Schwangerschaft & Elternschaft

What is it really like to be an only child?In this insightful and entertaining collection, writers including Judith Thurman, Kathryn Harrison, John Hodgman, and Peter Ho Davies reflect on a lifetime of being an only. They describe what it's like to be an only child of divorce, an only because of the death of a sibling, an only who reveled in it, or an only who didn't. As adults searching for partners, they are faced with the unique challenge of trying to turn their family units of three into units of four, and as they watch their parents age, they come face-to-face with the onus of being their families' sole historians.Whether you're an only child, the partner or spouse of an only, a parent pondering whether to stop at one, or a curious sibling, Only Child offers a look behind the scenes and into the hearts of twenty-one smart and sensitive writers as they reveal the truth about growing up-and being a grown-up-solo.

Every parent needs help in guiding their teenagers through the difficult adolescent years, when they face peer pressure, dating, alcohol, drugs, harassment, and pressure to have sex, among many issues. In this revised and updated edition of her acclaimed book, parenting educator Debra Haffner offers invaluable practical advice, sample conversations, and checklists that parents can use to talk to their teens. The book includes:?Values Exercises? to help you identify and communicate your beliefs to your teens?Special Issues? to advise you on discussing difficult topics such as eating disorders and date rape, and responding to your teen's questions about your own sexual history?Teachable Moments? to help you recognize opportunities or entry points into a discussion of important issues.?Don't wait for your teen to say, 'I want to talk to you about sex today.' It's not going to happen,? writes Haffner's daughter, Alyssa, in the book's Foreword. ?You will probably have to initiate the discussion. It may be difficult at first, but most teens will talk to their parents if we think you are comfortable talking to us.?

A mommy manifesto for the mom who proudly strives to be less-than-perfectMichelle Lamar is a wry observer of the politics of elementary schools, the perfect moms who run them, and the kids who are trying to grow up without being embarrassed to death by their parents. This book imparts invaluable advice on how to survive the brutal world of parenting, bake sales, and the PTA.The White Trash Mom Handbook is a welcome and humorous approach to handling the pressures of modern-day motherhood. Readers can get a good laugh while learning the knowledge and skills needed to become a White Trash Mom:Fake Bakin' - transform store-bought treats into bake sale bestsellers!Making Friends - how to spot a fellow White Trash Mom from 50 pacesHelping Out - give back to the school without sacrificing your time or sanity.The White Trash Mom Handbook will teach moms to let go of being the best and embrace their inner rebel so they can enjoy their kids more, avoid PTA purgatory, and get a real life.

Olivia Gardner, a northern California teenager, was severely taunted and cyber-bullied by her classmates for more than two years. News of her bullying spread, eventually reaching two teenage girls from a neighboring town, sisters Emily and Sarah Buder. The girls were so moved by Olivia's story that they initiated a letter-writing campaign to help lift her spirits. It was a tender gesture of solidarity that set off an overwhelming chain reaction of support, encouragement, and love.In Letters to a Bullied Girl, Olivia and the Buder sisters share an inspiring selection of messages that arrived from across America--the personal, often painful remembrances of former targets, remorseful bullies, and sympathetic bystanders. Letters to a Bullied Girl examines our national bullying epidemic from a variety of angles and perspectives, and includes practical guidance from bullying expert Barbara Coloroso, author of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander. Though addressed to Olivia, the letters speak to all young people who have been bullied, offer advice and hope to those who suffer, and provide a wake-up call to all who have ever been involved in bullying.

Aimed at parents of 9-16 year olds, this A-Z of questions and answers covers every conceivable dilemma ? from what age you should give your child a mobile phone, to dealing with internet chat rooms. When can your child legally get a job? When can they baby-sit the kid next door? Tackling the trickiest problems head on, Karen Sullivan explains when it is safe, appropriate, necessary or even normal for children to do certain things. As your children enter their teenage years and want more independence, the questions multiply. You Want to Do What? offers reliable guidance and information instantly. Karen draws on developmental, advisory, legal and statistical information to set out the facts and offer a reasoned solution. Her informed, no-nonsense, common sense approach to parenting allows you to make decisions quickly and with confidence. And if you need to say 'no' to your teenager, You Want to Do What? gives you the best reasons to explain why.

