, illustrated with real-life examples. From toilet training to teaching a child to accept “no” without a tantrum all the way up to struggles over cellphones and curfew; from swiftly and gently correcting problem behaviors to fostering positive character qualities like respect for others, honesty, good friendships, or altruism, The Everyday Parenting Toolkit will surprise you time and again with counterintuitive advice that works. For years parents have been coming to Dr. Kazdin’s Parenting Center at Yale University for help with the challenges, large and small, of child rearing. With the publication of this book, every reader can gain access to that advice and to parenting know-how that transforms families.

    Kids who are advanced intellectually often let their imaginations ruin wild and experience fears beyond their years. So what can you do to help?In Why Smart Kids Worry, Allison Edwards guides you through the mental and emotional process of where your child's fears come from and why they are so hard to move past. Edwards focuses on how to parent a child who is both smart and anxious and brings her years of experience as a therapist to give you the answers to questions such as:-How do smart kids think differently? -Should I let my child watch the nightly news on TV? -How do I answer questions about terrorists, hurricanes, and other scary subjects?Edwards's fifteen specially designed tools for helping smart kids manage their fears will help you and your child work together to help him or her to become more relaxed and worry-free.

    Growth spurts. Mood swings. All combined with blood sugars..The teen years with diabetes on board are a challenging time for parents and anyone who cares about a child with diabetes. Raising Teens with Diabetes: A Survival Guide for Parents, by well-known diabetes mom, author, and advocate Moira McCarthy, is a no-nonsense, honest approach at not just surviving but thriving in those years, from a mom who has been there..Raising Teens with Diabetes is a must-have resource for anyone navigating the waters of parenting a child with diabetes.

    We wouldn't trade this role for the world, and yet, many of us are not experiencing it the way we want to be. We don't have the reserves of inner calm, we don't feel ready for our days with energy and vitality, and we don't know how to keep ourselves replenished while we're pouring out our lives for those we love the most. It's a paradox that leaves us feeling like we're wasting the most precious and amazing years of our motherhood journeys feeling depleted, scattered and flat. Whether you feel like you're drowning, or like you're treading water day after day and getting more exhausted by the minute, the first step is to take care of the core essentials of your well-being. Replenish explores the seven core essentials that get us out of the water and able to catch our breath again so we can live, love and mother with greater calm, clarity and vitality in the world.

    Starr Meade enables families with school-age children to participate in satisfying devotions together by taking them through The Heidelberg Catechism explaining its answers in short devotional readings accompanied by relevant Bible passages

    We fall short of our own standard of excellence, and then we feel insecure about not being the perfect wife with the perfect kids, perfect husband, perfect home, perfect friends, perfect marriage, and perfect body…Jill speaks to the root of the insecurities mothers feel and points to a better way. No More Perfect Moms will help a mom:Change her unrealistic expectations to realistic hopesGive grace and love to her husband and children even during struggles, and discover the beauty of grace when she stops judging herself and othersFind freedom from disappointment when she embraces her real family, her real challenges, and her real, but imperfect, lifeWith refreshing honesty, Jill exposes some of her own parental shortcomings and helps mothers everywhere shelve their desires for perfection and embrace God’s beautiful grace. When moms do this, they can learn to love their real but imperfect lives.

    With key questions many parents face today, these answers carry a Kingdom perspective on training children to change the world. Topics include: how to prioritize family; maintaining relationship and discipline; developing character; how to navigate media and music; training your children for worship; and carrying great promise for your kids.Content is based on the audio recording of Intentional Parenting : Kingdom Perspective on Raising Revivalists released through Bethel Media.

    Having both perspectives provides an opportunity to speak into some of the most common struggles that parents face in today's fast-paced society. Intentional Parenting is built around 12 chapters that each dispel some of the most common parenting myths and reminds all parents of truths that can empower them to be not only the parents that their children need but that God has called them to be.The book helps you discover first who you are and then takes that healthy person into a discovery of being more intentional, playful, consistent, merciful, and connected to your children.Understanding your child.  Understanding you.

    Christ in the Chaos brings comfort to conflicted hearts that are starved of grace and longing for the freedom in Christ the Bible promises.In this book, Kimm Crandall emphasizes the importance of the gospel and how Christ’s life, death, and resurrection change every aspect of motherhood. From finding our identity in Christ and understanding God’s grace to taking off the mask of acceptability and dealing with the comparison crud, this book will free you to serve your family knowing that his love for you does not change based on your performance.Christ in the Chaos is a “must read” for every mother who longs for what is seemingly impossible: peace and freedom in the midst of her chaos.

    The book lucidly explains the conceptual underpinnings of COS and demonstrates the innovative attachment-based assessment and intervention strategies in rich clinical detail, including three chapter-length case examples. Reproducible forms and handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. COS is an effective research-based program that has been implemented throughout the world with children and parents experiencing attachment difficulties. The authors are corecipients of the 2013 Bowlby-Ainsworth Award, presented by the New York Attachment Consortium, for developing and implementing COS. See also the authors' related parent guide: Raising a Secure Child: How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture Your Child's Attachment, Emotional Resilience, and Freedom to Explore.

    Chapter 1.The birth you want: what motivates the willing woman?Chapter 2.Reality hurts: birth in the labour-bypass eraChapter 3.It’s a fine line: reframing pain in labourChapter 4.Approaching labour: what pain type are you?Chapter 5.Crisis of confidence: when self-belief crumblesChapter 6.The right support: who will get you through?

    What do my children really need? Why are they doing that? Is this normal? What can I do to help them? How can I know for certain that I am doing this right?The logistics are easy. Anybody can do laundry and carpool. But what makes a mother the best mom she can be? It's not better scheduling. Or more activities. Or less. It is passion--the passion to teach, protect, study, and prepare her children for the future.Great, but how?Susan Merrill, the mother of five incredibly different children, has asked that question countless times. And she has read countless answers specific to a certain child's temperament, age, or situation. But nothing she read offered an overall approach to parenting that would enable her to say with confidence, "I am doing this right." She never guessed she would find a foundational plan--a reliable, universal parenting approach in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.In The Passionate Mom, Susan takes you on a journey through Nehemiah and into the heart of parenting. Her stories and confessions in every chapter reveal what she has learned: no mom can control her child's future, but every mom can parent well. There is a plan--a roadmap for how a passionate mom can parent almost any child, confidently. ...This book reaches mothers like me at both the heart level and the head level, showing us how to guide our children passionately and practically...--Shaunti Feldhahn, social researcher, national speaker and best-selling author of For Women Only "Being a mother is the greatest joy of my life. My friend Susan Merrill regularly inspires me in my role as a Mother. In her book, she will inspire you!--Denise Jonas, Mother of Kevin, Joe, Nick and Frankie Jonas Every mother's goal is to see her children fully blossom. In 'The Passionate Mom' Susan Merrill not only outlines the qualities women need to be successful moms, but also lays out a practical, biblical plan to help develop those qualities. She provides sound advice to help in the difficult task of raising children. --Lauren and Tony Dungy

