Around the time your first baby turns a year old your brain will turn on you. For reasons that are still not understood by science, the sleep deprivation and postpartum hormones you barely survived with your first baby fade from memory and will be replaced with idyllic images of your growing child. This is when your brain, having officially lost all regard for your well-being, begins to fantasize about a second baby. And for the first time since becoming a parent these thoughts don't make you break out in hives. Before you know it, you are dressing your first child in "I'm Going to be a Big Sister!" T-shirts and catalog-shopping for bunk beds. This will be fantastic! But then that familiar morning sickness kicks in. And your adorable 18-month-old transforms into a two-year-old terror. That's when those hives start to return. With Dawn Dais's trademark witty banter, The Sh!t No One Tells You About Baby #2 includes chapters such as "You Have Officially Lost Control of the Situation," "Siblings Aren't Nearly as Adorable as You Imagined," "You'll Have a Favorite," and "Having Kids Looks a Lot Easier on TV."

    With a little patience, presence, and skill, you can transform nearly any meal into a baby-friendly food. Who knew a little planning could have the whole family eating together and better?In the past, humans thrived without “baby food” (which came about in the mid-nineteenth century). Think about it: the human race has made it this far largely on whole food. Only in recent decades have we begun overthinking and over-processing our foods, which has led to chronic dieting, chronic disease, disordered eating, body distrust, and epidemic confusion about the best way to feed ourselves and families. Eating is an innate skill that has been overcomplicated by marketing schemes and a dieting culture.We, as humans, are Born to Eat, and it seems only natural for us to start at the beginning—babies are born to eat, too. When babies show signs of readiness for solid foods, they can eat what we eat and become healthy, happy eaters in the process. By honoring self-regulation (also an innate skill) and focusing on a whole food foundation, we foster healthier children and families.Aside from the United States, almost every other country is accepting of this approach, known as baby-led weaning. With advice, instructions, and recipes from nutritionist and wellness experts Wendy Jo Peterson and Leslie Schilling, you can ensure that your infant is introduced to healthy and tasty food as early as possible.

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

    What if your baby AND you could thrive together? We cure diseases. We create artificial ears using 3-D printers. We solved how to pee in space. We can figure this out--and now Dr. Darria has done just that. An Ivy league-trained physician and mom of two, Dr. Darria combed the latest in medicine, psychology, and holistic health for answers when her own health crises struck. She now brings those solutions to moms everywhere. For moms who just DontHaveTheTime (or energy), Mom Hacks gives you the specific smallest changes that yield the biggest impact for you and your child. Every hack is a mini super-charged solution with an immediate impact. So you feel good, lose the baby weight, and are more present, while raising thriving children--in an entirely do-able, time-saving, with-you-in-the-trenches way. Her humor and personal stories bring warmth and encouragement when mothers need it most. You can be the mother and woman you want to be, and with Mom Hacks, you don't have to listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. It's time for a new mom world order.

    Your daughter is facing challenges you never dealt with at her age! From skyrocketing anxiety rates to bullying on social media, the Enemy’s lies are everywhere. How do you help the girl you love walk in freedom?Mom’s Guide to Lies Girls Believe, the companion book to Lies Girls Believe is your tool to come alongside your daughter in the fight against the lies the world is telling her. Based on in-depth research and focus groups led by Dannah Gresh, author of Secret Keeper Girl and Lies Young Women Believe (Coauthored with Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth,) Lies Girls Believe teaches your daughter the Truth she will need to navigate the challenges she is facing. The Mom’s Guide provides research, cultural trends, and case studies about the problems tween girls face, but also offers encouragement and biblical insight to empower you to talk with your daughter about God’s truth.Together, these books give you the tools you need to start important conversations at an age-appropriate pace. Topics include:Lies about GodLies about FriendshipLies about the FutureLies about Myself Lies about Boys

    The Fireproof Your Marriage study integrates video clips from the movie FIREPROOF, along with key Scriptures, thought-provoking questions and devotionals. The Couple's Kit includes a six-session DVD and two Participant's guides. Also makes a great wedding or anniversary gift! Fireproof Your Marriage includes these six sessions: 1.) He Said/She Said: appreciating the God-designed differences between men and women. 2.) He First Loved Us: God's love for you and how it enables you to love others.3.) Love for a Lifetime: marriage as a lifelong covenant. 4.) Breaking Free: freeing yourself from temptations that can destroy a marriage. 5.) Forgiveness: offering and receiving forgiveness. 6.) A Better Way of Loving: unconditional love.

    She believes that Sunday morning isn't a success if she has only managed to keep the kids quiet. And she knows there's more to church for kids than trying out their new coloring books. Children are at church for the same reason as their parents: for the privilege of worshiping God.Worship, Castleman writes, is "the most important thing you can ever train your child to do." So with infectious passion, nitty-gritty advice and a touch of humor, she shows you how to help your children (from toddlers to teenagers) enter into worship.In this significantly revised and updated edition Castleman includes a new preface and two new appendices that provide new perspectives on children's sermon and intergenerational community. She also provides a study guide for personal reflection or group discussion. More than ever, Parenting in the Pew is essential reading for parents and worship leaders who want to help children make joyful noises unto the Lord.

    But do you know specifically what those faith challenges are, how to effectively talk with your child about them, and what that means for you as a Christian parent on a day-to-day basis?If your answer is "no," you're not alone. Many Christian parents feel the same.But here's the good news: Talking with Your Kids about Jesus will give you the confidence you need to have the conversations that matter most in today's skeptical world. In a friendly, parent-to-parent voice, Natasha Crain will walk you through essential topics on Jesus's identity, teachings, death, and resurrection. Each chapter clearly explains what skeptics are saying and provides a concise, easy-to-understand response you can discuss with your child (one that can be tailored for any age).Chapters are sequenced in a curriculum-oriented way to provide a cumulative learning experience, making this book a flexible resource for use in multiple settings: homes, church classes, youth groups, small groups, private Christian schools, and homeschools. Every chapter has a step-by-step conversation guide with discussion questions and tips, and content is readily adaptable for use with kids of any age.