For contemporary women, motherhood has become as polarizing a proposition as it is a powerful calling. For some women this tension is manifest in a debate over whether or not to have children. For others it concerns whether to stay at home with their children or stay in the workforce. Still others feel abandoned altogether by the supposedly pro-family and pro-mother social justice movement that is feminism and are at a loss when it comes to reconciling their maternal instincts with their political beliefs. With Opting In, Amy Richards addresses the anxiety over parenting that women face today in a book that mixes memoir, interviews, historical analysis, and feminist insight. In her refreshingly direct and thoughtful approach, Richards covers everything from the truth about our biological clocks and the trends toward extending fertility, to parenting with nature and nurturing in mind, to our relationship with our own mothers, to what feminism's relationship to motherhood is and always has been. Speaking from the vantage point of someone who is both a parent and one of our leading feminist activists, Richards cuts through the cacophony of voices intent on telling women the "appropriate" way to be a mother and reveals instead how to confidently forge your own path while staying true to yourself and your ideals.

Your road map through the ups and downs of early childhoodAlmost every child, at some point during their early years won't listen, will throw a tantrum, will be mean or aggressive, shy or withdrawn, be a picky eater, and more. As a parent, you know that differences in children's learning styles and temperaments are a given. However, when any of these problem behaviors become the 'norm' for a child, a red flag should go up. If they affect a child's ability to be happy, relate to others, and go about his daily life, there may be a real problem.Is it a Big Problem, or a Little Problem? will help you to determine: -The size of the problem -How to manage problems on your own with practical tips and strategies -When, if at all, to seek a professional evaluation and what to do in the meantimeLearn when to worry, when not to worry, and what to do. This book will be your essential guide to decoding your child's behavior and navigating the early years of childhood.SHARON ANDERSON, OTR/L, AMY WUSTERBARTH EGAN, MA, AMY FREEDMAN, MA, CCC-SLP, and JUDI GREENBERG, MS, OTR/L are based in Rockville, Maryland at the Ivymount School's Center for Outreach and Education (CORE). Their mission is to help teachers and families identify needs and implement strategies for helping young children be more successful at home and at school. This unique developmental team of four: a speech pathologist, two occupational therapists and a special educator/behavior specialist, hold lectures and workshops throughout the Washington DC area for parents and professionals.Library Journal review:* * *Anderson, Sharon & others (text) & Jessica Glickman (illus.). Is It a Big Problem or a Little Problem?: When To Worry, When Not To Worry, and What To Do. Griffin: St. Martin's. Dec. 2007. c.352p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-312-35412-1. pap. $14.95. CHILD REARINGMany exasperated parents have wondered whether their three year old needs to have his or her hearing checked. Developmental concerns are common, but it can be difficult to tell what behavior is a "stage" and what is cause for genuine concern. The authors, Anderson, Amy Egan, Amy Freedman, and Judi Greenberg-all speech, language, behavior, and occupational therapists at the Ivymount School's Center for Outreach and Education in Rockville, MD-divide the book into three sections, "The Basics," "Understanding Development," and "Where Children Struggle." Within these, they illustrate specific concerns (e.g., "She can hear, why doesn't she understand?"), explore the range of normal, and examine signals that indicate a need for professional intervention. For "little problems," the authors teach how to rework an environment, routine, or communication strategy to alleviate triggers and encourage mastery. Their strategies for reteaching crucial developmental milestones range from the simple (e.g., no more sippy cups; straws not only improve speech skills but have a calming effect) to the progressive. Disclaimers aside, this book is the equivalent of a valuable appointment with a specialist. Never using an alarmist tone, the authors strike a perfect balance between advocating for early intervention and appreciating the ups and downs of typical childhood behavior. Highly recommended for all libraries.-Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