    The first three years of life are too important for experiments, but the Montessori guidelines presented here have held true all over the world, no matter what the culture of the child, for over 100 years. It is the goal of this book to help parents look for, discover, appreciate, and support the mental, physical, and emotional needs of the child in the first three years of life. There are over 180 black and white pictures from the author’s work around the world with children from birth to three years of age. "The Joyful Child" is used in Montessori teacher training centers, middle school human development classes, birth preparation classes, and it is of interest to anyone studying education and child development. It has been translated into several languages and is often used as a text for parenting classes. Chapters: The First Year—The senses: Before birth; music and language; crying as communication; seeing and processing; the absorbent mind; materials The First Year—Reaching Out and Grasping: The development of movement; toys that aid the natural development of movement; natural materials for toys The First Year—Sitting up and Working: The child’s Work; eating and working while sitting up; safety concerns with new movement abilities; number of toys available at any one time, and learning to put them away; suggested toys The First Year—Freedom of movement; a safe and natural environment; crawling, pulling up, standing, and walking; toys and equipment that aid movement development The End of the First Year—Unique Development and the Child’s Self-Respect: Each child’s path of development is unique; aiding the beginning of a good self-image; preparing the home to welcome the newborn; clothing that supports free movement; attachment and separation, preparation for weaning and toilet learning; sign language and elimination communication (EC); materials that support optimum growth and development; unconditional love; the end of the first year Age 1-3—Care of Self, Others, and the Environment: Participating in the real life of the family; kinds of practical life activities; the work environment and concentration; materials; undressing and dressing; a place for everything and everything in its place; The child's purpose; the needs of the parents; adults and children working together; the child's research of the rules of society; teach by teaching, NOT by correcting; offering choices Age 1-3—Toys and Puzzles: Selecting toys; organizing and rotating toys; learning to put toys away; respecting concentration; visual discrimination and eye-hand control; puzzle toys; open-ended toys Age 1-3—Music: Dancing and singing; percussion instruments and other music materials Age 1-3—Language: Listening comes first; a second language; listening and including the child in conversation; vocabulary, words, pictures, and books; formal language; storytelling, reading and writing; biting; imagination? lying?; materials; supporting language development Age 1-3—Art: Art is more than drawing; art materials; art appreciation; art work Age 1-3—People: Daily life of people of the world; materials Age 1-3—Plants and Animals: A natural love of nature; experiencing and naming plants; gardening; observing and caring for animals; materials Age 1-3—Physical Science and Math: The beginnings of physicals sciences; the beginnings of math Age 0-3—Preparing the Environment: What do we need for a new baby? safety; general environment principles; the environment and the absorbent mind; the outside environment; materials; conclusion Age 0-3—Parenting and Teaching: A gentle birth; gentle family togetherness in daily life; clothing and materials; developing trust in the world; a gentle beginning, the role of the father; a sense of order; the changing environment; the child’s ne

    The expert authors unveil the Kinetic Scale: a visual map of the active learning needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary graders that fits each child’s individual timetable. Teachers, parents, and caregivers will find a wealth of information, actionable tips, and games they can use to support children’s healthy development—all presented in a lively, full-color format with demonstrative diagrams and photos. A final section offers easy-to-implement activities geared to the Kinetic Scale.Downloadable digital content includes printable charts, games, and activities from the book plus a PowerPoint presentation for professional development, parent handouts, and bonus activities. An ideal tool for coaches, mentors, and trainers.

    Make a positive transformation in your home as you let go of fear-based techniques and embrace the philosophy of positive parenting. Filled with practical examples, personal stories, and nuggets of hard-earned wisdom, The Newbie's Guide to Positive Parenting has everything you need to change your parenting paradigm and enrich your family life. If you are desperately missing the close bond you once had with your child, if your days are filled with tears and frustration, this book is for you. The relationships we build with our children last a lifetime. Ultimately, love is the only leverage we have with our kids. Fear-based parenting only works as long as it can be physically or emotionally enforced, but love is a more effective motivator over time. Through being kind and firm, consistent and empathetic, we allow our children optimal development. When the child-rearing is done, the loving bond you have built is what will make your relationship with your adult child fruitful and enjoyable. Positive parenting keeps that relationship intact while teaching and guiding your child to his or her fullest potential.

    And if you work with children or adolescents, you know that kids today need these skills more than ever. The pressures they face in the classroom, on the playground, in their extracurricular activities, and at home can sometimes be overwhelming. So how can you help lay the groundwork for their success?A Still Quiet Place presents an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program that therapists, teachers, and other professionals can use to help children and adolescents manage stress and anxiety in their lives, and develop their natural capacities for emotional fluency, respectful communication, and compassionate action. The program detailed in this book is based on author Amy Saltzman’s original curriculum, which has helped countless children and adolescents achieve significant improvements in attention and reduced anxiety.One of the easiest ways to find the still quiet place within is to practice mindfulness—paying attention to your life experience here and now with kindness and curiosity. The easy-to-implement mindfulness practices in this guide are designed to help increase children and adolescents’ attention, learning, resiliency, and compassion by showing them how to experience the natural quietness that can be found within.The still quiet place is a place of peace and happiness that is alive inside all of us, and you can find it just by closing your eyes and breathing. For more information, visit www.stillquietplace.com.

    In his assured, no-nonsense fashion Dr Christian allays the fears, and uncertainties of growing youngsters (and helps parents find answers) about puberty, sex, personal and emotional health and body image. Leave it on the coffee table or sit down and go through it together - this book is a godsend for every family household with children under the age of 15 Addressing all those cringey questions parents squirm at answering, Dr Christian's sensible, light-hearted advice guides boys and girls on the path to be coming healthy, happy adults. Covering issues such as: · Puberty · Diet · Sex · Sexuality · Self-esteem/body image · Personal health · Emotional health ...Show More Show Less

    Whether you are trying to conceive, are pregnant, recovering from childbirth, or raising children today, Wild Mothering will help you access your core creative energy to connect with the sacred feminine and truly mother from the center.As both a healer and a physical therapist, Tami Lynn Kent takes a holistic approach to women's health as she gently guides you through the emotional and physical transformative process of pregnancy, birth, and mother hood.Revealing her own soul-filled journey from the heartbreak of miscarriage to the joy of parenting, Kent offers an intimate and comprehensive guide to reclaiming the energetic center of the female body to liberate your spirit and ultimately unleash your creative potential as both a woman and a mother.You'll learn how to:Access, heal and direct your feminine energyHeal from pregnancy and birthStrengthen the bond between mother and childCreate holistic family harmonyFind balance between work and homeWhether you are trying to conceive or are already a parent, Kent offers the tools you need to heal and flourish, as a woman and a mother.

