Best of
Parenting

2016

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood


Lisa Damour - 2016
    Untangled explains what’s going on, prepares parents for what’s to come, and lets them know when it’s time to worry. In this sane, highly engaging, and informed guide for parents of daughters, Dr. Damour draws on decades of experience and the latest research to reveal the seven distinct—and absolutely normal—developmental transitions that turn girls into grown-ups, including Parting with Childhood, Contending with Adult Authority, Entering the Romantic World, and Caring for Herself. Providing realistic scenarios and welcome advice on how to engage daughters in smart, constructive ways, Untangled gives parents a broad framework for understanding their daughters while addressing their most common questions, including • My thirteen-year-old rolls her eyes when I try to talk to her, and only does it more when I get angry with her about it. How should I respond? • Do I tell my teen daughter that I’m checking her phone? • My daughter suffers from test anxiety. What can I do to help her? • Where’s the line between healthy eating and having an eating disorder? • My teenage daughter wants to know why I’m against pot when it’s legal in some states. What should I say? • My daughter’s friend is cutting herself. Do I call the girl’s mother to let her know? Perhaps most important, Untangled helps mothers and fathers understand, connect, and grow with their daughters. When parents know what makes their daughter tick, they can embrace and enjoy the challenge of raising a healthy, happy young woman.Praise for Untangled“Finally, there’s some good news for puzzled parents of adolescent girls, and psychologist Lisa Damour is the bearer of that happy news. [Untangled] is the most down-to-earth, readable parenting book I’ve come across in a long time.”—The Washington Post “Anna Freud wrote in 1958, ‘There are few situations in life which are more difficult to cope with than an adolescent son or daughter during the attempt to liberate themselves.’ In the intervening decades, the transition doesn’t appear to have gotten any easier which makes Untangled such a welcome new resource.”—The Boston Globe “Damour offers a hopeful, helpful new way for parents to talk about—and with—teenage girls. . . . Parents will want this book on their shelves, next to established classics of the genre.”—Publishers Weekly“For years people have been asking me for the ‘girl equivalent of Raising Cain,’ and I haven't known exactly what to recommend. Now I do.”—Michael Thompson, Ph.D., co-author of Raising Cain “An essential guide to understanding and supporting girls throughout their development. It’s obvious that Dr. Damour ‘gets’ girls and understands the best way for any adult to help them navigate the common yet difficult challenges so many girls face.”—Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabes “A gem. From the moment I read the last page I’ve been recommending it to my clients (including those with sons!) and colleagues, and using it as a refreshing guide in my own work with teenagers and their parents.”—Wendy Mogel, Ph.D., author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

Mere Motherhood: Morning times, nursery rhymes, and my journey toward sanctification


Cindy Rollins - 2016
    Thirty years and nine children later, Cindy has become a popular blogger, podcaster, and award winning teacher. This is her story. It's a story of big families and cross-country moves, and small-town living. It's about great books and morning times and nursery rhymes. It's the story of a dedicated mother's journey toward the Truth and the family she brought along with her.

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family


Paul David Tripp - 2016
    But if moms and dads view their role through the lens of God's grace, they will see that the gospel must first shape how they parent before they can effectively shape their children. In this highly practical book, Paul David Tripp unfolds a more biblical perspective on parenting than merely adhering to a list of rules. He lays out fourteen gospel-centered principles that will radically change the way parents think about what it means to raise up a child, informing everything they do as a parent.

Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses


Amber Lia - 2016
    Moving beyond simple parenting tips on how to change your child's behavior, authors Amber Lia and Wendy Speake offer biblical insight and practical tools to equip and encourage you on the journey away from anger-filled reactions toward gentle, biblical responses.

Nobody Told Me: Poetry and Parenthood


Hollie McNish - 2016
    How her family and friends would react; that Mr Whippy would be off the menu; how quickly ice can melt on a stomach. These were on top of the many other things she didn't know about babies: how to stand while holding one; how to do a poetry gig with your baby as a member of the audience; how drum'n'bass can make a great lullaby. And that's before you even start on toddlers: how to answer a question like 'is the world a jigsaw?'; dealing with a ten-hour train ride together; and how children can be caregivers too.But Hollie learned.And she's still learning, slowly. Nobody Told Me is a collection of poems and stories taken from Hollie's diaries, one person's thoughts on raising a child in modern Britain, of trying to become a parent in modern Britain, of sex, commercialism, feeding, gender and of finding secret places to scream once in a while.

The Awakened Family: A Revolution in Parenting


Shefali Tsabary - 2016
    . . you will be wowed and awed by [Dr. Shefali]." —Oprah WinfreyNew from the New York Times bestselling author of The Conscious Parent comes a radically transformative plan that shows parents how to raise children to be their best, truest selves.What if...?What if I told you that you can put an end to all of your parenting struggles?That you can learn to parent without fear or anxiety?That you can end conflict with your children?That you can create close and connected relationships within your family?…Would you accept this invitation to a revolution in parenting?We all have the capacity to raise children who are highly resilient and emotionally connected. However, many of us are unable to because we are blinded by modern misconceptions of parenting and our own inner limitations. In The Awakened Family, I show you how you can cultivate a relationship with your children so they can thrive; moreover, you can be transformed to a state of greater calm, compassion and wisdom as well.This book will take you on a journey to transcending your fears and illusions around parenting and help you become the parent you always wanted to be: fully present and conscious. It will arm you with practical, hands-on strategies and real-life examples from my experience as a parent and clinical psychologist that show the extraordinary power of being a conscious parent.Everyone in your family is ready to be awakened.Will you take this journey with me?—Shefali

The Vaccine-Friendly Plan: Dr. Paul's Safe and Effective Approach to Immunity and Health-from Pregnancy Through Your Child's Teen Years


Paul Thomas - 2016
    Based on the results from his pediatric practice of more than eleven thousand children, as well as data from other credible and scientifically minded medical doctors, Dr. Paul s vaccine-friendly protocol gives readers recommendations for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth vital information about what to expect at every well child visit from birth through adolescence a slower, evidence-based vaccine schedule that calls for only one aluminum-containing shot at a time important questions to ask about your child s first few weeks, first years, and beyond advice about how to talk to health care providers when you have concerns the risks associated with opting out of vaccinations a practical approach to common illnesses throughout the school years simple tips and tricks for healthy eating and toxin-free living at any age "The Vaccine-Friendly Plan" presents a new standard for pediatric care, giving parents peace of mind in raising happy, healthy children. Advance praise for "The Vaccine-Friendly Plan " Finally, a book about vaccines that respects parents! If you choose only one book to read on the topic, read"The Vaccine-Friendly Plan." This impeccably researched, well-balanced book puts you in the driver s seat and empowers you to make conscientious vaccine decisions for your family. Peggy O Mara, editor and publisher, "Mothering Magazine""

Hurrah for Gin: A book for perfectly imperfect parents


Katie Kirby - 2016
    It won't tell you how to get your baby to sleep, how to deal with toddler tantrums, how to be a good parent, a cool parent or even a renegade parent. It is a book about parenting that contains absolutely no useful advice whatsoever.Instead it shares beautifully honest anecdotes and illustrations from the parenting frontline that demonstrate it is perfectly possible to love your children with the whole of your heart whilst finding them incredibly irritating at the same time.From pregnancy to starting school, Hurrah For Gin takes you through the exciting, frustrating, infuriating and wonderful whirlwind of parenthood, offering solidarity and a friendly hug after a tough day.Best served with gin.

Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One


Deborah MacNamara - 2016
    Parents and caregivers struggle with these little ones, who are known for their extreme behaviour, from tantrums, resistance, and aggression to separation anxiety, bedtime protests, and not listening. The key to understanding youngsters lies in realizing that their challenging behaviour is not personal, nor is it a disorder or deficit.Based on science and the relational developmental approach of renowned psychologist and bestselling author Gordon Neufeld, Rest, Play, Grow reveals how critical adults are in shaping the conditions to ensure young children flourish. This is the story of how young children develop, from their intense need for attachment and the vital importance of play to discipline that preserves growth. Engagingly written, with compassion for its subjects and rich with stories from them and their parents, Rest, Play, Grow will forever change the way you think of the preschoolers in your life.DR. DEBORAH MACNAMARA is a clinical counsellor and educator with more than twenty-five years experience working with children, youth, and adults. She is on faculty at the Neufeld Institute, operates a counselling practice, and speaks regularly about child and adolescent development to parents, childcare providers, educators, and mental health professionals. She continues to write, do radio and television interviews, and speak to the needs of children and youth based on developmental science. Deborah resides in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two children.

Hope Unfolding: Grace-Filled Truth for the Momma's Heart


Becky Thompson - 2016
       I get it, Momma. I totally get it.  Every day you wake up and try your very best. You love, give, and pour out your life for the ones who call you Momma. But no matter how much you offer, there are still days you feel as though you come up short. You worry, Am I loving these babies enough? Is this ever going to get easier? Why does it seem like I am the only one who cannot balance it all? Sometimes, we just need hope (and maybe a long uninterrupted nap). We need someone to help tune our hearts to the voice of the Father and to remind us that He has not forgotten about us. In Hope Unfolding, Becky Thompson is a friend who reminds you that you aren’t alone, and that God is still writing your story. She guides you to encounter the Truth of God’s presence that not only fuels you with strength, but also a fresh confidence. And beyond gaining faith that tomorrow could be different, you find hope and purpose where you are standing today.

The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming


Sally Clarkson - 2016
    . . all year long.Does your home sometimes feel like just a place to eat, sleep, and change clothes on the way to the next activity? Do you long for "home" to mean more than a place where you stash your stuff? Wouldn't you love it to become a haven of warmth, rest, and joy . . . the one place where you and your family can't wait to be?There is good news waiting for you in the pages of The Lifegiving Home. Every day of your family's life can be as special and important to you as it already is to God. In this unique book designed to help your family enjoy and celebrate every month of the year together, you'll discover the secrets of a life-giving home from a mother who created one and her daughter who was raised in it: popular authors Sally and Sarah Clarkson. Together they offer a rich treasure of wise advice, spiritual principles, and practical suggestions. You'll embark on a new path to creating special memories for your children; establishing home-building and God-centered traditions; and cultivating an environment in which your family will flourish. (Don't miss the companion piece, The Lifegiving Home Experience.)