When Cris Beam moved to Los Angeles, she thought she might volunteer just a few hours at a school for gay and transgender kids. Instead, she found herself drawn deeply into the pained and powerful group of transgirls she discovered. Transparent introduces four: Christina, Dominique, Foxxjazell, and Ariel. As they accept Cris into their world, she shows it to us-a dizzying mix of familiar teenage cliques and crushes and far less familiar challenges, such as how to morph your body on a few dollars a day. Funny, heartbreaking, defiant, and sometimes defeated, the girls form a singular community. But they struggle valiantly to resolve the gap between the way they feel inside and the way the world sees them-and who among us can't identify with that? Beam's astute reporting, sensitive writing, and passionate engagement with her characters place this book in the ranks of the very best narrative nonfiction.

Eye-opening essays by esteemed writers about the rich and complicated lives of American stepfamilies: with the U.S. divorce rate hovering around 50 percent, most people recognize remarriage as a now-familiar occurrence. And remarriage often means stepfathers, -mothers, -brothers, and -sisters, and the formation of a new type of blended family. Jacquelyn Mitchard, Barbara Kingsolver, Roxana Robinson, Susan Cheever, and others share experiences of being stepdaughters, stepmothers, or ex-wives. Andrew Solomon writes about his relationship with his stepmother. Kate Christensen celebrates the stepfather who brought guidance to her life. There are essays from writers in the same family, each with a different take on his or her postnuclear situation: Phyllis Rose discusses her second husband's qualities as a stepfather, while her son, Ted Rose, writes about his tumultuous relationship with his stepbrother from his own father's remarriage. These poignant, heartfelt, sometimes biting tales remind us of the outdated myth of the perfect nuclear family while shedding light on what it means to forge relationships with stepfamily members.

Winner of the Books for a Better Life Award Every parent who cares about empowering her daughter should own a copy."- Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls"...a must-read for parents and teachers who want to steer girls away from marketing schemes that distort female power and authority and toward true self-acceptance and authentic empowerment." -- Polly Young Eisendrath, author of Women and Desire and The Resilient SpiritThe image of girls and girlhood that is being packaged and sold to your daughter isn't pretty in pink. It is stereotypical, demeaning, limiting, and alarming. Girls are besieged by images in the media that encourage accessorizing over academics; sex appeal over sports; fashion over friendship.Packaging Girlhood exposes these stereotypes and gives you guidance on how to talk with your daughters about these negative images and provides you with tools and information on how to help your girls make more positive choices."A tour de force of excellent scholarship put in a very readable context and chockfull of practical suggestions for parents for change!"-- William S. Pollack, Ph.D., author of Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood "Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown have that rare gift of translating cutting-edge research and analysis into strategies and information that every parent (and every girl) can use in daily life."-- Joe Kelly, president of Dads and Daughters (DADs)"With compassion, insight, and humor [Lamb and Brown] unravel and demystify the messages girls confront throughout their development, and they offer adults useful tools to help girls resist their powerful pull."-- Lynn M. Phillips, Ph.D., Department of Communications, University of Massachusetts, Amherst"Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown's sharp analysis and patiently pragmatic advice is just what we need to sustain our daughter's quests for healthy identities."-Michael Kimmel, author Manhood in America, Professor, SUNY Stony BrookSharon Lamb, author of The Secret Lives of Girls, is professor of Psychology at Saint Michael's College in Vermont. Her research on girls' and teens' development is widely cited. Additionally, she listens to their struggles and strengths in her private practice.Lyn Mikel Brown, professor of Education at Colby College in Maine, is the author of three books on girls' development, including Meeting at the Crossroads: Women's Psychology and Girls' Development (with Carol Gilligan). She creates programs for girls at her nonprofit Hardy Girls Healthy Women (www.hghw.org).