    Drawing from her personal experience as a mother and grandmother, she covers topics such as:   ·          Accessing God’s shelter in times of danger ·          Protection from evils over which we have no control ·          Intervention of God’s angels on your child’s behalf ·          Teaching your child to call on God for protection

    Mom, you are your daughter’s greatest influence, mentor, and relationship coach. It is time to take action! The most important decision of your daughter’s life is who will be her Master; the second is who will be her “mister.” You play a vital role in preparing her to make this choice. Bestselling author, Jackie Kendall, opens her heart and candidly shares four decades’ worth of experience with mothers who are raising daughters to navigate the challenges of relationships. These principles help you effectively guide your daughter to: •     Maintain high relationship standards •     Guard her mind from false relationship images •     Teach her the value of waiting for God’s best Kids are passing school while flunking in relationships. Raising a Lady in Waiting  provides you with the keys necessary to safeguard your daughter from pursuing “Bozos” and prepares her for the “Boaz” God has waiting.

    Initially collaborating online about therapies, biomedical intervention, alternative medicine, special diets, and doctors on the cutting edge of treatment approaches to an array of chronic and developmental disabilities, such as autism, sensory processing disorders, food allergies, ADHD, asthma, and seizures, they've come together into something far more substantial. Suspecting that some of the main causes may be overused medicines, vaccinations, environmental toxins, and processed foods, they began a mission to help reverse the effects. In the process, they became a tight-knit family dedicated to helping their kids shed their diagnoses.  Here, collected by Helen Conroy and Lisa Joyce Goes, are the stories of their fights to recover their kids from autism and related disorders. With each chapter written by a different TMR member, they share how they discovered each other, what they learned from each other, and why it’s important to have close friends who understand what it's like to parent a child with special needs. You'll read about the their experiences, and learn how their determination and friendships have become a daily motivation for parents worldwide.

    Just open the door and step outside. A fun, hands on approach to getting involved in nature, The Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book is a year-round how-to activity guidebook for getting kids outdoors and exploring nature, be it catching fireflies in the cool summer evenings; making birdfeeders in the fall from peanut butter, pine cones, and seed; building a snowman in 3 feet of fresh winter snow; or playing duck, duck, goose with friends in a meadow on a warm spring day. The Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book includes 448 things to do in nature for kids of all ages--more than one activity for every single day of the year. Each of the year's four seasons includes fifty checklist items, fifty challenge items, three each of projects, destinations, garden recipes, and outdoor games. Throughout the book, you'll also find fascinating facts, useful tips and tricks, and plenty of additional resources to turn to. Complete with whimsical, vibrant illustrations, this book is a must for parents and their kids.

    A Parent's Guidebook to Minecraft(R) is written for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone else who has kids swept up in the Minecraft(R) phenomenon. This handbook explains how to install, set up, and play the game, so that even adults with minimum computer literacy can step in and help their children-and play alongside them. Moving beyond the basics, this practical guide explores larger questions such as online safety, be it playing in multi-player worlds or posting on forums or YouTube. It also examines the social and academic advantages to be found in Minecraft(R) and offers realistic solutions to challenges such as time management and conflicts over computer use. With a simple, friendly, and open style, A Parent's Guidebook to Minecraft(R) offers practical help and new ways to connect with children who play this exciting and creative game. You'll learn to Make playing Minecraft(R) a rewarding experience for your kids-and the entire family.Set limits and ensure the computer doesn't become a source of conflict.Take advantage of the social aspects of Minecraft(R) and keep your kids safe online.Gather supplies, craft items, and build structures.Avoid monsters-or just remove them from the game. Set up a server in your home.Minecraft(R) is a trademark of Mojang Synergies/Notch Development AB. This book is not affiliated with or sponsored by Mojang Synergies/Notch Development AB.

    All breastfeeding-without-birthing mothers who wish to provide their own milk for their baby will learn the tools and techniques for inducing lactation without pregnancy and birth.

    The Gentle Parenting Workshops from award-winning author, L.R.Knost are companions to her best-selling parenting books, 'Two Thousand Kisses a Day,' 'Whispers Through Time,' and the newest release, 'The Gentle Parent.' The first workshop in the series, 'Gentle Parenting Workshop 1: Getting Started on Your Gentle Journey,' will help you set your gentle parenting goals, identify specific parenting problems, and target practical solutions to help you along on your journey to gentle parenting.

    It offers nurturing support and practical ideas to guide you toward a new way of being. Enjoyable, down-to-earth, and empowering, Renée Peterson Trudeau’s ten paths to peace will help you learn how to:* find your center and move through chaos and uncertainty with renewed strength and ease* live every day aligned with your values and what matters most* slow down, tap the wisdom of your wise self, and know what’s best for you and your family* release old habits, fears, and anxieties as you explore a new way of being* access more joy by living in the present moment (the best antidote to stress!)* experience more freedom and unscheduled time

    The first three years of life are too important for experiments, but the Montessori guidelines presented here have held true all over the world, no matter what the culture of the child, for over 100 years. It is the goal of this book to help parents look for, discover, appreciate, and support the mental, physical, and emotional needs of the child in the first three years of life. There are over 180 black and white pictures from the author's work around the world with children from birth to three years of age. "The Joyful Child" is used in Montessori teacher training centers, middle school human development classes, birth preparation classes, and it is of interest to anyone studying education and child development. It has been translated into several languages and is often used as a text for parenting classes. Chapters: The First Year-The senses: Before birth; music and language; crying as communication; seeing and processing; the absorbent mind; materials The First Year-Reaching Out and Grasping: The development of movement; toys that aid the natural development of movement; natural materials for toys The First Year-Sitting up and Working: The child's Work; eating and working while sitting up; safety concerns with new movement abilities; number of toys available at any one time, and learning to put them away; suggested toys The First Year-Freedom of movement; a safe and natural environment; crawling, pulling up, standing, and walking; toys and equipment that aid movement development The End of the First Year-Unique Development and the Child's Self-Respect: Each child's path of development is unique; aiding the beginning of a good self-image; preparing the home to welcome the newborn; clothing that supports free movement; attachment and separation, preparation for weaning and toilet learning; sign language and elimination communication (EC); materials that support optimum growth and development; unconditional love; the end of the first year Age 1-3-Care of Self, Others, and the Environment: Participating in the real life of the family; kinds of practical life activities; the work environment and concentration; materials; undressing and dressing; a place for everything and everything in its place; The child's purpose; the needs of the parents; adults and children working together; the child's research of the rules of society; teach by teaching, NOT by correcting; offering choices Age 1-3-Toys and Puzzles: Selecting toys; organizing and rotating toys; learning to put toys away; respecting concentration; visual discrimination and eye-hand control; puzzle toys; open-ended toys Age 1-3-Music: Dancing and singing; percussion instruments and other music materials Age 1-3-Language: Listening comes first; a second language; listening and including the child in conversation; vocabulary, words, pictures, and books; formal language; storytelling, reading and writing; biting; imagination? lying?; materials; supporting language development Age 1-3-Art: Art is more than drawing; art materials; art appreciation; art work Age 1-3-People: Daily life of people of the world; materials Age 1-3-Plants and Animals: A natural love of nature; experiencing and naming plants; gardening; observing and caring for animals; materials Age 1-3-Physical Science and Math: The beginnings of physicals sciences; the beginnings of math Age 0-3-Preparing the Environment: What do we need for a new baby? safety; general environment principles; the environment and the absorbent mind; the outside environment; materials; conclusion Age 0-3-Parenting and Teaching: A gentle birth; gentle family togetherness in daily life; clothing and materials; developing trust in the world; a gentle beginning, the role of the father; a sense of order; the changing environment; the child's needs; modeling, setting limits, and time out; educational materials for 0-3; conclusion