    Learn why kids misbehave and why you think that what you are doing now is not "working." Discover the three household rules your toddler can understand and how to implement them. Enjoy learning actual things to say to your children that will motivate them to want to behave. Want to know how to handle discipline, sleep issues, tantrums, going out to eat, potty training, feeding issues and much more? Then, you will certainly enjoy our cheat sheets. From humorous explanations to the short and sweet version, this book has it all! From two pediatric nurse moms with eight children between them comes the real story on toddler behavior and discipline.

    I wrote it because it isn t. I know that this is a hard job, because I am right here in the middle of it. I know you need encouragement because I do too. "This is not a tender reminiscence from someone who had children so long ago that she only remembers the sweet parts. At the time of writing this, I have three children in diapers, and I can recognize the sound of hundreds of toothpicks being dumped out in the hall. "This is a small collection of thoughts on mothering young children for when you are motivated, for when you are discouraged, for the times when discipline seems fruitless, and for when you are just plain old tired. "The opportunities for growth abound here but you have to be willing. You have to open your heart to the tumble. As you deal with your children, deal with yourself always and first. This is what it looks like, and feels like, to walk as a mother with God."

    

    We're flooded with so much practical information that we wonder if we're choosing the right way. And we may be missing the one thing God really wants us to give to our children: His life. God doesn't include a divine methodology for parenting in the Bible, but He does provide principles that can enable any faithful parent to bring His life into the life of their home.In The Lifegiving Parent, respected authors and parents Clay and Sally Clarkson explore eight key principles--heartbeats of lifegiving parenting--to shed light on what it means to create a home where your children will experience the living God in your family. Now parents of four grown children--each with their own unique personality and gifts--Sally and Clay have learned (sometimes the hard way!) that the key to shaping a heart begins at home as you foster a deep and thoughtful God-infused relationship with each child. Filled with biblical insight and classic Clarkson stories, The Lifegiving Parent will equip you with the tools and wisdom you need to give your children much more than just a good Christian life. You'll give them the life of Christ. (Don't miss the companion piece, The Lifegiving Parent Experience!)

    And a few years ago, I began to write through the stuff that I do (or try to do) to enjoy the day-to-day life with a houseful of tinies. Three years later, it remains one of the most popular series of posts I've ever done at my blog. And now it's an e-book. The book isn't about "advice" or making a one-size-fits-all version of motherhood. It certainly isn't about heaping more guilt or or unattainable standards on anyone. Mothering is very, very hard work. It's constant. It's tiring. I've found that mothering tinies exposed the parts of my heart that I could keep politely hidden from general society. It could break me in the morning, but by evening, I would feel like I've never been more fulfilled or happy in my life. It can also be monotonous (that’s something not too many people will tell you – me? I’ll tell you.) And do you have any idea how many loads of laundry a family of five can generate? (Hint: EPIC AMOUNTS OF LAUNDRY.) But the truth is: I enjoy mothering. I enjoy it a lot. In fact, I love this which surprised me. Even the daily quotidian rhythms of it are good, good, good. I even enjoyed those years when I couldn't leave the house without someone sympathetically commenting "Wow, your hands are full." Not because I have it all figured out and do things right all of the time (I don’t). Not because I’m the best mother in the world (I’m not). Not because my tinies are absolutely perfect and the gold standard of childhood (they’re not - trust me). And not because every day is filled with rainbow-and-unicorns-and-cupcakes (I wish). No, the reason I enjoy mothering tinies on the day-to-day grind is mainly because I do this stuff. And it helps me. I call them Practices because that’s what us Christians have often called spiritual disciplines, but really they’re just things I do over and over again, kneading them like yeast into my life. Everyone has their own "practices." Most of mine come from my own parents but then I picked up a few others from books or friends or mentors. And my practices may not work for you and your family. After all, this is just what worked for me, right then, in that season. As my tinies grow up, my practices shift and change and evolve, as they should. Your own practices will do that, too.

    Meg Meeker issues fathers thirty days of challenges to help strengthen their relationships with their daughters.Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: The 30-Day Challenge is the highly anticipated follow-up companion to the national bestseller, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Dr. Meg Meeker.The 30-Day Challenge takes readers through thirty practical father-daughter activities, meant to strengthen dads in their parenting roles, while also creating honest and thriving relationships. With twenty-five years experience as a pediatrician, Dr. Meeker combines her expertise and wisdom with warmth and humor to make this the perfect guide for dads to take the Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters experience to the next level.The 30-Day Challenge offers practical suggestions for dads to spend uninterrupted, scheduled time with their daughters, including:Taking her on a date, dancing, or into nature Taking her to work or teaching her to handle money responsibly Doing an art project or planting a garden together Treating her mother wellReflection questions help readers examine where they are as a dad right now and where they would like to be this time next year. Checklists with important reminders help the reader commit to following through and adequately preparing for the challenges. Challenges can be adapted from the simple to the involved, depending on time availability, comfort levels, and the daughter's age.Unlike other parenting how-to books, The 30-Day Challenge becomes a cherished handbook as dads and their girls evolve in their father and daughter roles. The 30-Day Challenge will equip dads to answer the call to become engaged and intentional fathers.

    Savage, true and deeply relatable - finally, a book that resists the sanitised, acceptable face of parenting. You might not feel better, but at least you'll feel less alone.