The groundbreaking alternative for the millions of couples with children who face divorce each year-couples who want to avoid litigation, but don't want to give up on getting what they want.Even under the best circumstances, divorce can be marked by a range of painful emotions. But research now reveals that how a couple conducts themselves during a divorce has far greater impact on their children than the act of divorcing itself. Groundbreaking and revolutionary, The Collaborative Way to Divorce is the first guide to the Collaborative process, a nationally acclaimed approach based on the concept that both spouses hire legal representation, yet agree to resolve their differences with no intention of ever going to court.Stressing cooperation over confrontation and resolution over revenge, Collaborative divorce is fast transforming how couples dissolve their marriages, divide their assets, and reinvent their post-divorce relationships, particularly when they have children. Written by Stu Webb, the founder of the Collaborative law movement and Ron Ousky, an early pioneer of the process, The Collaborative Way to Divorce guides you through the steps of the Collaborative process so that you can make better, more informed, and more strategic decisions-resulting in a win-win outcome for you and your spouse.

What does it really mean to be a good father? What did your father tell you, that has stayed with you throughout your life? Was there a lesson from him, a story, or a moment that helped to make you who you are? Is there a special memory that makes you smile when you least expect it?After the publication of Tim Russert's number one New York Times bestseller about his father, Big Russ & Me, he received an avalanche of letters from daughters and sons who wanted to tell him about their own fathers, most of whom were not superdads or heroes but ordinary men who were remembered and cherished for some of their best moments-of advice, tenderness, strength, honor, discipline, and occasional eccentricity.Most of these daughters and sons were eager to express the gratitude they had carried with them through the years. Others wanted to share lessons and memories and, most important, pass them down to their own children. This book is for all fathers, young or old, who can learn from the men in these pages how to get it right, and to understand that sometimes it is the little gestures that can make the big difference for your child. For some in this book, the appreciation came later than they would have liked. But as Wisdom of Our Fathers reminds us, it is never too late to embrace it. From the father who coached his daughter in sports (and life), attending every meet, game, performance, and tournament, to the daughter who, after a fifteen-year estrangement, learned to make peace with her difficult father just before he died, to the son who came, at last, to appreciate the silent way his father could show affection, Wisdom of Our Fathers shares rewarding lessons, immeasurable gifts, and lasting values.Heartfelt, humorous, engaging, irresistibly readable, and bound to bring back memories of unforgettable moments with our own fathers, Tim Russert's new book is not only a fitting companion to his own marvelous memoir, but also a celebration of the positive qualities passed down from generation to generation.

It's no secret that parents want their children to have the lifelong cultural and intellectual advantages that come from being bilingual. Parents spend millions of dollars every year on classes, computer programs, and toys, all of which promise to help children learn a second language. But many of their best efforts (and investments) end in disappointment.In The Bilingual Edge, professors and parents King and Mackey wade through the hype and provide clear insights into what actually works. No matter what your language background is--whether you never passed Spanish in high school or you speak Mandarin fluently--King and Mackey will help you: select the language that will give your child the most benefitsfind materials and programs that will assist your child in achieving fluencyidentify and use your family's unique traits to maximize learningFancy private schools and expensive materials aren't needed. Instead, The Bilingual Edge translates the latest research into interactive strategies and quick tips that even the busiest parents can use.

Written by three mothers who've been through it all, What the Other Mothers Know gives you straight, funny, realistic talk on: getting drool stains out of clothing finding the perfect babysitter and maintaining her loyaltytaking car trips with toddlers recognizing how to set limits and holding to themsucking up to preschool directorskeeping your child off ihatemymom.comAnd much, much moreThe maternal wisdom of the ages is right in your hands--delivered with a heaping spoonful of humor.