    The book has been endorsed by the likes of CEO of Coca-Cola and P&G. The book also has contributions from leading New York Times Best-Selling authors, women entrepreneur’s, top business coaches and many more. Link: www.amazon.com/dp/B00BH4A47M The book is aimed for fathers of kids less than 12 year olds. In the first 10-12 years of kid’s lives, the subconscious software, including their habits, beliefs and mindset, which will run a lifetime, is being written on their tender minds. Any problems now will leave like software bugs in their systems and cause future challenges like depression, addictions, shyness, being easily bullied, overweight, lack of drive, under-confidence, complexes and in extreme cases, even suicides (examples in the book).Research has shown that a busy dad spends on an average 5-7 minutes a day with his child (that has undivided attention). The book focuses on power of a minute and making those 5ish minutes to inspire kids, bond with them, teach them the crucial lessons of life and future proof them from negativities and bad habits which could grip them later in life. The book is a one-hour read, which will be the best one-hour you invest as a father.Covering all areas of a child’s development, the 125-page dead simple and more importantly, “actionable” book is a distilled product of over 1000 pages of work and interviews. It gives the simplest and yet most powerful fathering tools one will ever find. In just one minute... and there are 99 of them… Dads can have a huge impact on their children.A busy doctor who was at the receiving end 5 years ago has written this ground-breaking book which helps us use just the very few minutes we have to drop down accuracy and effectiveness. Dr Prashant Jindal, MD took 5 years to write this book, including hundreds of interviews that he conducted.

    Popular speaker Rhonda Stoppe, mom to two sons, knows this opportunity is a challenge, a joy, and probably the most important work of a woman’s life. Drawing from years of ministering to youth and to women and from her own parenting experience, Rhonda provides refreshingly relevant guidance, biblical and contemporary examples, and humorous insights to help each reader discoverhow to guide a son without hovering and smotheringhow every action and choice can serve a godly goalways to communicate so a boy will listen and be heardGod’s power and grace to become—and give—her bestPacked with practical help from parenting experts and other moms, this inspirational resource will revive the faithfulness and fortitude a woman needs to partner with God as they shape the character and heart of a future godly man.

    And there is no escaping the problem: One in every five kids suffers from a diagnosable anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, when parents or professionals offer help in traditional ways, they unknowingly reinforce a child's worry and avoidance. From their success with hundreds of organizations, schools, and families, Reid Wilson, PhD, and Lynn Lyons, LICSW, share their unconventional approach of stepping into uncertainty in a way that is currently unfamiliar but infinitely successful. Using current research and contemporary examples, the book exposes the most common anxiety-enhancing patterns—including reassurance, accommodation, avoidance, and poor problem solving—and offers a concrete plan with 7 key principles that foster change. And, since new research reveals how anxious parents typically make for anxious children, the book offers exercises and techniques to change both the children's and the parental patterns of thinking and behaving. This book challenges our basic instincts about how to help fearful kids and will serve as the antidote for an anxious nation of kids and their parents.

    They should correct their children's errors and most importantly guide them to live a life that is pleasing to Allah and teach them a means of achieving it. Allah points these duties to parents, particularly the fathers, In His book (the Qur'aan) when he gave the example of Luqmaan and his son. 'And (remember) when Luqmaan said to his while he was advising him: "O my son! join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed. "Luqmaan (31:13). Our success as parents is determined largely by how well we are able to discharge those responsibilities Allah has placed on us regarding out children. this book explains different aspects of the advice of Luqmaan to his son and its significance for a successful life.

    Presenting Montessori principles in clear and eloquent prose, Stephenson's legacy will be a tremendous service to generations of parents to come.- -Angeline Lillard, PhD, Professor of Psychology, U. of Virginia, author of Montessori, The Science behind the Genius

    The trajectory of unmet expectations, our children s compromised beginnings, and the wounds we carry into our adoptions conspire to take us to a place we didn t belong. Insights on emotional healing help us reclaim hope for our adoption journey. This is not a how-to or a ten-easy-steps-to successful parenting program. It s about real life, real women, and real struggles. It s about relationships and community. It s about reclaiming ourselves as women when adoption dreams shatter. It s about a journey that begins in our mother s heart, and delivers us to the place we do belong- into our Father s arms."

    In 2011, 90% or more of adoption agencies are recommending open adoption. Yet these agencies do not often or adequately prepare either adopting parents or birth parents for the road ahead of them! The adult parties in open adoptions are left floundering. There are many resources on why to do open adoption, but what about how? Open adoption isn't just something parents do when they exchange photos, send emails, share a visit. It's a lifestyle that may intrude at times, be difficult or inconvenient at other times. Tensions can arise even in the best of situations. But knowing how to handle these situations and how to continue to make arrangements work for the children involved is paramount. This book offers readers the tools and the insight to do just that. It covers common open-adoption situations and how real families have navigated common issues successfully. Like all useful parenting books, it provides parents with the tools to come to answers on their own, and answers questions that might not yet have come up. Through their own stories and those of other families of open adoption, they review the secrets to success, the pitfalls and challenges, the joys and triumphs. By putting the adopted children first, families can come to enjoy the benefits of open adoption and mitigate the challenges that may arise. More than a how-to, this book shares a mindset, a heartset, that can be learned and internalized, so parents can learn to act out of love and honesty.

    This book is packed with practical advice and personal stories, and spiced with the humor of daily life.