Potty Training in 3 Days: The Step-by-Step Plan for a Clean Break from Dirty Diapers


Brandi Brucks - 2016
    It reminds parents how rewarding potty training can be.”—Dr. Fredric Daum, Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY.The ups and downs of potty training your little one can drive you crazy and make you feel clueless. No one knows this better than Brandi Brucks, former nanny turned potty training consultant and behavioral specialist, who shares her hard-earned wisdom in Potty Training in 3 Days for you to get the job done. Providing an intensive 3-day plan with clear step-by-step guides that cover everything you need to know and do, Potty Training in 3 Days is your key to ditching diapers without losing your marbles.Success is as easy as 1,2,3 with Potty Training in 3 Days: A Concrete 3-Day Plan anticipating your every move before, during and after potty training Helpful Tips for keeping your cool, including encouraging quotes for both parents and kids Insightful Overview giving you a deeper understanding of what’s going on in your kid’s head and how to respond “Brandi’s potty training system fit perfectly into our family’s regular routine. And best of all… it works! She left everyone feeling happy, and kept the underpants dry for good.”―Lily Tracy, mom and readerPut your game face on and take the guesswork out of potty training your child with Potty Training in 3 Days.

Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus


Karen Ehman - 2016
    Pressing Pause offers you a calm way to start your day, to refresh yourself in Jesus and drink deeply of His presence so that you are ready to pour out love, time, and energy into the people who matter most to you. With these 100 encouraging devotions, moms will:Begin each day with ScriptureDraw on God's powers by discovering His WordLearn practical ways to love and servePressing Pause is perfect for:Any mother wanting to approach each day with a positive mindset and develop a closer relationship with GodMotivational gifts, birthdays, Mother's Day, or ChristmasMoms, ages 25-50Whether you're juggling a career, kids' schedules, and church commitments or you're covered in spit-up and anxious about what the next 18 years might hold, you can carve out a few quiet moments to rejuvenate your spirit.

The End of American Childhood: A History of Parenting from Life on the Frontier to the Managed Child


Paula S. Fass - 2016
    Renowned historian Paula Fass shows how, since the beginning of the American republic, independence, self-definition, and individual success have informed Americans' attitudes toward children. But as parents today hover over every detail of their children's lives, are the qualities that once made American childhood special still desired or possible? Placing the experiences of children and parents against the backdrop of social, political, and cultural shifts, Fass challenges Americans to reconnect with the beliefs that set the American understanding of childhood apart from the rest of the world.Fass examines how freer relationships between American children and parents transformed the national culture, altered generational relationships among immigrants, helped create a new science of child development, and promoted a revolution in modern schooling. She looks at the childhoods of icons including Margaret Mead and Ulysses S. Grant--who, as an eleven-year-old, was in charge of his father's fields and explored his rural Ohio countryside. Fass also features less well-known children like ten-year-old Rose Cohen, who worked in the drudgery of nineteenth-century factories. Bringing readers into the present, Fass argues that current American conditions and policies have made adolescence socially irrelevant and altered children's road to maturity, while parental oversight threatens children's competence and initiative.Showing how American parenting has been firmly linked to historical changes, The End of American Childhood considers what implications this might hold for the nation's future.

The One Year Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids


Nancy Guthrie - 2016
    . . so they pray.As parents we want to protect our children; we want them to move forward in life; most importantly, we want them to take hold of and grow in Christ. And while the advice offered by parenting experts can be helpful, at some point we realize there are no simplistic formulas or sure-fire methods. We need wisdom from God’s Word for this all-important task.In The One Year Praying through the Bible for Your Kids, trusted author Nancy Guthrie weaves together wisdom and insight from each day’s reading in The One Year Bible, providing encouragement through the triumphs and turbulence of parenting. Day by day you’ll find your dreams and desires for your children are becoming shaped more by Scripture than by the culture around you. Worry less, pray more, and help yourself to a daily dose of perspective, hope, and grace as you parent.

Parenting Toward the Kingdom: Orthodox Principles of Child-Rearing


Philip Mamalakis - 2016
    Yet this guidance remains largely inaccessible to parents and often disconnected from the parenting challenges we face in our homes. Parenting Toward the Kingdom will help you make the connections between the spiritual life as we understand it in the Orthodox Church and the ongoing challenges of raising children. It takes the best child development research and connects it with the timeless truths of our Christian faith to offer you real strategies for navigating the challenges of daily life.

Keeping Your Kids on God's Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith


Natasha Crain - 2016
    It's no secret that children of all ages are being exposed to negative criticism of Christianity as they spend time at school, with friends, or online. Are you prepared to talk with your kids about how they can effectively answer the tough questions that come their way?In Keeping Your Kids on God's Side, you'll find 40 of the most common challenges kids face--along with clear, easy-to-understand responses you can discuss together. This book will help you...encourage open dialogue on issues your kids might hesitate to talk about;replace your children's doubts with the confidence only God's truth can give;equip your kids to build the good thinking skills essential for today.

Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child


Ross W. Greene - 2016
    But parents also want to have influence. They want their kid to be independent, but not if he or she is going to make bad choices. They don’t want to be harsh and rigid, but nor do they want a noncompliant, disrespectful kid. They want to avoid being too pushy and overbearing, but not if an unmotivated, apathetic kid is what they have to show for it. They want to have a good relationship with their kids, but not if that means being a pushover. They don’t want to scream, but they do want to be heard. Good parenting is about striking the balance between a child’s characteristics and a parent’s desire to have influence. Now Dr. Ross Greene offers a detailed and practical guide for raising kids in a way that enhances relationships, improves communication, and helps kids learn how to resolve disagreements without conflict. Through his well-known model of solving problems collaboratively, parents can forgo time-out and sticker charts, stop badgering, berating, threatening, and punishing, allow their kids to feel heard and validated, and have influence. From homework to hygiene, curfews, to screen time, Raising Human Beings arms parents with the tools they need to raise kids in ways that are non-punitive and non-adversarial and that brings out the best in both parent and child.

Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide


Rebecca Eanes - 2016
    Struggling to maintain a meaningful connection with her two little ones and frustrated by the lack of emotionally aware books for parents, she began to share her own insights with readers online. Her following has grown into a thriving community--hundreds of thousands strong. In this eagerly anticipated guide, Eanes shares her hard-won wisdom for overcoming limiting thought patterns and recognizing emotional triggers, as well as advice for connecting with kids at each stage, from infancy to adolescence. This heartfelt, insightful advice comes not from an "expert," but from a learning, evolving parent. Filled with practical, solution-oriented advice, this is an empowering guide for any parent who longs to end the yelling, power struggles, and downward spiral of acting out, punishment, resentment, and shame--and instead foster an emotional connection that helps kids learn self-discipline, feel confident, and create lasting, loving bonds.

Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The Respond But Don't React Method


David Stein - 2016
    Another bolts across a busy parking lot, turns and smiles at his mom. An eighteen-year-old student bursts into tears when asked to change activities at school. Sound familiar? These and other common behavior issues in children with Down syndrome can quickly become engrained and may even persist into adulthood. No parent wants that to happen, and thankfully, help is available! Dr. David Stein, a psychologist and Co-Director of the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children's Hospital, shares his approach to behavior management in this new book for parents. Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome examines how the brain of a person with Down syndrome works, how those differences impact behavior, and why bad behavior should not be viewed as a willful act. Governed by this new awareness, parents are in a better position to change and manage their child's behavior using these guiding principles: [[Be proactive, not reactive [[Be consistent [[Use visual schedules & Social Stories to direct behavior [[Develop a token reward chart [[Keep gut reactions in check [[Teach siblings to ignore bad behavior [[Learn effective disciplinary techniques [[Know when professional help is needed Some of these parenting concepts are intuitive, others are not, but when they are followed consistently, children and teens with Down syndrome do their best behaviorally and the parent-child relationship remains as positive and loving as it should be.

He's Not Lazy: Empowering Your Son to Believe In Himself


Adam Price - 2016
    But dig a little deeper, writes child psychologist Adam Price in He’s Not Lazy, and you’ll often find conflicted boys who want to do well in middle and high school but are afraid to fail, and so do not try. This book can help you become an ally with your son, as he discovers greater self-confidence and accepts responsibility for his future.

Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges


Patty Wipfler - 2016
    These tools will help parents strengthen their connection with their child and help build their child's intelligence, cooperation, and ability to learn as they grow. The book delivers detailed information accompanied by more than one hundred real-life stories from parents who've used this approach to address the root causes of their child's difficult behaviors. Five surprising things parents will learn: - You don't have to reward or punish willful children to get them to cooperate. - Aggressive kids are frightened kids, and there are simple tools to ease their fear so they don't need to lash out. - Your willingness to just listen to crying or tantrums often is enough to heal a child's fears and hurts. - Safe play during which your kid becomes the boss can reveal his hidden feelings-- and heal them too. - Parents who regularly listen to one another's struggles, without judging or advising, often clear so much toxic emotion that their children benefit greatly.

The Disciple-Making Parent: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Raising Your Children to Love and Follow Jesus Christ


Chap Bettis - 2016
    Too many growing up in Christian homes will not follow Christ as adults. Do you have a strategy for parenting in today's hostile culture?The Disciple-Making Parent will give you confidence in your journey.In the Disciple-Making Parent you will learn: The North Star to Guide Your Parenting The Process Second-Generation Christians Go Through The Reasons Young People Walk Away from the Faith Nine Powerful Influences Found in Wise Families How Your Example Can Commend the Gospel What Your Children are Watching at Home How to Explain Hypocrisy to Them Why the Heart is the Most Important Part of Them (and How to Stay Connected How Discipline Prepares Them for the Gospel How To Clearly Explain the Gospel to Little Children How to Nourish Them with the Word of God Different Ways to Have Family Devotions (and When to Stop) How to Cast a Vision of the World How to Pray for Your Children (and for Yourself) The Doubts Your Children Will Experience and What You Can Do How to Deal with the Electronics and Media Tsunami And Much More

Pitchin' A Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed-Out Parenting


Israel Wayne - 2016
    You don’t have to let it destroy yours.Parenting comes with stresses that can make the most laid-back among us feel irritable, frustrated, and angry. Even parents who sincerely love their children sometimes use the wrong methods of anger and frustration in an attempt to control their children. But angry parenting doesn’t just weaken relationships between parents and their children; it can, over time, destroy them. Few parents set out to become yelling meanies who no longer enjoy their children. Yet many feel stuck, unable to pull themselves out of their ugly habits. This book:Provides practical and biblical solutions to get to the other side of the issueGives hope and freedom from the tyranny of stressed-out and angry parentingOffers solutions that are ideal for any family.If anger is in your home even in small ways this book is for you. It is time to replace that anger with something more powerful: patience and peace. Israel and Brook share candidly from their experience as parents

The Unmumsy Mum


Sarah Turner - 2016
    THIS IS REAL LIFE.The Unmumsy Mum writes candidly about motherhood like it really is: the messy, maddening, hilarious reality, how there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and how it is sometimes absolutely fine to not know what you are doing. The lessons she's learnt while grappling with two small boys – from birth to teething, 3am night feeds to toddler tantrums, soft play to toilet training – will have you roaring with laughter and taking great comfort in the fact that it's definitely not just you...

