May 18th, 2012 by admin
The Kid Dictionary
Hilarious Words to Describe the Indescribable Things Kids Do
By Eric Ruhalter
March 2012; Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 9781402264658
$9.99; 224 pages; Parenting/Humor
Have a kid? Know a kid? Been a kid? Have you ever been left utterly speechless by the wit, wisdom, grossness, and hilarity that accompanies children wherever they go? The Kid Dictionary has the ingenious and hilarious words you need to describe the indescribable: life with kids.
Humorous, insightful, and unique, it’s perfect for anyone with kids even remotely in their life–from expectant parents to aunts and uncles. With clever word play and insights that will make you wince in sympathy or laugh out loud and think, “thank goodness that’s not me! (yet),” The Kid Dictionary provides adults everywhere with the vernacular to discuss the little harridans, er, angels we love: Read the rest of this entry »
May 13th, 2012 by admin
By Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD,
Author of Princess Recovery: A How-To Guide to Raising Strong, Empowered Girls Who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters,
Grandparents are important in children’s lives, but the relationship between grandparents and the parents can sometimes be difficult. The best grandchild/grandparent relationships are those that are encouraged by the parent, who then steps back and lets them unfold. Of course, this is not always easy, especially if you don’t always agree with the things YOUR parents (the grandparents) are doing. Read the rest of this entry »
May 13th, 2012 by admin
By Barbara Machen,
Co-author of The Mothers of Reinvention: Reclaim Your Identity, Unleash Your Potential, Love Your Life
There is no validation in Motherhood alone. Validation is a big part of who we are as human beings but it is not something we should be actively seeking as mothers. Yes you can feel joy when you see your child do something you taught him. You can be relieved he looked both ways before crossing the street and has a sense of keeping safe or be proud when you watch him walk down the aisle at High School graduation. But non of this is really about you. You molded the clay but the clay was there. You helped the clay become something magical but the magic was already inherent within. You don’t make your children what they are you bring it out of them. Read the rest of this entry »
June 3rd, 2011 by admin
By Dr. John Duffy,
Author of The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens
We are on vacation in Florida with another family. Three young teenagers are on board, my 13-year-old included. A number of times over the past week, I have peered over to see each of their beautiful faces lost in a 3 ½ inch screen: a Nintendo DS, iPhone, iPod Touch, or any other thing!
One might be texting friends back home, another might be selecting a new song, while yet another is playing the latest downloaded game. There they were in the car last night, screens lighting their faces. There they were on the couch, in front of the giant TV screen! Even in bed, all faces illuminated, eyes entranced.
So how is a parent to counteract the draw of the tiny, sophisticated, intoxicating hand-held plaything? Read the rest of this entry »
March 30th, 2011 by admin
By Howard Zehr and Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz,
Author of “What Will Happen To Me?”
Children need time to adjust to the separation caused by having a parent in prison. But it takes more than time. As we have heard in their voices, children also need to make sense of what has happened to them and to their parent or parents. Because of this, they have many questions.
Some of the questions they ask are straightforward. But sometimes their questions come out indirectly or in their challenging behavior. Incarcerated parents, as well as caregivers of children or other adults in their lives, often have to answer their uncomfortable questions. Read the rest of this entry »