    But GOD is on your side! He has given us sixty-five biblical promises for our children—things He pledges to do for them—if we pray and believe. Scripture declares He is “the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations…”’ (Deut. 7:9, nkjv). How amazing! Biblically a generation is probably forty years long. Now multiply that by a thousand. That’s how long God promises to manifest covenant provision and merciful care to your family line—all because YOU have made a genuine commitment to love and serve Him.65 Supernatural Promises for Your Child showcases the specific promises God has given us for our children, including mercy, covenant, peace, spiritual growth, angelic protection, and provision.  With each new promise Shreve presents the key scripture followed by the explanation that will help you appropriate the promise. More than just a blessing, praying these promises could be the pivot on which the future of your family turns.

    Author Jaimie Bowman takes weary mothers through a 31 day journey of reconnecting with the Lord and renewing peace and joy in their mothering journeys.

    

    Integrating faith with marriage, parenting, and work, this resource offers a comprehensive understanding of a Catholic father's identity and purpose. Blending personal anecdotes from Catholic fathers, models of fatherhood in Jesus' parables, Scriptural passages, references to published books, and allusions to Church teachings and figures of authority, Catholic fathers are provided with the path to living as faithful family men.

    You will be inspired to new heights and visions.

    For the single teenage girl with an unplanned pregnancy, A Bump in Life gathers story after inspiring story of brave young moms who managed to grow in grace and wisdom as an unexpected new life grew inside of them. There's Amy, the Christian girl who could not face her parents but fainted at the abortion clinic just in time to stop the procedure from happening that day (or ever). Jayd could not raise her baby, but she was determined to bless the adoptive parents with a special dedication ceremony honoring their new family. Tasha was two weeks old when her mom left -- and seventeen years later was pregnant with twins of her own. She broke the cycle of abandonment and is a great mom today. Taylor grew up without a father and felt a need to be validated by men. As a high school junior she became pregnant after a first date only to have the guy change his phone number and disappear – but she gave birth to a baby girl that has stolen her heart. Overflowing with encouragement, A Bump in Life will help anyone going through or connected with this situation move from feelings of loneliness, shame, and worry to the far more lasting joy that is God’s redemptive blessing of a child.

    With 1,000 quotes, reflections, and insights Mom Candy gets at the heart of motherhood—from the anticipation of pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby, through the early years and the school days, to the lifelong bond that women have with their children.  With thoughts from Hillary Clinton, Madeleine L'Engle, Michelle Obama, Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon, Erica Jong, Jodi Picoult, and many others.Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.— Tina Fey, actress, writer, and producer

    With more than 60 thought-provoking list topics ranging from the classic to the lovably idiosyncratic (including your child's first words, the best and most challenging parts of parenting, and your child's biggest tantrums), this illustrated journal is a celebration of parenthood and childhood that will serve as a lovely keepsake for the family.

    Each chapter focusses on the common difficulties faced by carers or parents and features quick, applicable ideas with exercises and illustrations. How do you react to a child's difficult behaviour? How do you deal with your own negative emotions? How do you know when to be empathic? The book looks beyond the traditional punishment/reward strategies and aims to provide an explanation for such questions whilst helping the child in the process.This book will prove to be an invaluable resource for parents, foster carers, social workers and professionals working with children who are adopted or fostered.

    We expect that everything that falls under its umbrella will help make EC more approachable for a wider audience. Andrea’s approach is consistent with the philosophy of DiaperFreeBaby and makes it clear that EC is foremost about gentle communication. Furthermore, the material is organized in a manner that prevents the reader from becoming overwhelmed – a strangely frequent phenomenon, given the simplicity and naturalness of EC itself. In short, this project is a real tour de force and a great resource that EC advocates everywhere should not hesitate to recommend.” From the Directors of DiaperFreeBaby.org, the international non-profit dedicated to advocating Elimination Communication "I highly recommend this beautiful and excellent resource for EC families. It is the first multimedia version (bravo!) and thus enables readers to quickly find things in the book. Go Diaper Free is richly illustrated and is an invaluable compilation of information." Laurie Boucke, author of Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living In this practical handbook, learn the steps to starting and maintaining an Elimination Communication practice with your 0-18 month baby. Go Diaper Free is a filtered and simplified collection of all the existing EC research plus the newest findings in the field organized in a dummy-proof format. If you wish to avoid years of diaper dependence and potty training struggles, diaper rash and unexplained fussiness, filling the landfills and misunderstanding your baby's cries...then EC can work for you and this book is the perfect guide. If you are simply considering EC, in the middle of a horrid potty pause, or are already on board with EC but confused about how to begin, this book is the only resource you need. What you'll find inside: The exact steps of how to begin EC, separated into three age ranges, illustrated with photos and flowcharts; the only existing guides for starting EC older (5-18 months), working towards graduation, and completion; preventing/correcting dozens of common challenges (from potty pauses to peeing on the floor to general troubleshooting); over 100 photos of correct pottying positions; nighttime, part-time, travel, and on-the-go pottying; how to use cloth diapers with EC; and more. A readers' support webpage is also available which includes private instruction videos, downloadable forms, and a private forum, making the process a visual, hands-on experience...which is how Elimination Communication is best learned. About Elimination Communication Elimination Communication, also known as infant potty training or having a diaper free baby, is the natural alternative to diapers and toilet training. Ever wonder why the US's average age for potty independence is now 3 years old, but it's only 1 year old in over half the rest of the world? These cultures know that babies are born communicating their hygiene needs. EC is an eco-friendly practice that translates this ancient knowledge for use in the modern world. Know that 'diaper-free' really means free from dependence upon diapers. It can be practiced part time or full time, with or without a diaper as back-up. About the Author Andrea Olson, M.A., is a DiaperFreeBaby Mentor and resident EC expert at http://godiaperfree.com, which features the annual international awareness week, Go Diaper Free Week, and her EC podcast (the first of its kind). Andrea's Masters degree in Counseling Psychology has enabled her to professionally support 1,000s of parents worldwide practice EC with their babies in a balanced, psychologically sound manner.

    Talking and teaching are two things best done at home. Using hundreds of fun questions and quotes from this book, watch as your family comes together to discuss the most important issues of life—patriotism, values, fun, faith, and more.

    From the moment they’re born, our youngsters have an unrivaled place in our hearts, and we feel an unending burden for their welfare. We do our best to provide for them and to protect them. But sometimes, like the prodigal’s father in Luke 15, all we can do is entrust them to the Lord, love them, and give them time to find their way. Nothing is more difficult.Prayers and Promises for Worried Parents offers hope for your prodigal and help for you. In more than a hundred brief readings, Robert J. Morgan offers doses of hope—encouragements from Scripture, effective prayers, true-life stories, promises from God’s Word, timely quotes, and helpful hints for coping with yourself and your child in difficult times.God specializes in being gracious, and prodigals have a way of coming home. Don’t despair over your wayward ones. The Lord hasn’t given up on them. Nor on you!