Holy Labor: How Childbirth Shapes a Woman's Soul


Aubry G. Smith - 2016
    The birth process, though supposedly the most painful experience of a woman's life, is seen as a necessary evil to achieve the end goal of children and motherhood.And yet, in the face of a typically masculinized Christianity that nevertheless professes that women are equally created in the image of God, shouldn't childbirth--a uniquely feminine experience--itself shape Christian women's souls and teach them about the heart of the God they love and follow?Drawing on her own experience of giving birth and motherhood--and the conflicting assumptions attached to them, by Christians and the culture at large--Aubry G. Smith presents a richly scriptural exploration of common conceptions about pregnancy and childbirth that will not only help mothers and soon-to-be mothers understand how to think biblically about birth, but also walks them through how to put the ideas into practice in their own lives. Along the way, she shows all readers how to see God's own experience of the birth process--and how childbirth leads to a deeper understanding of the gospel overall.

Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life


Stuart Shanker - 2016
    Rooted in decades of clinical practice and research by leading child psychologist Dr. Stuart Shanker, Self-Reg realigns the power of the parent-child relationship for positive change. Self-regulation is the nervous system's way of responding to stress. We are seeing a generation of children and teens with excessively high levels of stress and, as a result, an explosion of emotional, social, learning, behavior, and physical health problems. But few parents recognize the "hidden stressors" that their children are struggling with: physiological as well as social and emotional. An entrenched view of child rearing is seeing our children as lacking self-control or will-power, but the real basis for these problems lies in excessive stress.Self-regulation can dramatically improve a child's mood, attention, and concentration. It can help children to feel empathy and to develop the sorts of virtues that every parent knows are vital for their child's long-term well-being. Self-regulation brings about profound and lasting transformation that continues to mature throughout life. Shanker translates decades of his findings from working with children into practical, prescriptive advice for parents, giving them concrete ways to develop their self-regulation skills and teach their children how to do the same for optimal learning, social, and emotional growth as well as for overall well-being.

Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time


Jamie C. Martin - 2016
    But as they grow, worries often crowd out wonder. Knowing this, how can parents strengthen their kids’ love for the world so it sticks around for the long haul?Thankfully, parents have at their fingertips a miracle vaccine—one that can boost their kids' immunity to the world’s distractions. Well-chosen stories connect us with others, even those on the other side of the globe. Build your kids’ lives on a story-solid foundation and you’ll give them armor to shield themselves from the world’s cynicism. You’ll give them confidence to persevere in the face of life’s conflicts. You’ll give them a reservoir of compassion that spills over into a lifetime of love in action.Give Your Child the World features inspiring stories, practical suggestions, and carefully curated reading lists of the best children’s literature for each area of the globe. Reading lists are organized by region, country, and age range (ages 4-12). Each listing includes a brief description of the book, its themes, and any content of which parents should be aware.Parents can introduce their children to the world from the comfort of home by simply opening a book together. Give Your Child the World is poised to become a bestselling family reading treasury that promotes literacy, develops a global perspective, and strengthens family bonds while increasing faith and compassion.

The Loving Push: How Parents and Professionals Can Help Spectrum Kids Become Successful Adults


Temple Grandin - 2016
    Best-selling author, autism advocate, and animal science professor Dr. Temple Grandin joins psychologist and autism specialist Dr. Debra Moore in spelling out the steps you can take to restore your child's hope and motivation, and what you must avoid. Eight life stories told by people on the autism spectrum, including chapters on subjects such as how to get kids off their computers, how to build on their strengths and get back to caring about their lives, and how to find a path to a successful, meaningful life make this a -MUST-READ BOOK.-

Your Teenager Is Not Crazy: Understanding Your Teen's Brain Can Make You a Better Parent


Jeramy Clark - 2016
    Perhaps nowhere does this impact our lives more profoundly than when we think about raising children--especially teenagers. Where parents often see a sweet boy or girl who has morphed into an incomprehensible bundle of hormones and angst, what we really ought to be seeing is an amazing young adult whose brain is under heavy construction. And changing the way we see our teens will revolutionize our relationships with them. Organized by what we hear teens say--things like "I'm bored," "You just don't understand," "Why are you freaking out?," "I hate my life!," or "Hold on . . . I just have to send this"--this book helps parents develop compassion for their teens and discernment in parenting them as their brains are progressively remodeled. Rather than seeing the teen years as a time to simply hold on for dear life, Dr. Jeramy and Jerusha Clark show that they can be an amazing season of cultivating creativity, self-awareness, and passion for the things that really matter.

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children


Angela J. Hanscom - 2016
    Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble” outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. Disturbingly, a lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. So, how can you ensure your child is fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses? Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program—that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis—author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive, even if you live in an urban environment. Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, or spinning in circles just for fun. We’ve taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are shrinking due to demanding educational environments. With this book, you’ll discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes


Kristen Welch - 2016
    You love your children--don't you want them to be happy and to fit in?Kristen Welch knows firsthand it's not that easy. In fact, she's found out that when you say yes too often, it's not only hard on your peace of mind and your wallet--it actually puts your kids at long-term risk. In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen shares the ups and downs in her own family's journey of discovering why it's healthiest not to give their kids everything. Teaching them the difference between "want" and "need" is the first step in the right direction. With many practical tips and anecdotes, she shares how to say the ultimate yes as a family by bringing up faith-filled kids who will love God, serve others, and grow into hardworking, fulfilled, and successful adults.It's never too late to raise grateful kids. Get ready to cultivate a spirit of genuine appreciation and create a Jesus-centered home in which your kids don't just say--but mean!--"thank you" for everything they have.

Let the Children Worship


Jason Helopoulos - 2016
    He points out how the struggles are temporary - whereas the blessings can be eternal.

Divine Mercy for Moms: Sharing the Lessons of St. Faustina


Michele Faehnle - 2016
    Faustina Kowalska is one of the most celebrated of all Catholic devotions. In this, their first book, Catholic bloggers and speakers Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet break open the history, practices, and prayers associated with the devotion, guiding busy moms to receive God’s message of Divine Mercy and pass it on to others through their words, deeds, and prayers. In her famous Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, St. Faustina Kowalska recorded a series of visions of Jesus where he revealed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and promised that anything can be obtained with the prayer if it is compatible with his will. St. John Paul II formally established the Divine Mercy devotion and canonized Faustina in 2000. The Marians of the Immaculate Conception are dedicated to spreading the Divine Mercy devotion the foreword for this book was written by Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of Divine Mercy Explained and 33 Days to Morning Glory. In Divine Mercy for Moms, Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet of the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference—one of the largest annual Catholic women’s conferences in the country—draw upon their own experiences to introduce you to St. Faustina and her five essential elements of the Divine Mercy message:The image of the Merciful JesusThe Feast of Divine MercyThe Chaplet of Divine MercyThe House of MercySpreading the honor of Divine MercyWith heartwarming stories and practical advice, this book reveals that mercy is not just a gift to be received in the confessional but a spiritual resource that strengthens those who extend themselves in word, deed, and prayer. Designed for personal or group study, Divine Mercy for Moms celebrates the infinite mercy of God and the role of Mary, the Mother of Mercy, in the lives of all believers.Divine Mercy for Moms was the winner of a 2017 Catholic Press Association Book Award: Family Life (Third Place).

The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother


Heng Ou - 2016
    Based on author Heng Ou’s own postpartum experience with zuo yuezi, a set period of “confinement,” in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby, The First Forty Days revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth.   As modern mothers are pushed to prematurely “bounce back” after deliver­ing their babies, and are often left alone to face the physical and emotional challenges of this new stage of their lives, the first forty days provide a lifeline—a source of connection, nourishment, and guidance.   The book includes 60 simple recipes for healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother. In addition to the recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the post­partum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth.  The First Forty Days, fully illustrated to feel both inspiring and soothing, is a practical guide and inspirational read for all new mothers and mothers-to-be—the perfect ally during the first weeks with a new baby.

Faith to Foster


T.J. Menn - 2016
    Foster children live in nearly every community, waiting in silent anonymity for someone to welcome them into their life.Sometimes all it takes is exposure to prompt change.Faith to Foster is a candid and vulnerable look into the life of ordinary foster parents TJ and Jenn Menn. It is a comprehensive journey chronicling their decision making process, how the children arrived, the birth parents' struggle to rehabilitate, help from friends and family, emotional goodbyes, and how faith in Jesus empowered them through it all. This is a story they wished they'd read before starting their foster parenting adventure.TJ and Jenn share of their experiences and feelings in a way that encourages readers to serve their neighbors. Faith to Foster reminds Christians how God can use them to make a difference in their community. He can strengthen our congregations to change lives and redeem innocent children from harmful situations.Indeed, Faith to Foster inspires believers to rely on the mighty power of our God as they seek to change their neighborhoods one child at a time.

The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting


Ilana Wiles - 2016
    She’s not a bad mother either. Like most of us, she’s normal. From the creator of the wildly popular blog Mommy Shorts comes Ilana Wiles’s first humor book on remarkably average parenting. If you want solid advice about raising kids, this book is not for you. If you want to wallow in your own misery about how having kids is AWFUL, this book is not for you. This book pays homage to the every-parent and suggests that they are the people having the best child-rearing experience of all. Using Wiles’s signature infographics and photographs to illustrate her personal and hilarious essays on motherhood, the book is an honest guide that celebrates the fun of being a mom.