"Edelman illuminates the transformative power of understanding mother loss [and] offers essential wisdom." -- Library Journal When Hope Edelman, author of the New York Times bestseller Motherless Daughters, became a parent, she found herself revisiting the loss of her mother in ways she had never anticipated. Now the mother of two young girls, Edelman set out to learn how the loss of a mother to death or abandonment can affect the ways women raise their own children.In Motherless Mothers, Edelman uses her own story as a prism to reveal the unique anxieties and desires that these women experience as they raise their children without the help of a living maternal guide. In an impeccably researched, luminously written book enriched by the voices of the mothers themselves--and filled with practical insight and advice from experienced professionals--she examines their parenting choices, their triumphs, and their fears, and offers motherless mothers the guidance and support they want and need.

Fathers know that doing things with their daughters is important. Shared activities build trust and self-esteem, show how much dads care, and allow everyone to cut loose and have fun. But even fathers who can beat the generation and gender gaps that make them feel awkward can't always dream up cool places to go or mutually enjoyable things to do. Like the coach of their favorite team, dads need a game plan, and that's exactly what Joe Kelly provides in Dads & Daughters Togetherness Guide.Appropriate for girls of any age, the guide enables dads to grab their daughters by the hand and say "Let's go...”See how things are made: Take a made-in-America tour and see how everything from jumbo jets (Boeing) to chocolate kisses (Hershey's) is produced.Bake a funny cake: She'll laugh herself silly in the kitchen making Kitty Litter Cake, a German chocolate sheet cake covered with "cat litter” (dyed, crumbled cookies) and topped with miniature Tootsie Rolls.Take a drive to nowhere: Let the copilot navigate, and leave time for fun stops to poke around in flea markets or join a game of pickup softball for a few innings.With dozens of other engaging activities—such as creating a daddy-daughter journal, devising secret codes, and exchanging poems—this is the ultimate rain-or-shine resource for developing wonderful parent-child rapport.

Owen explains how to give children real experience with all kinds of investments, how to foster their charitable instincts, how to make them more helpful around the house, how to set their allowances, and how to help them acquire a sense of value that goes far beyond money.

Why It's Great to Be a Girl is a must-have for every girl from six to sixteen! Chock-full of fascinating facts, enlightening girl-knowledge, and important historical milestones--even a list of great books written by women--here is a guaranteed self-esteem booster for young females everywhere . . . and it's lots of fun too! After all, what girl wouldn't feel great about herself knowing that: girls hear better than boysgirls drive better than boys girls' bodies are stronger than boys' in every way, except for musclesgirls are less susceptible to major diseasesand, according to many anthropologists and archaeologists, girls actually "civilized" humankind!So get ready for an eye-opening journey through the awesomeness of girldom--with the ultimate guide to why being a girl is the ultimate in cool!

Does your child Refuse to cooperate in the morning? Get into trouble for not listening? "Lose it" over seemingly insignificant issues? Seem to resist sleep?An estimated 69 percent of American infants, children, and teens are sleep deprived. Studies have shown that sleep deficits can contribute to hyperactivity, distraction, forgetfulness, learning problems, illness, accidents, and disruptive behaviors. Often what our misbehaving kids really need isn't more "consequences" or more medication but more sleep.Sleepless in America offers weary and frustrated parents a helping hand and an exciting new approach to managing challenging behaviors by integrating research on stress, sleep, and temperament with practical strategies and a five-step approach that enables parents to help their "tired and wired" children get the sleep they so desperately need.

This beautiful baby journal makes the perfect baby shower gift for parents who want to chronicle baby's first years. Use this journal to write down new discoveries about your child and your hopes, wishes, and dreams for the future. Filled with Nikki McClure's papercut illustrations, The First 1000 Days is divided into sections devoted to baby's first tree, moon, and garden, reflecting McClure's lifestyle and art. Focused on recording baby's interaction with the natural world, this lovely journal celebrates all the special moments of baby's first years and preserves them for all time.