    Learn what motivates a man to pursue this noble occupation. Discover the countless joys and periodic sorrows that come with raising a family.Witness the life and family of Scott Benner, author, activist, humorist, and 12-year stay-at-home dad. When Scott’s daughter, Arden, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two, his world took a sharp turn, but his positive outlook on life did not waver.Scott’s colloquial wisdom will warm your heart while it challenges your ideas about parenting and gender roles in today’s household. Written from a truly unique point of view in a style both poignant and playful, Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal is an honest portrait of the modern family.

    Mental illness in children can be particularly draining due to the mystery surrounding it, and the issue of diagnosis at such a tender age. "Depression and Your Child" gives parents and caregivers a uniquely textured understanding of pediatric depression, its causes, its symptoms, and its treatments. Serani weaves her own personal experiences of being a depressed child along with her clinical experiences as a psychologist treating depressed children. Current research, treatments and trends are presented in easy to understand language and tough subjects like self-harm, suicide and recovery plans are addressed with supportive direction. Parents will learn tips on how to discipline a depressed child, what to expect from traditional treatments like psychotherapy and medication, how to use holistic methods to address depression, how to avoid caregiver burnout, and how to move through the trauma of diagnosis and plan for the future. Real life cases highlight the issues addressed in each chapter and resources and a glossary help to further understanding for those seeking additional information. Parents and caregivers are sure to find here a reassuring approach to childhood depression that highlights the needs of the child even while it emphasizes the need for caregivers to care for themselves and other family members as well.

    At eighteen, he was a high school dropout, stocking shelves at a department store for $4.25 an hour. Today, Rose is a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Square Peg illuminates the struggles of millions of bright young children—and their frustrated parents and teachers—who are stuck in a one-size-fits-all school system that fails to approach the student as an individual. Rose shares his own incredible journey from troubled childhood to Harvard, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology along with advances in the field of education, to ultimately provide a roadmap for parents and teachers of kids who are the casualties of America’s antiquated school system. With a distinguished blend of humor, humility, and practical advice for nurturing children who are a poor fit in conventional schools, Square Peg is a game-changing manifesto that provides groundbreaking insight into how we can get the most out of all the students in our classrooms, and why today’s dropouts could be tomorrow’s innovators.

    As you grow and your body goes through some pretty wild changes, you might be wondering things like: Why don t I look like her? I have to use that? Is this normal? And, Why is this happening to me? The Ultimate Body Book for Girls answers all those awkward questions you d rather not ask your mom---at least out loud. Mixing fun with great advice, you ll learn about bras, boys, periods, pimples, and so much more. Most importantly, you ll learn that God made you exactly the way he wants you---no matter how weird growing up can be."

    Life is busy, especially with a little one in tow, and it doesn’t leave much time to plan, prep ingredients, and prepare wholesome meals that are easy to take along, whether you are traveling by car or plane, heading to daycare or the park, or simply running errands. The more than 75 wholesome, yummy recipes found here, plus loads of tips and tricks for planning, prepping, cooking, packaging, and feeding, will set you up for any situation. Baby & Toddler On the Go takes you through each stage of eating, from introducing purees at 4 to 6 months, to bite-sized mini meals packed with nutritious ingredients by 12 months, to sandwiches and finger foods appropriate for toddlers 18 months to 3 years and beyond. Plus, nearly all of the recipes found here can be made in advance and stored in the freezer, meaning that you can have a array of different meals at your fingertips, anytime. So, no matter where you are, it’s possible to feed your child tasty meals and snacks that are sure to elicit a smile. Selected recipes include: -steamed veggies puree -spinach and cheese frittata bites -pesto and mozzarella sammies -mini pita pockets -fruit and vanilla yogurt dip -savory mini corn muffins

    Momstrology is the complete guide to understanding how both you and your little one are guided by the stars, and how your charts play a factor in how you relate to each other.Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut, professional astrologers known as the Astrotwins, offer a modern look at astrology and parenting, and combine the two into a guide to understanding yourself, your parenting strengths and weaknesses, your little one's personality, and how you and your child can best relate to each other. Thoughtful, informative and fun, Momstrology covers every possible mom/child sign combination, and includes valuable information for dads and caregivers too.

    They desire to pray boldly and stand in the gap for their kids. But many mothers haven’t been equipped with the prayer skills, scriptural knowledge, and practical strategies to fight the spiritual battle for themselves and their children.Marla is no stranger to these trials. She has felt the simmering frustration and discontentment that come from the constant tension of trying to do it all for her family. But as Marla began to turn everything over to God in prayer, He granted her an attitude of gratitude, the antidote to despair. “When you and I choose to praise the Lord, He will be fully present in our hearts, in our homes, and with our children,” she says.In Prayer Warrior Mom, Marla invites you to walk with her through fifteen life-transforming principles that will empower you to effectively intercede for your children. Learn to cultivate your own attitude of gratitude, pray Scripture, be persistent, pray with power and authority, be your children’s #1 advocate, hear God’s voice above the noise of daily life, and much more! “The only real power we have on this earth is the power of prayer. Our potent prayers for our kids connect them with the reality of God and His will for their lives,” Marla says.Mom, this is your year. Your year of spiritual breakthrough. Your year to see your children start loving God and living for Him. What are you waiting for? Become a Prayer Warrior Mom today!

    Half Fast is a collection of bizarre but true stories from my life. Stories like Mom wanting to sacrifice a lamb in our suburban backyard, signing my brother and I up for a pain study and giving me my dead Grandma's tights for Christmas. Also included are my personal bad choices like running a marathon, hypnobirthing, and assaulting myself with my own arm. Whether you are laughing with us or at us, it only matters that you are laughing. Enjoy!

    In her book, Tough Crowd My Adventures as a Chastity Educator, she shares her experiences in the classroom as well as her insights into social issues related to sexuality. Covering topics such as the media, technology and comprehensive sex education, Shawna examines how our culture shapes the sexual behavior and morals of our youth. Her countless interactions with students reveal that chastity is indeed possible in our modern world. This book is a must read for parents, educators, youth pastors and anyone with a heart for young people. Find out how chastity education can change the world.