The Power of a Praying® Grandparent Book of Prayers


Stormie Omartian - 2016
    You can love them and influence them for good, but you will also touch them in amazing ways every time you lift them up in prayer before the Lord. In this book, each prayer covers an important aspect of your grandchildren's lives, including: their relationship with God, parents, friends, and other key people who care for them their health, safety, direction, and purpose their development into wise, happy, productive, and faith-filled adults Prayer for your grandchildren is the greatest gift of love you can give them. And every time you invite God to work powerfully in their lives you will experience... The Power of a Praying® Grandparent

The Big Book of Organic Baby Food: Baby Purées, Finger Foods, and Toddler Meals For Every Stage


Stephanie Middleberg - 2016
    I wish this book was around when my kids were first sitting down to the table, ready to eat their first bites of real food. —Joy Bauer, MS, RD, health and nutrition expert for NBC's TODAY show and best-selling author of From Junk Food to Joy FoodAs a registered dietician, Stephanie Middleberg has made healthy eating her life’s work. As mother to her son Julian, it’s her personal mission. The Big Book of Organic Baby Food is an all-in-one baby food cookbook that includes more than 230 easy yet versatile recipes, as well as Stephanie’s expert nutritional advice and parental insight. Informative and recipe-packed, The Big Book of Organic Baby Food is the only baby food cookbook first-time parents need to prepare delicious, all-natural meals for years to come. Start with the basics and make your way to balanced family meals for everyone. From their first puree to their first burrito, this baby food cookbook is as comprehensive as your baby’s nutritional needs. AGES & STAGES Each chapter covers developmental changes and FAQs so you never have to make nutritional guesses when it comes to your little one PUREES Choose from more than 115 single-ingredient and combination purees SMOOTHIES & FINGER FOODS Over 40 recipes introduce new flavors and textures to encourage self-feeding FAMILY MEALS 70+ recipes to please all palates, from toddler-friendly fare to meals for the whole family The Big Book of Organic Baby Food is the only baby food cookbook that responds to your baby’s nutritional needs at: 6 MONTHS—Stage 1: Single Ingredient Purees 6 TO 8 MONTHS—Stage 2: Smooth Combination Purees 9 TO 12 MONTHS—Stage 3: Chunky Combination Purees 10 MONTHS & UP—Smoothies & Finger Foods 12 TO 18 MONTHS—Toddler Meals 12 MONTHS & UP—Family Dinners

Scoop the Poop: A Mother's Struggle


Meredith Masony - 2016
    I struggled to get the kids off to school. I talked myself into getting ready for work. I packed lunches, checked backpacks, planned crock pot meals, and wished I was somewhere else. Yes, that's right. I wished I was somewhere other than my kitchen listening to my children fight over the last pack of fruit snacks. I dreamt about a life that was less stressful and more enjoyable. These thoughts made me cry on the way to drop off my kids at school. These thoughts made me feel like a terrible person.These thoughts made me feel like I was the worst Mother on the planet. I was ashamed to have these thoughts. I felt like I was failing at life. I was overworked, under appreciated, and dreaming of wanting more. Why wasn't I happy? Life seemed to be a chronic shit storm and I was the imbecilic meteorologist who forgot her umbrella. I decided that I needed to chase my dreams. I decided I had to find a way to scoop the poop and find my passion.

Beyond the Tiger Mom: East-West Parenting for the Global Age


Maya Thiagarajan - 2016
    In this research-backed guide, she examines each of the "tiger mother" stereotypes and goes beneath the surface to discover what happens in Asian parenting households. How do Asian parents think about childhood, family, and education and what can Western parents learn from them? And what benefits does a traditional Western upbringing have that Asian parents, too, may want to consider? Some of the takeaways from this parenting book include:The best of Asian parenting practices — such as how to teach children math, or raise tech-healthy kidsTeaching your child to broaden his or her attention spanFinding the right balance between work and play, while including family timeHelping your child see failure as a learning experienceAnd many, many more insightsEach chapter offers interviews with hundreds of Asian parents and kids and ends with a "How To" section of specific tips for Asian and Western parents both to aid childhood education and development inside and outside the classroom. Woven into this narrative are her reflections on teaching and parenting in locations that span the East and West. In this book, Thiagarajan synthesizes an extensive body of research on child education and Asian parenting both to provide accessible and practical guidelines for parents.

Raising Chaste Catholic Men: Practical Advice, Mom to Mom


Leila Miller - 2016
    How do we teach our sons to be chaste when a sex-obsessed culture is ready to drag our boys into the pit at every turn? All we want to do is protect the innocence of our little ones and the honor of our teens, yet the snares of ubiquitous porn, hook-up sex, LGBT ideology, and the devaluing of true manhood appear unavoidable. What’s a mother to do? Relax, grab your beverage of choice, and flip open Raising Chaste Catholic Men. In this little heart-to-heart between us girls (although the guys can listen in, too) Leila Miller will take your hand and calm your fears by giving you practical advice in simple terms, based on her 25 years of experience in raising eight children, six of them sons. Some of the serious topics addressed with good humor and no fear include: • Three basic rules for parenting • What to do when boys are little • Answering the culture’s accusations • Straight talk about masturbation • Navigating pop culture • What to do when things go wrong • Advice from chaste young men themselves ...and much more, all of it designed to bring your worried heart some peace by giving you a plan of action and the power tools to pull it off. So, trust God and dive in! You’ve got good men to raise, and the world needs them!

Welcome to the Club: 100 Parenting Milestones You Never Saw Coming


Raquel D'Apice - 2016
    Instead of a place to lovingly capture the first time baby sleeps through the night, this book shows what it's like the first time baby rolls off the bed/sofa/changing table, leaving mom or dad in a state of pure terror (it happens). These 100 rarely documented but all-too-realistic milestones—such as "First Time Baby Says a Word You Didn't Want Her to Say"—provide comfort, solidarity, and comic relief for new parents. Laugh-out-loud relatable text and distinctive paper-cut illustrations of these "bad" parenting moments make this a must-have book for anyone entering the mysterious club of parenthood.

8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences


Kathy Koch - 2016
    Children who believe they're smart excel more in school and approach life with greater confidence. But children who don't can struggle to apply themselves. Do you wish your child could see how smart he or she is?Find hope in "8 Great Smarts." You'll be empowered and equipped with new language and creative ideas for how to: Accept and affirm your child's unique smartsMotivate your child to learn and study with all 8 smartsReawaken any "paralyzed" smartsRedirect misbehavior in new, constructive waysGuide your child spiritually, relationally, and to a good career fitDr. Kathy Koch "loves "seeing children flourish and helping parents make it happen--and it's never too late to start. Now is the time to help your child be all that God designed him or her to be."For children of all ages, this application of the theory of multiple intelligences is a revised edition of "How Am I Smart?

Raising the Transgender Child: A Complete Guide for Parents, Families, and Caregivers


Michele Angello - 2016
    Michele Angello, a leading therapist and go-to expert in the field of transgender parenting, and Ali Bowman, bestselling writer and parent advocate, Raising the Transgender Child helps readers champion and celebrate gender diverse children while at the same time shedding fear, anger, sadness, and embarrassment.With specific and actionable advice including coming-out letters, identity challenges, school and caregiver communications, and more, this comprehensive guide provides a wealth of science-backed information alongside friendly and practical wisdom that is sure to comfort, guide, and inspire the family and friends of transgender and gender diverse children.

Therapeutic Parenting in a Nutshell: Positives and Pitfalls


Sarah Naish - 2016
     Suitable for all carers, parents and supporting professionals working with children who have suffered early life trauma. Sarah Naish uses her first hand experience to clearly explain the differences between 'standard' parenting and 'therapeutic' parenting, with case studies and examples of good therapeutic parenting strategies, along with practical applications. Written with the busy parent and supporting professional in mind, this short book provides answers for all those caring for children with attachment difficulties, explaining why we need to parent our children differently, common additional challenges faced by Therapeutic Parents, and the best way to resolve them. The book may be read as a 'stand alone' document, but used in conjunction with the videos and video based courses, it provides a powerful foundation in caring for children who have suffered early life trauma. The author provides essential advice to supporting professionals about overcoming blocked care, and helping Therapeutic Parents to stay connected to their child. This book contributes to the new Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Parenting, which will be launched by Fostering Attachments Ltd, (Inspire Training Group) in the Autumn of 2016.

Positive Discipline Parenting Tools: The 49 Most Effective Methods to Stop Power Struggles, Build Communication, and Raise Empowered, Capable Kids


Jane Nelsen - 2016
    Using these 49 Positive Discipline tools, honed and perfected after years of real-world research and feedback, you’ll be able to work with your children instead of against them. The goal isn’t perfection but providing you with the techniques you need to help your children develop the life and social skills you hope for them, such as respect for self and others, problem-solving ability, and self-regulation. The tenets of Positive Discipline consistently foster mutual respect so that any child—from a three-year-old toddler to a rebellious teenager—can learn creative cooperation and self-discipline without losing his or her dignity.In this new parenting guidebook, you’ll find day-to-day exercises for parents to improve their parenting skills, along with success stories from parents worldwide who have benefited from the Positive Discipline philosophy. With training tools and personal examples from the authors, you will learn:· The “hidden belief” behind a child’s misbehavior, and how to respond accordingly· The best way to focus on solutions instead of dwelling on the negative· How to encourage your child without pampering or praising· How to teach your child to make mistakes and follow through on agreements· How to foster creative thinking

Don't Miss It: Parent Every Week Like It Counts


Reggie Joiner - 2016
    

The Silver Lining: A Practical Guide for Christian Grandmothers


Nancy Wilson - 2016
    But the Bible tells us to focus on the things that don't change. In all seasons of life, God has good works prepared in advance for us to walk in. And whether you're a young woman, married, unmarried, widowed, middle-aged, or a great-grandma, you never quit exercising that faith in Christ.Grandkids and getting older, dinners and hospitality, mentorship and being an in-law all come with their own stretches of bumpy road, but faith and joy (and a little of Nancy Wilson's practical advice) go a long way. Women traveling through this season should be thinking in terms of family legacy—and in terms of eternity—as they seek godly wisdom, great joy , and a silver-haired crown of glory.

The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes


Diane Ehrensaft - 2016
    Diane Ehrensaft coined the term gender creative to describe children whose unique gender expression or sense of identity is not defined by a checkbox on their birth certificate. Now, with The Gender Creative Child, she returns to guide parents and professionals through the rapidly changing cultural, medical, and legal landscape of gender and identity.   In this up-to-date, comprehensive resource, Dr. Ehrensaft explains the interconnected effects of biology, nurture, and culture to explore why gender can be fluid, rather than binary. As an advocate for the gender affirmative model and with the expertise she has gained over three decades of pioneering work with children and families, she encourages caregivers to listen to each child, learn their particular needs, and support their quest for a true gender self.The Gender Creative Child unlocks the door to a gender-expansive world, revealing pathways for positive change in our schools, our communities, and the world.

Better Together: Because You're Not Meant to Mom Alone


Jill Savage - 2016
    Presenting a compelling vision of motherhood as a group effort, Better Together shows how you can:Combat isolation and enjoy a supportive mothering communityIncrease your social confidence and stop the comparison gameDeepen your friendships as you share life with othersStrengthen trust and build friendships without fearIncrease your joy and thrive as a momAll these things are possible. Dive into this storehouse of creative ideas for how to make mothering easier, richer, and more fun than you ever thought it could be.

But He Looks So Normal!: A Bad-Tempered Parenting Guide for Adopters and Foster Parents


Sarah Naish - 2016
    If you are a foster parent, adopter, kinship carer or other Therapeutic Parent looking after a child with additional needs, you may be tired of putting up with Patronising Professionals, dealing with Arguing Children whilst worrying that you have become a very bad-tempered parent. This irreverent look at un-therapeutic moments, also combines strategies for efficiently dispatching 'Baking-Mother-with-Clipboard' and reward charts. Sarah Naish, a self-confessed Bad-Tempered Mother & adopter of 5, will help you to feel comfortable in your own bad- tempered skin.

Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids -- And How to Break the Trance


Nicholas Kardaras - 2016
    Like a virtual scourge, the illuminated glowing faces―the Glow Kids―are multiplying. But at what cost? Is this just a harmless indulgence or fad like some sort of digital hula-hoop? Some say that glowing screens might even be good for kids―a form of interactive educational tool.Don’t believe it.In Glow Kids, Dr. Nicholas Kardaras will examine how technology―more specifically, age-inappropriate screen tech, with all of its glowing ubiquity―has profoundly affected the brains of an entire generation. Brain imaging research is showing that stimulating glowing screens are as dopaminergic (dopamine activating) to the brain’s pleasure center as sex. And a growing mountain of clinical research correlates screen tech with disorders like ADHD, addiction, anxiety, depression, increased aggression, and even psychosis. Most shocking of all, recent brain imaging studies conclusively show that excessive screen exposure can neurologically damage a young person’s developing brain in the same way that cocaine addiction can.Kardaras will dive into the sociological, psychological, cultural, and economic factors involved in the global tech epidemic with one major goal: to explore the effect all of our wonderful shiny new technology is having on kids. Glow Kids also includes an opt-out letter and a "quiz" for parents in the back of the book.

Parenting ADHD Now!: Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD


Elaine Taylor-Klaus - 2016
    Watching your bright, vibrant child struggle with ADHD can make you feel helpless, especially when you don’t have the tools to help them succeed. There is a great deal of help available for children with ADHD, but there simply aren’t enough resources for parents of ADHD children—and you need support just as much as your child.The National Institute of Mental Health recognizes that frustration, blame, and anger are common in families with ADHD children. Children with ADHD need guidance and understanding from parents to reach their full potential. Yet it can feel impossible to manage the challenges you experience as a parent in order to be the support your child needs.Diane Dempster and Elaine Taylor-Klaus are ADHD coaches, educators, and the cofounders of ImpactADHD. They started off just like you, feeling frustrated and lost about how to help their ADHD children—and how to take care of themselves as well. Since that time, they have become national leaders in the world of ADHD, representatives of the voice of parents, and the go-to experts for parenting children with ADHD. They have successfully armed thousands of parents with the tools they need to help themselves and their children with ADHD.In Parenting ADHD Now! Diane and Elaine combine their practical know-how and professional expertise to offer immediate, actionable strategies you can use to guide and support your ADHD child compassionately and effectively.The material presented in this book is grounded in three main concepts: Apply the Coach-Approach to Parenting – This unique method gives you permission to pay attention to yourself, build up your own confidence and self-esteem, and apply these tools when working with your child with ADHD. Use Real, Practical Strategies – Learn to effectively navigate the complex terrain of ADHD, confidently minimize ADHD-related stress in your family, and foster your child’s independence. Focus on the Parent – This is not about “fixing” your ADHD child. This is about shifting your focus inward and empowering yourself so that you can empower your child as they navigate life with ADHD. You can dramatically improve life for your child with ADHD. With Parenting ADHD Now! you will learn to set healthy limits, find compassion and acceptance, change your habits, laugh instead of cry, understand instead of yell, and thrive instead of just survive.

A Big Kid Bed is Coming: Crib to Bed Transitioning with a Fun and Inspiring Adventure!


Liz Fletcher - 2016
    Then comes the biggest surprise of all ...A note from the authorAs a mom of 3 under 5 years, I understand that the toddler years can be the most amazing, yet challenging of times. On one hand, it's hard to believe that your little one is growing up before your eyes (and it's the most incredible joy to be part of) but on the other hand, with growing up comes change and new milestones. These transitions can often be daunting for both the child and the parent.Louie's character was developed with your child in mind. Your child will instantly relate with Louie's adventurous spirit, independence, and fun loving nature. He or she will giggle through this sweet, rhythmic story but also learn that change can be overcome by a little courage and that the outcome can actually lead to even more fun and adventure!I understand that parents may approach milestones differently. Each household is different. Each child is different. However, before technique, there needs to be a want and desire within the child. A positive mindset needs to be established before a significant change can be made (especially if you want to avoid tears, overwhelm and resistance!).This book was inspired by some of the great stories on the marketing today: Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae, The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and many more!

The Gentle Parenting Book: How to raise calmer, happier children from birth to seven


Sarah Ockwell-Smith - 2016
    Gentle parenting is different - it isn't a label for a precise set of rules but a method of parenting that embraces the needs of parent and child, while being mindful of current science and child psychology. It means parenting with empathy, respect, understanding - and boundaries.In The Gentle Parenting Book, Sarah Ockwell-Smith provides a trustworthy combination of what-to-expect information and gentle-parenting solutions to the most common challenges faced by parents with young children. Sarah addresses a wide variety of topics, including coping with a crying baby, introducing solid foods and creating healthy eating habits, potty training, starting nursery and school, sibling rivalry, tantrums, whining and sulking, aggressive behaviour and much more.And for those parents who have previously used a more authoritarian style of parenting, there's plenty of advice - and reassurance - on making the transition to a gentler approach. For many, gentle parenting comes as a relief because it chimes with their deepest instincts about the best way to raise their children.

The Cure & Parents


Bill Thrall - 2016
    It always involves earning our children's trust. Whether we are overwhelmed at being parents, planning to be parents, reacting to our parents, or learning to stand with our kids as they now parent, we need to know there is always a way home, convinced God is in the middle of every stage of our family. Find yourself in this story as you ride along with the Clawsons on vacation. Go inside the episode as each part of the story unfolds, and find the freedom and truth that God offers us as we build trust with our kids, and discover insight and hope for our own painful patterns. This book is filled with joy, insight, wisdom and maybe a fresh way of seeing our families and ourselves. Enjoy the ride.

Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust


Holly Willoughby - 2016
    So this book is to help you find out what will work for you and your baby. I’ve included all the information and friendly advice I wish I’d been given before I became a mum for the first time, alongside the routines, shortcuts and tips that worked for me.I hope this book will empower you during your first twelve months of parenthood to trust your own mummy intuition, and to care for your children in your own way – confidently and happily. We all have that intuition, we just need to learn to tune into it! With chapters on feeding, sleeping, wellbeing and lifestyle – as well as how to look after yourself – this book will equip you with all the know-how you need to get you through the sleepless nights and concerns, to all the magical first moments. It’s a collection of everything that worked for me as a new mum – and I hope it works for you, too.Love, Holly xxx

Why Your Baby's Sleep Matters


Sarah Ockwell-Smith - 2016
    In fact, many of today s sleep problems with young babies and children predominantly occur in the developed world. In Why Your Baby s Sleep Matters, renowned gentle parenting expert Sarah Ockwell-Smith demonstrates how nurturing babies at night helps their brain development, and covers the topics every parent of a new baby will need to know about, including naps, SIDS, night weaning, coping with your own exhaustion and even dealing with advice and criticism from others."

Raising an Original: Parenting Each Child According to their Unique God-Given Temperament


Julie Lyles Carr - 2016
    In parenting eight kids over the last twenty-five years, Julie Lyles Carr and her husband experienced plenty of opportunity for learning, but it was when they began to understand it was about parenting each child according to their own unique needs and personality style that something wonderful happened. In Raising an Original, Carr helps to redefine the primary purpose of Christian parenting, this raising of the next generation. God has given each of our children specific gifts, abilities and capacities for specific purposes and He can equip parents to discover and support those powerful personality traits if they know where to look and how to respond. So many kids raised in Christian homes launch into their adult lives without any sense of knowing who they are called to be or what their mission on earth is. What if parents, teachers or mentors could help them discover the wondrous, unique threads woven within them that will enable them to see their part in the fabric of God’s universe? Readers of Raising an Original will be equipped to help their children:Understand their unique strengths and the challenges associated with themDiscover their God-given gifts and how to use them for His glorySucceed regardless of their circumstances Raising an Original will provide readers with tools for better communication with their children as well as tools for uniquely guiding and disciplining each unique child.  With a helpful and detailed Personality Trait Assessment Tool included as a major part of the book, readers will understand themselves, their parenting style, and their child better. They will also discover ways to improve their children’s communication within sibling groups and with parents themselves. Readers will find freedom in discovering that God hasn’t asked them to raise perfect children; He’s asked them to uniquely raise purposed children.

Child Training Boot Camp: A Thirty-Day Bible Study


Pam Forster - 2016
    In this study, you'll learn how to teach your children the character qualities of obedience, peacemaking, wise speech, and gratitude. You'll develop a deeper relationship with God both personally and in your role as a parent.This study takes a different approach than other studies in Pam Forster's "Bible Study for Busy Mamas" series. Instead of studying one chapter of the Bible, you'll learn to use topical Bible study methods to discover what God says about some of the typical challenges we face day after day with our children, including disobedience, bickering, unkind speech, and whining.Here's what you'll find inside this 105-page Bible study guide:~ Thirty days of short study assignments (5-30 minutes per day) ~ Optional activities that help your children learn right along with you ~ Tips on making time for your Bible study and choosing study tools ~ Instructions for using powerful (and free!) Bible study apps and websites

Triggers Study Guide: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses


Amber Lia - 2016
    But the path ahead can seem daunting and lonely without a guide or friend to walk with you. That's why authors, Amber Lia and Wendy Speake have created this in-depth study guide to accompany their book, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses. Perfect for individual reflection or a group study setting, this resource features a come-alongside approach to working through external and internal triggers that fuel your struggle with anger. Mirroring the 31-chapter structure of Triggers, this study guide will provide you with: - Rich passages of Scripture to meditate on and tuck into your heart for strength. - Expanded thoughts on each trigger for further teaching and encouragement. - Questions to spark personal reflection and to help move you toward action. - Plenty of room to write out your thoughts and work through the chapter questions. - Additional space for doodling, writing out prayers or action plans, and more! If you're seeking real transformation in your parenting and you're willing to do the work to get there - this study guide will equip, empower, and encourage you along the way!

Nurture the Wow: Finding Spirituality in the Frustration, Boredom, Tears, Poop, Desperation, Wonder, and Radical Amazement of Parenting


Danya Ruttenberg - 2016
    Every day, parents are bombarded by demands. The pressures of work and life are relentless; our children’s needs are often impossible to meet; and we rarely, if ever, allow ourselves the time and attention necessary to satisfy our own inner longings. Parenthood is difficult, demanding, and draining. And yet, argues Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, if we can approach it from a different mindset, perhaps the work of parenting itself can offer the solace we seek.Rooted in Judaism but incorporating a wide-range of religious and literary traditions, Nurture the Wow asks, Can ancient ideas about relationships, drudgery, pain, devotion, and purpose help make the hard parts of a parent’s job easier and the magical stuff even more so? Ruttenberg shows how parenting can be considered a spiritual practice—and how seeing it that way can lead to transformation. This is a parenthood book, not a parenting book; it shows how the experiences we have as parents can change us for the better.Enlightening, uplifting, and laugh-out-loud funny, Nurture the Wow reveals how parenthood—in all its crazy-making, rage-inducing, awe and joy-filled moments—can actually be the path to living fully, authentically, and soulfully.

Unlatched: The Evolution of Breastfeeding and the Making of a Controversy


Jennifer Grayson - 2016
    In Unlatched, Jennifer Grayson, an environmental journalist and mother of two young breast-fed children, puts “common knowledge” to the test by breaking down the complex social and political factors that have altered breastfeeding practices around the world for decades.Since the rise of baby formula in the early twentieth century, breastfeeding has gone from a basic biological function to a never-ending controversy and hot topic in the media: an Instagram photo of Blake Lively breastfeeding her daughter gained 367,000 likes was posted across media sites from USA Today to Us Weekly. Donald Trump started an uproar after calling a lawyer “disgusting” for requesting a breastfeeding break during a court case. A photo of an Argentinian politician breastfeeding her eight-month-old during a session of Parliament quickly went viral, drawing a mix of support and criticism. Target’s breastfeeding policy, allowing women to nurse in any area of the store, was recently shared on Facebook to praise from mothers across America. Clearly, this is a topic that constantly makes headlines and sparks heated discussion throughout the world. Growing up, Jennifer Grayson thought nothing of the fact that her mother had not breastfed her. It wasn’t until she became a mother herself that she realized she had missed out on a natural, profound, and incredibly important experience, one that she became determined to give to her own children. Her curiosity about breastfeeding soon turned to passion, leading her to launch a worldwide search for knowledge and stories of breastfeeding. From modern-day Burkina Faso to eighteenth-century France, from China to inner-city Baltimore, Grayson explores the personal stories of women around the world, and their relationship to breastfeeding. Along the way, she takes readers behind the scenes at a formula factory, interviews controversial breastfeeding figures including Michele Bachmann and Dr. William Sears, and shares her own personal experience of extended breastfeeding her now four-year-old daughter. A searing and insightful look into the state of breastfeeding, Unlatched digs deep to uncover the cultural, corporate, political, and technological factors that have transformed the way people think about breastfeeding, and provides a thorough and fascinating study of one of the most contentious issues affecting women today.

Talking to Children About Divorce: A Parent's Guide to Healthy Communication at Each Stage of Divorce: Expert Advice for Kids' Emotional Recovery


Jean McBride - 2016
    Now she shares her expertise with an in-depth guide to discussing divorce with your kids so you can support your child’s adjustment throughout the entire divorce process. In Talking to Children About Divorce, Jean McBride provides you with the tools and encouragement to effectively communicate with your child about divorce. McBride brings her more than twenty-five years of specializing in divorce to guide you through crucial but difficult conversations and cultivate an environment of love and support throughout the divorce process. You’ll learn how to have honest conversations about different situations and emotions that may arise during divorce—from breaking the news to understanding resistance. Whether you’re beginning the divorce process, or have been working through it for a while, Talking to Children About Divorce offers practical advice that will contribute positively to your child’s emotional wellbeing. Learn to initiate open communication, with: Concrete actions to help your children weather the emotions of divorce. Useful scripts to guide you through a variety of situations throughout the divorce process. Simple steps to improve communication, both with your former spouse and with your children. 10 tips to maintain co-parenting success and promote healthy, happy, well-adjusted children.

Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families


Susan Kaiser Greenland - 2016
    Playing games is a great way for kids to develop their focusing and attention skills and to become more mindful. Susan Kaiser Greenland has had a lot of success bringing mindfulness to the classroom, and in this book she shares her experience, showing how parents, caregivers, and teachers can cultivate these qualities at home or in a school setting. She includes fifty mindfulness games that develop what Greenland calls the "new A, B, C's" for learning and for a happy and successful life: Attention, Balance, and Compassion. In a playful way, the games introduce kids to breathing practices and techniques for developing focus, concentration, and sensory awareness, and identifying and self-regulating emotions, among others skills. They include "anchor" games that develop concentration; visualization games that encourage kindness and focus; analytical games that cultivate clear thinking; and awareness games that develop all of these qualities and give greater insight into ourselves, others, and relationships. Greenland contextualizes each game and offers guidance for the parents/caregivers throughout.Even though the games are written for kids, they can be just as fun and transformative for adults. Greenland encourages parents and caregivers to develop their own attention, balance, and compassion and explore the universal concepts that she presents. She points out that as caregivers, our own mindfulness has a powerful effect on everyone in our lives, especially our children. They notice when we're calmer, more composed, and more joyful, and learn by our example."

Take Your Love to Your Family and Your Frustrations to the Lord


John Lewis Lund - 2016
    John L. Lund. Using powerful stories, gospel principles, and experiences from more than forty years as a counselor, Dr. Lund shares practical ways to overcome frustrations in our interpersonal relationships. He says that rather than express our criticism to our loved ones, we need to show them acceptance, affection, and appreciation. People generally don't lack knowledge of what they are doing wrong, they lack motivation to change, he points out. That motivation can come from your love.Dr. Lund teaches the five principles of divine intervention that the Lord can use to help us to deal with our problems. He teaches that rather than assuming the responsibility of being the change agent in the lives of those we love the very most, we should use a more efficient approach: take our love to them and our frustrations to the Lord.

Discovering the Culture of Childhood


Emily Plank - 2016
    Identify age-based bias and expand your outlook on and understanding of early childhood as a culture. Examine various elements of childhood culture: language, belief economics, arts, and social structure to understand children's dispositions of questioning, engagement, and cooperation.Emily Plank specializes in play-based education, diversity and culture in early childhood education, and outdoor learning. In 2011, the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children identified Emily as one of seven emerging leaders. She earned her bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University. She and her family currently reside in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Play the Forest School Way: Woodland Games and Crafts for Adventurous Kids


Peter Houghton - 2016
    This book will get your kids outside, making and building in the real world (instead of on a computer screen!). Whether your local woodland is a forest or a strip of trees along the edge of an urban park, these activities provide fantastic opportunities for family time and will encourage your children to fall in love with outdoor play. This is the first book to share Forest School games, crafts and skill-building activities with families and friends, its magical illustrations and simple instructions drawing children easily into a world of wonder. • Be a fox tracking its prey, a moth evading a bat, a rabbit fleeing a forest fire!• Make a working bow and arrow, spectacular headdresses, beautiful woodland jewellery, magic wands – all with materials gathered from the forest floor.• Learn wilderness survival skills: build a shelter, make fire, forage and cook wild food.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Survive FBT: Skills Manual for Parents Undertaking Family Based Treatment (FBT) for Child and Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa


Maria Ganci - 2016
    However, the treatment is intensive and many parents commence unprepared despite their courage and willingness to take on the task of refeeding their ill child to health. Parents have desperately asked for more information to help them understand anorexia’s grip on their child and to survive the intensity of the treatment. This book was written to give these parents the tools to help them “see it through” to the end.This skills-based manual clearly explains the treatment, providing invaluable information to help parents through each component. It outlines the obstacles and all the anorexic behaviors that will impede treatment and recovery. The aim of this manual is to ensure parents remain one step ahead of anorexia and that they “hit the ground running.”This book is a valuable resource for parents commencing FBT and for parents struggling during treatment. It offers clear, practical advice and empowers parents to confrontwhatever the illness throws at them. It is also an important resource for clinicians and will help them guide their families through treatment.

Brave Dad: Raising Your Kids to Love and Follow God


John F. MacArthur Jr. - 2016
    But no guts, no glory. First you have to be willing to follow God's job description for dads as given in the Bible. In Brave Dad you'll receive guidance on...the starting point of being a godly dad—loving your wifehow to raise children who desire to follow Godways to lovingly discipline kids and encourage obediencetraps to avoid in the course of parentingthe power of a dad's example to shape children for lifeWhen you commit yourself to being a brave dad, God will help you every step of the way. There is no surer path to a lifetime of family blessings!

Beyond Good Manners: How to Raise a Sophisticated Child


Tara Woods Turner - 2016
    You will learn how to raise an engaging, accomplished and sophisticated child, one who gets noticed for all the right reasons. From fine dining, travel and art appreciation to navigating social media with integrity - Beyond Good Manners: How to Raise a Sophisticated Child will show you how to take your child to the next level. Whether your child is 5 or 15 this is the one book you will reference time and again for advice and techniques that are relevant, practical and insightful.

8 Simple Tools for Raising Great Kids


Todd Cartmell - 2016
    And we could use it quick! In 8 Simple Tools, child psychologist and father Todd Cartmell walks you through the nuts and bolts of healthy, effective parenting.Using examples from his home and 20 years of professional practice, Todd gives eight essential and practical tools to help you:Listen well and respond wiselyUse affirmation to influence your childDevelop a nurturing home cultureCorrect behavior in lasting waysMaintain a healthy relationship with your childDesigned with busy parents in mind, 8 Simple Tools breaks each tool into five short chapters, perfect for when you only have a second. Plus, each chapter ends with a practical “Tip” section that summarizes the main point and helps you apply it right away.Use even half of the tools in your parenting, and your family dynamics will thrive. Your relationship will be built on love and trust, providing you with fertile ground for planting God’s wisdom in your child's heart and, ultimately, seeing your child flourish.

Ultimate Makeover: The Transforming Power of Motherhood


Carrie Gress - 2016
    And what if it could actually make you happy?Sounds too good to be true, right? Yet every woman can experience this makeover with the gift of motherhood. Along with your new bundle of joy, there are real rewards just waiting to be claimed.Motherhood is difficult--there's no getting around it. And yet, the challenges a woman faces when she becomes a mother don't have to be in vain. Instead of a series of frustrating, exhausting, or exasperating experiences, author Carrie Gress (a mother of four young children) sees daily life as an opportunity to grow gracefully as a woman, mother, wife, and friend.

Your Mom Walk with God: Staying Faithful on the Path of Motherhood


Sally Clarkson - 2016
    You love being a mother. You cherish your children. You long for them to grow up to be mature, loving, fruitful, and faithful followers of God. But you know that means you're called to be that kind of mom. It means you must stay faithful on God's path of motherhood for you. That is your mom walk. It is how you walk with God as a mother. It is how you seek Him, trust Him, and live in His grace. It is how you draw on His strength one step of faith at a time. Your mom walk is a path prepared by God: P - Walking with Purpose as a motherA - Walking with Assurance as a motherT - Walking with Trust as a motherH - Walking with Heart as a mother Join Sally Clarkson in Your Mom Walk with God as she shares her walk with God as a mother. You'll find encouragement and hope for your own mom walk in Sally's personal stories, favorite scriptures, and spiritual insights drawn from her journey of motherhood. Your mom walk starts with a step of faithfulness, so step onto the path with Sally.

Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience


Christopher Willard - 2016
    Mindfulness builds emotional intelligence, boosts happiness, increases curiosity and engagement, reduces anxiety and depression, soothes the pain of trauma, and helps kids (and adults) focus, learn, and make better choices. If that weren’t enough, research now shows that mindfulness significantly enhances what psychologists call "flourishing"—the opposite of depression and avoidance.Growing Up Mindful helps parents, educators, and counselors learn how to embody and share the skills of mindfulness that will empower our children with resilience throughout their lives. With more than 75 accessible exercises and practices, along with adaptations for the individual needs of a wide range of children and teens, this inspiring guidebook brings you road-tested insights and tools for: • Tapping the power of the imagination, play, and creativity• Body-based mindfulness and movement practices• Creatively overcoming resistance and gaining kids’ buy-in• The mindful use of technology and social media• Building the foundation through your own personal practice• "Attending" and "Befriending"—two positive responses to stress• Setting intentions and managing expectations of new practitioners• Sharing mindfulness in a formal setting including schools and workplaces• Extending our practice into the larger communities we share"Seeds of mindfulness can be planted in anyone at any time—seeds that under the right conditions can burst and bloom into a life of compassion and connection," writes Dr. Willard. Growing Up Mindful invites you to "embark on something incredible and world-changing" as you join the growing community of adults bringing wonder, curiosity, and reflection back into childhood and adolescence.

Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Junior Edition: Porn-Proofing for Today's Kids


Kristen Jenson - 2016
    Using easy-to-understand science and simple analogies, this ground-breaking book engages young kids to porn-proof their own brains. It only takes a few taps on a mobile device for a curious young child to find an endless supply of deviant, hard-core, and addicting pornography--all for free. Unfortunately, many young kids are being exposed to pornography without the slightest clue that it can damage their developing minds. The 5-point CAN DO Plan teaches kids how to avoid the brain-warping images of pornography and minimize the troubling memories of accidental exposure that often tempt kids to look for more and lead them into a dark and destructive addiction. To stay safe in the digital age, kids must install an internal filter in their own brain. Good Pictures Bad Pictures shows them how. Parents will appreciate this resource to porn-proof their kids because it makes a difficult discussion easy and empowering. How? By teaching kids simple concepts about the brain and the process of addiction, and by giving them a specific strategy for keeping safe from the poison of pornography.

Baby Self-Feeding: Solutions for Introducing Purees and Solids to Create Lifelong, Healthy Eating Habits


Nancy Ripton - 2016
    Your baby's relationship with food starts with her first bite. Set your child up for lifetime of healthy, adventurous eating by letting her or him lead the way!Baby Self-Feeding puts your child in the driver's seat as you help to establish a positive relationship with what's on their plate. This book helps you encourage a confident and healthy eater at an early age by presenting you with:Valuable self-regulatory skillsMindful eating strategies25 baby-tested and approved functional food recipesSmart-start purees and healthy finger foods, and how to introduce themWays to avoid picky eatingMethods for avoiding food allergies and reducing choking hazardsMess-free tips for dining outBaby Self-Feeding offers practical solutions, step-by-step ways to transition your baby to early solid foods and smart-start purees. Homemade baby foods avoid the excess sugar, sodium, dyes, and fillers found in commercial products - plus, they're easy to make even if you are short on time. Let your baby learn to eat at her own pace with Baby Self-Feeding.

Multiples Illuminated: A Collection of Stories and Advice from Parents of Twins, Triplets and More


Megan WoolseyBriton Underwood - 2016
    . . with twins, triplets or more? Are you wondering how you will cope caring for more than one baby? Multiples Illuminated dives deep into the world of raising multiples with beautiful stories and helpful advice. In it, you will find essays on: · Finding out and coping with a multiples pregnancy· Stories of labor and delivery· Stories from the NICU· Breastfeeding best practices for multiples· Surviving the infant and toddler stages Multiples Illuminated is a compelling collection of stories from writers and parents of multiples, as well as expert advice that is a must-have for all parents and grandparents of multiples. Having multiples is one of the most wonderful and challenging experiences you will have in your life. Whether you’re expecting multiples, or a few years into the multiples club, you will find stories you love in Multiples Illuminated.

Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids


Mary Cay Ricci - 2016
    But it's not just about giving your kids praise or setting them on the right direction. Research shows that success is often dependent on mindset. Hard work, perseverance, and effort are all hallmarks of a growth mindset. That's whereMindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kidscomes in. Designed to provide parents with a roadmap for developing a growth mindset home environment, this book's conversational style and real-world examples make the popular mindsets topic approachable and engaging. It includes tools for informally assessing the mindsets of both parent and child, easy-to-understand brain research, and suggested strategies and resources for use with children of any age. This book gives parents and guardians powerful knowledge and methods to help themselves and their children learn to embrace life's challenges with a growth mindset and an eye toward increasing their effort and success! "

Teaching Others to Defend Christianity: What Every Christian Should Know


Cathryn S. Buse - 2016
    These six lessons are for those desiring an intellectual study to have confidence in God’s existence and to strengthen one's faith in Jesus Christ.

So Glad They Told Me: Women Get Real About Motherhood


Jessica Smock - 2016
    Or sometimes, there isn’t anyone there to offer advice or support. Mothers may be feel isolated and lack a support network to provide honest advice, and others may face a barrage of unwarranted, unhelpful tips or warnings. This collection of essays from 60 mothers will empower and unite parents with real, honest advice from women who have been there. These writers share the advice or support they received—or wish they had—on everything from pregnancy to surviving the first year to parenting teens to empty nest syndrome. Inspired by the viral essay and #SoGladTheyToldMe social media movement, this book aims to change conversations about motherhood by presenting a broader, more realistic, and more balanced image of motherhood so that women will feel less inadequate, adversarial, and isolated. So Glad They Told Me is filled with compassionate, honest advice, and the poignant, painful, and sometimes hilarious truths you wish your best girlfriends had told you about motherhood. The personal essays in So Glad They Told Me offer hope, humor, and truth about parenting at all phases—from pregnancy, infancy, toddlerhood, all the way up through empty nest parenting, including topics such as special needs diagnoses, pregnancy loss, surviving colic, parenting a transgender child, and balancing work and family. I'm so glad they told me, and you will be too. –Ann Imig, Founder, LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER So Glad They Told Me is a must read for any mother, new or not-so new. With beautiful, funny, smart essays, this is a treasure full of voice, guidance, and best of all, quiet support for all of us. Because despite all of the love that goes into it, what mother hasn’t felt alone in the midst of the wonders of this role? The more voices of support for one another, the better. –Amy Joyce, editor, The Washington Post’s On Parenting Sadly, "they" didn't tell me much about motherhood and I was left to flounder around on my own. I'm quite sure if I'd had this book, my early years as a mom would have been far more pleasant and far less filled with angst! – Jill Smokler, Founder and President, Scary Mommy Motherhood is damn hard; of that there is little doubt. The few things that can make it easier often feel so elusive--several good nights of sleep, or perhaps a few days relaxing on the beach while the children are being cared for by a nanny, just far away enough so as not to disrupt your respite but still close enough so you can be assured of their safety. Short of the sleep or beach fantasies, though, the one reality that can ease the struggle of child-rearing is knowing that you are not alone. The authors of "So Glad They Told Me" share their stories with honesty, bravery, and a sweetness that left me feeling as though I was having coffee with a dear friend who truly understands that sometimes we just need to know that, as author Mandy Hitchcock reminds us, "this path is not uncharted." - Carla Naumburg, PhD, author of Ready, Set, Breathe: Practicing Mindfulness with Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family (New Harbinger, 2015)

Connected Parenting


Jennifer Kolari - 2016
    But there is a better way. Drawing on twenty years of experience as a child therapist, Jennifer Kolari explains that children act up when they feel an adult does not understand their concerns. The answer is parenting with empathy, which Kolari helps parents implement via her proven CALM technique: Connect emotionally match the Affect of the child Listen to what your child is saying Mirror their emotion back to show  understanding With this simple strategy, parents can connect with their child in any situation to reduce anxiety, de-escalate tantrums instantly and increase self-esteem. Insightful and empowering, Connected Parenting is filled with step-by-step advice and examples from families that have been transformed, often within weeks. It will bring out the best in you—and your child.

Happy Mama


Amy Taylor-Kabbaz - 2016
    No, it won’t make you a bad mum. Definitely, a happy mama makes for a happy family. Are you struggling to figure out who you are now that you’re a mum? Do you sometimes feel like you’re coming last in your own life? Do those calm, cellulite-free celebrity mothers make you want to turn toddler and start screaming in the supermarket aisle? It’s okay, you’re not alone. Journalist and life coach Amy Taylor-Kabbaz was one of those women who put themselves last, until she discovered that putting herself first was better not only for her, but for her kids too.Happy Mama is the collected wisdom from Amy’s makeover from strung-out parent to happy, self-loving mum. Including interviews with working mums, psychologists, counsellors and spiritual leaders, it is full of practical and empowering advice that will help you change the way you feel about motherhood so the whole family can flourish.

Mother and Son: The Respect Effect


Emerson Eggerichs - 2016
    Love is important, but it is respect that is the key to your son's heart.Dads and their boys are often best buddies. But what's the key to a successful and healthy mother-son bond? Informed by relevant scripture and up-to-date psychological research, Emerson Eggerichs, Ph.D., explores this foundational relationship to show how loving and respecting your little boy can help him grow into a mature, responsible, and godly man.The idea of moms respecting their sons may sound strange to some. It's easy to recognize that little girls need dad's love, but who is strongly promoting the truth that little boys (and big ones) need mom's respect?In Mothers & Sons: The Respect Effect, readers will discover:Why respect matters in a mother-son relationshipA method based on the testimonies of thousands of mothersSpecific responses that can be given instead of how you would "normally" respondPractical applications, especially for parenting teen boysJust as Emerson Eggerichs transformed millions of marital relationships with a biblical understanding of love and respect, you can apply these same principles to transform your relationship with your son.Mother & Son is also available in Spanish, Madre e hijo.

Ending the Parent-Teen Control Battle: Resolve the Power Struggle and Build Trust, Responsibility, and Respect


Neil D. Brown - 2016
    Warmly ­recommended." —Library Journalstarred review Power struggles between parents and teens are nothing new, but chronic control battles are destructive to teen development as well as the entire family. According to psychotherapist Neil Brown, these battles occur as the result of self-perpetuating negative relationship patterns. Chock-full of powerful and easy-to-use evidence-based tools, this book will help you understand and end the painful tug-of-war with your teen and foster a peaceful and loving home environment. In virtually all families, there are moments when teens are unhappy with parental limits, rules, and requests—as well as times when those kids are disobedient or noncompliant, or get caught up in the moment and make bad decisions. But the parent-teen control battle goes beyond this; it’s a chronic relationship pattern that uses up the family’s emotional resources and can seriously impact child identity, self-esteem, and development, resulting in destructive behavior and causing stress for everyone around. This book offers a thorough understanding of the control battle and a clear prescription to end it. With Ending the Parent-Teen Control Battle, you’ll learn about the three elements that support this chronic conflict—reactivity, negative emotional tone, and being “other-person focused”—and discover the two key changes that can be made to address the underlying issues, allowing you to move toward a more positive way of seeing your teen while creating vital behavioral change. Using tools based in structural family therapy (SFT), which targets the core relationship pattern driving the control battle, you’ll be able to address specific issues and create a healthier pattern. If you’re tired of the constant battle for control and you’re ready to cultivate a more loving, peaceful, and supportive environment for the whole family, this book has the skills and understanding you need to be successful, no matter what you and your teen face.