    Middle school is a time of tremendous change for families. Critical Connection is for parents of young teens who have said: "So much is changing. I just don't get my daughter any more. I don't want her to slip away." "My son wants to spend every moment on some sort of electronic screen." "My daughter has these extreme mood swings and her social life is such a big deal now." "I am not sure how to discipline my son now. He's not a little boy anymore." "I don't know what to do about her smartphone." While this may seem overwhelming, the truth is that being a young teen can be wonderful. Kids at this stage of development may not admit it, but they need a stronger connection with their parents than ever before. Wise parents must seek after a better understanding of the age and try new ways to connect with and guide their children. Critical Connection offers practical advice that will help parents raise healthy young teens, inside and out. It discusses how to: oConnect with your middle school child oBuild a healthy family life oDiscipline with love oCreate resiliency and independence in your child oFoster a healthy social life in middle school oGuide their academic, athletic, and artistic life oHandle the new media and electronic devices oDevelop work ethic and financial sense Critical Connection is a parenting book that teaches parents how to build healthy, loving families that their 10-14-year-olds can rely on for safety, support, and unconditional love. People who loved Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages of Children and Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods will love this book.

    The book provides information in a frank, upbeat, conversational manner and offers thought-provoking questions designed to help readers recognize how ADHD/ADD affects them and then come up with better ideas for handling difficult situations in their own lives.From facts about an ADHD diagnosis to whether to tell friends and teachers, and from understanding both the good and bad aspects of ADHD to what can help with the disorder, there's plenty of solid information, emotional support, and tips for kids and teens.

    The solution: Learn to parent the QBQ® way – and bring personal accountability to life within our families.Based on the same concepts that have made John Miller’s signature work, QBQ: The Question Behind the Question, an international bestseller over the last decade, Raising Accountable Kids provides the tool called the QBQ or The Question Behind the Question that will help every parent look behind questions such as “Why won’t my kids listen?” or “When will they do what I ask?” to find better ones—QBQs—like “What can I do differently?” or “How can I improve as a parent?” This simple but challenging concept turns the focus – and responsibility – back to parents and to what they can do to make a difference.With thoughtful commentary, observation, and advice, illustrated with engaging and memorable anecdotes that are the hallmarks of John Miller’s previous books, Raising Accountable Kids provides all moms and dads with the means and inspiration to be more effective parents – as well as teach their children how to practice their own brand of personal accountability – to create a happy, healthy family for a lifetime.

    Now, with The Guide to Baby Sleep Positions, new parents can identify exactly which bedtime contortions they've already mastered and perhaps preview some positions that baby hasn't tried yet. Andy Herald and Charlie Capen are the talented dads behind the growing entertainment website HowToBeADad.com. Andy is a graphic designer and Charlie is an actor; together, they crank out a humorous stream of "anti-instructional" parenting content in the form of info-graphics, spoofy product ideas, and hilarious videos. All of their posts generate hundreds of "shares" across social media, but the Baby Sleep Positions stand out for garnering the biggest buzz. The Guide to Baby Sleep Positions features some of the most popular posts on the site (we can't leave out "H is for Hell" or "Jazz Hands"), but two-thirds of the content will be unique to the book, and ALL of the positions will be accompanied by new text. Packaged as a gifty paperback with flaps and priced at $9.95, the book is an irresistible gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or a baby shower, or simply as a shared laugh between new parents.

    Experiencing God at Home takes a fresh path back into the rich roots of Henry Blackaby’s world-renowned Experiencing God writings to connect what happens in our homes to what happens in our churches.Here, his sons Tom and Richard Blackaby first establish the biblical case for the idea of experiencing God at home, illuminating how the clear foundation for God’s work in nations and churches around the world is his work in families.Indeed, healthy families lead to healthy churches, and the Blackabys illustrate that through real-life stories of families that have found ways to experience God in marriage, in choosing life’s direction, in rescuing broken relationships, in forgiveness, in the salvation of loved ones, etc.Lessons from the Bible support these moving accounts, and the book concludes with resources that will guide individuals families as well as entire churches toward practically experiencing God at home.

    Whether you are in the "waiting stage" or you are two, four, six, or even ten plus years into your adoption...this book will enable you to reframe your situation with a clear vision, new knowledge, tools that work, and the support of others who have walked the path before you. Every child who has been adopted has suffered a breech in attachment; no adopted child is exempt. In addition to attachment issues, some children also suffer with difficult behavior issues amongst diagnoses such as RAD, FAS, and those that suffer with grief, anxiety, sensory issues, and the effects of trauma. The author’s breakthrough concept of intentionally creating a safety net to help your child heal fills the book’s entirety. The four-part formula for Building and Maintaining that safety net is laid out in a detailed and user-friendly fashion. It combines the value of knowing yourself, the power of knowledge, specific tools and techniques that work in everyday life, and the keys to maintaining the net over time to create a plan you can put into motion today.

    Who wouldn't want to have a 3-month supply of premium homemade baby food purées at their fingertips, with the tools to effortlessly combine those purées into flavorful, fun meals like Peachy Strawberry Salad, Coconutty Mango Lassi, Plum Gingered Broccoli Quinoa, and Purple Papaya Flax Yogurt? There is no reason to resort to overly processed, nutritionally inferior, void-of taste jarred baby foods, when making premium homemade baby food, from fresh whole foods, is so easy to do. RealSmart Baby Food includes: -A novel strategy to create 3-months worth of delicious, nutritious baby food in 3 one-hour blocks of time -Over 70 individual whole food recipes -How to select specific whole foods, including when to choose organic -Feeding timelines and milestones -What to feed baby, in what order, and how much -How to manage food hazards (allergies, choking, foods to avoid) -How to manage digestive health and specialty diets (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) -In-depth nutrition information -Safe food handling and preparation guidelines "An excellent resource for any parent who wants to make their child's first foods. An easy and informative manual to help make introducing solid foods a delicious and healthy start to a lifetime of good eating."--Dr. Blair J Guidera, MD, FAAP "A terrific resource for both new and experienced parents who want to encourage healthy eating from an early age."--Dr. Michelle Wong, MD, FACOG "Mums Baby Magazine were really impressed with this clear and concise guide to creating baby food. We especially favoured the charts and guides which can be followed easily to produce daily and weekly feeding guides which offer children a wide range of flavours in an order specifically tailored towards infants...The RealSmart Baby Food book is well written and enables parents to gain the confidence and structure required to feed their children appropriately and healthily. We therefore give this book 9/10."--Mums Baby Magazine

    Includes two bonus chapters on optimal health and nutrition for women during their fertile years and beyond. Any woman who has ever seen two lines on a pregnancy test and tearfully wondered "How will I ever make it through this?” will be encouraged by this book! Cindy Dyer, Get Along Home (www.getalonghome.com) Have you ever wished for an older woman to take you under her wing and share with you the lessons she has learned throughout pregnancy and childbearing? This is your opportunity. Bambi Moore, In the Nursery of the Nation (www.nurseryofthenation.com) An encouraging resource by inspiring mothers that will bless women around the globe who need to hear their story—I highly recommend it. June Fuentes, A Wise Woman Builds Her House (www.proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com) From trials and difficulties to all the blessings—the reminder that our hope is found in God alone is the cornerstone of this book. We live in a self-centered, self-gratifying world, and this book is a refreshing reminder that God's way of treasuring the gift of motherhood brings us back to His wisdom and vision for the family. Marci Ferrell, Thankful Homemaker (www.thankful-homemaker.blogspot.com)