Between Us Girls: Walks and Talks for Moms and Daughters


Trish Donohue - 2016
    You feel a deep and growing conviction that you must do something to disciple your daughter. But what? How can a busy mom make sure that her daughter learns about the most important things in life: what Jesus did for her on the cross and how to be faithful to him in this broken world?Author Trish Donohoe has been there, and that’s why she wrote Between Us Girls: Walks and Talks for Moms and Daughters. These twenty-six gospel-driven talks are a fun and easy guide for mothers who want to disciple their daughters but don’t know where to start. In each short chapter, moms and daughters read God’s Word, ask one another questions about their thoughts and experiences, get honest about their struggles with sin, brainstorm ways to live out their faith, and build genuine fellowship into their relationship.Between Us Girls is more than a devotional; it’s a conversation guide, and the twenty-six “chats” are just the beginning. Ultimately, Donohoe’s book teaches mothers and daughters a new way to communicate and starts them on a wonderful, lifelong journey of getting to know one another better and learning to love their Savior more.Between Us Girls was written by a busy mom for busy moms, so no prep time is needed! Just schedule some time with your daughter, grab this book, head to your destination of choice, and cherish every moment you share with your girl.26 gospel-driven talks draw mothers and daughters into meaningful conversations about their lives, our world, and the hope we have in Jesus.Guides both mothers and daughters to think more deeply about their faith by uncovering God’s good intention for his world, wrestling with how sin has affected everything, lifting their eyes to Jesus, and applying biblical truth to the mess of everyday life.Forged out of a mother’s experiences with her daughters and written in simple, fun, and gentle language that every young girl can understand and enjoyTeaches mother and daughter a new way to communicate and provides a springboard for a lifetime of mother-daughter conversations.

Critical Conversations: A Christian Parents' Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens


Tom Gilson - 2016
    "Why shouldn't gays get married?" “Who says gay sex is wrong?" "Does the Bible actually say there's anything wrong with homosexuality?" "Don't you care that kids are being bullied just for being themselves?"To start the discussion, Gilson provides a brief history of the issues beginning with the sexual revolution of the 1960s. He explains how and why cultural attitudes have reversed on this subject in such a short timespan, leaving Christians scrambling for answers.This is perhaps the most complicated and contentious issue Christians face in today's culture. Most churches are poorly equipped to handle it; parents are even less prepared. The good news is that parents need not have pat answers ready before they dive into conversations with their teens and preteens on this difficult topic. Learning together—parents struggling through these issues alongside their kids and leading them to biblical answers— has relational benefits.Answers are important, though, so manageable, nontechnical answers to common questions surrounding this issue are provided, as well as a guide to further resources.

Baby Sleep Science Guide: Overcoming The Four-Month Sleep Regression


Erin Flynn-Evans - 2016
    They’re up two or three times a night for food and comfort, but you expect these nocturnal disturbances with a new baby. But at three or four months of age, everything changes. Your baby now wakes at all hours of the night, and exhaustion and frustration become the norm. The good news is you haven’t done anything wrong. Your baby’s new sleep pattern (or lack thereof) is a biological response known as the four-month regression. Infant sleep experts Meg Casano, BSN, MA, and Erin Flynn-Evans, PhD, MPH, provide the knowledge and strategies you need to get through the four-month regression and reestablish restful sleep patterns. Unlike many misleading and uninformed sleep “experts,” Flynn-Evans and Casano base their advice on sound scientific principles so that you can act with confidence. You’ll discover how to spot early signs of the four-month regression, how to prevent it if possible, and how to resolve the issue if not. Doing so provides you with realistic expectations of your child’s nighttime sleeping patterns and helps you guide your baby back to a healthy, restful nighttime routine.

No-Drama Discipline Workbook: Exercises, Activities, and Practical Strategies to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Developing Minds


Daniel J. Siegel - 2016
    Siegel, MD, and brain-based parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, have created a guide to manage and reduce drama in your interactions with your kids, and even decrease the amount of time you spend having to discipline. The goal is simple: discipline less on autopilot by developing a set of principles andstrategies based on your own family dynamics. These stories, reflections, and exercises will help you think more deeply about the way you communicate with your kids, and provide opportunities for peaceful and nurturing conflict resolution.

A Beautiful Here: Emerging from the Overwhelming Darkness of My Son's Suicide


Linda Phillips - 2016
    In the decades since, the state of mental health care has declined. In this tender retelling of the most painful experience of her life, Phillips not only gives raw insight into the reeling effects of suicide on her family and herself, she examines the process that helped her regain herself in the aftermath. Her insights offer a hopeful, effective solution. A very simple idea that can be initiated by any passionate, caring person. In this case, the focus is on musicians and the creative community as well as the community at large. It's called Nuçi's Space.

Roles: The Secret to Family, Business, and Social Success


Nicholeen Peck - 2016
    They define our rights, obligations, responsibilities, beliefs, and even who we are. How well do we each understand our respective roles? How do we teach our children about proper roles? How would the problems children and parents face change if they better understood roles? Aren’t parents — whether aggressive, passive or assertive — always defining roles anyway? How do roles affect business relationships? Why do we see the roles in today’s world wrapped around so much confusion and debate when it’s impossible to escape roles? This book makes roles easier to understand, and it shows how to strengthen roles and empower ourselves and those we live and work with to reach our full potential.

Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go?: A Preschooler's Guide to Losing a Loved One


Lauren Flake - 2016
    Activities and resources in the included Parents’ Guide reinforce the book’s comforting message of legacy and hope.

Here's the Plan.: Your Practical, Tactical Guide to Advancing Your Career During Pregnancy and Parenthood


Allyson Downey - 2016
    The most focused, confident, and ambitious women can find themselves derailed by a tiny little thing: a new baby. While more workplaces are espousing family-friendly cultures, women are still subject to a "parenting penalty" and high-profile conflicts between parenting and the workplace are all over the news: from the controversy over companies covering the costs of egg-freezing to the debate over parental leave and childcare inspired by Marissa Mayer's policies at Yahoo. Here's the Plan offers an inventive and inspiring roadmap for working mothers steering their careers through the parenting years. Author Allyson Downey, founder of weeSpring, the "Yelp for baby products,” and mother of two young children advises readers on all practical aspects of ladder-climbing while parenting, such as negotiating leave, flex time, and promotions. In the style of #GIRLBOSS or Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office, Here's the Plan is the definitive guide for ambitious mothers, written by one working mother to another.

Babies and Bylines: Parenting on the Move


Pallavi Aiyar - 2016
    

Positive Parenting in the Muslim Home


Noha Alshugairi - 2016
    Parenting is all too often filled with sleepless nights, tears, and anxiety followed by endless doubts: “Did I do my best?” “What could I have done differently?” “Am I responsible?” Positive Discipline, a philosophy conceptualized by Dr. Jane Nelsen, provides a powerful model for channeling parenting struggles into proven methods that yield results. Positive Parenting in the Muslim Home addresses real challenges faced by real families. This comprehensive book is essential for parents, caregivers, and educators seeking to nurture a grounded parent-child relationship built on connection. It is a book of hope. It invites the reader to: ● Approach parenting in Islam as a process of love and guidance ● Apply Positive Discipline tools to nurture Islamic values in matters of faith, relationships, and everyday life ● Empower children to be responsible, capable and proactive individuals ● Address sensitive issues constructively, including sex, drugs, bullying, and youth radicalization ● Resolve conflicts by focusing on solutions rather than punishments Authors Noha Alshugairi and Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine share timeless principles, describe 49 effective parenting tools, and guide readers through various parenting challenges. Their experience spans all stages of development from birth to adulthood. The authors masterfully transform theoretical Islamic principles into living realities. A strong family for a strong community. Be there. Connect. Encourage. Love.

A Meeting with the Principle


Ali Cannon Eisenach - 2016
    One woman's journey on the path that lead her to homeschool her children and seek a better education model for them and herself.

Mary's Way: The Power of Entrusting Your Child to God (CatholicMom.com Book)


Judy Landrieu Klein - 2016
    In doing so, Klein shows you how to find the love, joy, and peace of Our Lord as you surrender your will to him. Judy Landrieu Klein struggled with her faith as she lived through her son's near-fatal addiction to drugs and her daughter's painful anxiety. She discovered she couldn't handle the relentless pressure of life not measuring up to her expectations and it was eating away at her family. Klein considered Mary's reaction to the events in the life of Jesus. She meditated on Mary's fiat and her prayer of total surrender to God's will and saw how this act of obedience carried on throughout Mary's life as she witnessed the life of her son. As Klein focused on her devotion to the Blessed Mother, her life and faith were transformed.In Mary's Way, Klein reflects on the Annunciation and describes her own to struggle to embrace the will of God by surrendering control of her family planning. She meditates on Mary's powerlessness during the Crucifixion, finding a place of calming surrender during her own son's escalating battle with addiction. Klein shows how you can become a more powerful intercessor for yourself and your children. When you finish reading this book, you'll find yourself turning to Mary and surrendering yourself and your children more fully to God.

The Corporal Works of Mommy (and Daddy Too)


Gregory K. Popcak - 2016
    Practical suggestions, tips, and ideas for parents to practice the corporal works of mercy in the home, plus reflection questions and a prayer for God's guidance in our pursuit of the "little way" of the family.

30 Days to a Stronger Child


Dina Alexander - 2016
    It is now, in their childhood, that we give them the tools that shape them, the heart that drives them, and the knowledge that guides them.Our kids face an uncertain future filled with incredible pressures and challenges. They will need to change it, to change their world. And they can do it too! With your guidance and the experiences in this book, our children will not only survive in this world, they will THRIVE!Our kids have qualities that need to be developed and balanced in order to be successful. Each of these qualities can be likened to accounts that are necessary to live a healthy, balanced, and strong life. That’s why we’ve given you a great way to teach these concepts—physical health, emotional strength, social skills, spiritual balance, and intellectual growth—to your children. We’ve included activities, discussions, and questions that will empower you to raise a more resilient, stronger child.Enjoy these lessons at your own pace: whether you spend five minutes or an hour, you will connect with your child on a new level. Deeper connections facilitate both learning and bonding, and together you will help your child find their greatness and build a happy, strong life.