    She knows that a regular habit of prayer can change things--can bring home wayward children, heal broken marriages, and provide answers to desperate situations. Prayer can also bring a new kind of peace and contentment no matter what hardships or disappointments we face. But most important, Fern knows that through prayer we can experience, firsthand, an ever-increasing intimacy with God.In Moms In Prayer, Fern Nichols reveals how she teaches women to pray in a way that changes their lives and the lives of those they love. She teaches the principles and practices that will not only revolutionize the way people think about prayer, but the way they do pray, leading them into a deeper intimacy with Jesus, who is always interceding on our behalf.Sparkling with real-life stories of God at work in the lives of praying moms, Fern introduces us to the four prayers that are the foundation of the Moms In Prayer approach to prayer:Praise: Praying according to the attributes of GodConfession: Breaking strongholdsThanksgiving: Expressing a grateful heartIntercession: Standing in the gap with Jesus.What transforms these well-known elements of prayer into such a powerful force in Moms In Prayer International? Fern Nichols introduces a way of praying that energizes, creates an appetite for intimacy with God, overcomes spiritual paralysis, eliminates fear, unveils the heart and character of God, and transforms the pray-er's life and perspective. She teaches how to pray effectively with others, how to prepare for the spiritual battles that swirl when prayer is on the move, how to persist in prayer in the face of hopelessness and despair, and how to use Scripture for effective prayer. God hears. God acts. God moves. God works.

    They show you a better way to do the job. Team Clean is different. Gone are the days of cleaning alone. It's not all on you anymore!Carol Paul will teach you how to create a team made up of every member of your household. You will learn how to get that very team to clean your home for you once a week, all while creating a tradition that will change your family forever. Carol shares her simple step-by-step ways to make it happen, regardless of age, ability, or attitude. You will be amazed that you will finish the whole house in less than an hour without cleaning any other night of the week. She will help you create your own personal family-bonding element (she calls it "the reward"), and show you the life lessons and discipline you will instill in your children as a result. You could very well get back the family you dreamed of when you got married and first had kids!

    For this to happen, it’s vital we understand their world, their challenges, and how our relationship with them must change as they become young men.Using real-life examples, parenting expert Dr Arne Rubinstein clearly explains the risks teenagers face today, including drugs, alcohol, technology and peer group pressure. He then shows how you can equip your son to make safe and sensible choices.Whether you’re a single mum of a happy-go-lucky eight-year old, or the parent of a troubled teen, The Making of Men is a practical, commonsense guide to helping your son transition from a boy to a young man who is motivated and inspired.‘Funny, encouraging, gritty and real.’Steve Biddulph, bestselling author of Manhood and Raising Boys

    No one knows this better than Jenny Carenco, mother of two and founder of leading French baby food brand Les Menus Bébé.In Bébé Gourmet, Jenny shares her popular recipes from Carrot and Cumin Purée to Baby Beef Bourguignon, along with cooking tips and organizational tricks to help you awaken your baby’s taste buds and encourage healthy eating habits. Recipes for lunches, dinners, and snacks are organized by the major stages of development: 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and up.Bébé Gourmet features: • Dishes inspired by culinary traditions from France and other international cuisines • Nutritional guidance at each stage from Dr. Jean Lalau Keraly, Pediatric Nutritionist and Endocrinologist • Quick and easy recipes that take under 30 minutes to prepare (many under 15!) • “Yummy Tips” on adapting recipes for the whole family. By preparing satisfying, homemade meals, gradually introducing natural ingredients and seasonings, and passing on the pleasures of eating, you’ll be taking the first steps in raising an adventurous eater for life!

    Later, when the inevitable storms come, the strong roots will be deep enough to prevent the tree from blowing over. If the roots are shallow, the tree will be lost. In the sacrament of holy marriage we hear: Your children will be like olive shoots around your table (Psalm 128:3). A verdant and fruit-bearing olive tree requires cultivation, and all the more does the raising of our children. If we teach them all we can about their faith as early as possible, giving them spiritual roots that are strong and run deep, then when they face the world their faith will not blow away like seedlings in a storm. This book is especially designed for busy Orthodox Christian parents. It is the fruit of the labors of many pooled resources: Scripture, holy fathers, clergy, clergy families, monastics, and Orthodox parents. In the end, our children are the fruit of God's grace and our labors. If we spiritually tend to them in their youth, we will have nurtured their potential to grow into amazing, faithful, fruitful, even holy Orthodox Christians. Let us work diligently when they are young and the harvest will be plentiful.

    After you read it, you’ll be equipped with information you can put into place immediately to start seeing a difference in your heart.

    Got a sec? Good. I was wondering, is it just me, or do you sometimes find it really hard to be a mom? Faith Bogdan never planned to have children, but within six years, she had four. Who Are All These Children and Why Are They Calling Me Mom? is the story of Faith’s journey to fully embrace unexpected motherhood as, little by little, God revealed the heart issues that prevented her from relishing the role He’d called her to fulfill. Whether you’re a mom to tots or teens, Faith offers real hope for change and concrete guidance to help you navigate the joyful, messy, and sometimes overwhelming challenges of motherhood.“The moms who need this book the most are the moms who feel too busy to read it. However, fifteen minutes of reading each day may save you a lifetime of regrets. I highly recommend it.” —Gary Chapman, best-selling author of The Five Love Languages “Honest, hilarious, and filled with hope. A must-read for any mom.” —Ken Davis, comedian and author of Fully Alive “I guarantee that you will laugh out loud, cry, relate, and wish you lived next door to Faith.” —Kate Battistelli, author of Growing Great Kids and mom of contemporary Christian recording artist Francesca Battistelli

    

    The result is a cinematic blend of Smith’s bold photography and the enthralling words of real women caught in the midst of real life at its most intense.Among the mothers you’ll meet in Momma Love are Oscar-nominated actress Amy Ryan, who talks about being a mother in image-obsessed Hollywood; rock musician Alyson Palmer, who has taken both of her children on tour for years for what she calls “road schooling”; and Deborah Kopaken Cogan, who traded her harrowing life as a war photographer for the challenges of motherhood—enduring criticism as a “quitter” from her colleagues and the media. They are just a few of Ali’s subjects, who come from a wide range of backgrounds and places but share a penchant for honest self-reflection.Perusing Momma Love is like entering into an honest, gutsy conversation that women of all ages will want to join, whether they are just curious about motherhood; contemplating it in earnest, as the author was when she began her journey; or deep in the throes of it. It is also for fans of great documentary photography that sticks in the mind and heart forever.