PARENTING RESOURCES

 

Millions of Dollars in Grants are available to anyone and can be used to start a business, going to college, or purchasing a house. We will write the grant for you! Click here for details.

Top 10 Tips For Good Parenting - Even though we need a license to do many things in life—everything from driving and operating a forklift to practicing medicine and fishing—there is no license required when it comes to parenting. And yet parenting today is far more difficult and very different than it was only a generation ago. Many well intentioned moms are still using outdated parenting skills and tools that simply do not work consistently. As a result, these moms experience frustration, stress and 'mommy guilt' on a daily basis!
 

Fortunately, there is an approach to parenting development that consistently makes effective, good parenting a reality. I call it “Ultimate Parenting”. This time-tested, child-proofed approach brings out your very best so you can bring out the best in your children!

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Understanding, Raising & Teaching Your Children

Car Seat Crying - By Elizabeth Pantley - Author of Gentle Baby Care: Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby - Some babies fall asleep almost before you’re out of the driveway, but others won’t spend five happy minutes in their car seats. Usually, this is because your baby is used to more freedom of movement and more physical attention than you can provide when she’s belted into her seat. Hearing your baby cry while you are trying to drive is challenging. Even though it’s difficult to deal with, remember that you and your baby’s safety are most important. Parents sometimes take a crying baby out of the car seat, which is extremely dangerous and makes it even more difficult for the baby to get used to riding in the car seat. Some parents make poor driving decisions when their babies are crying, which puts everyone in the car at risk. Either pull over and calm your baby down, or focus on your driving. Don’t try to do both.
 

What is Preventing Your Baby from Sleeping Through the Night? By Elizabeth Pantley - Author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night - A breakthrough approach for a good night's sleep--with no tears - There are two schools of thought for encouraging babies to sleep through the night: the hotly debated Ferber technique of letting the baby "cry it out," or the grin-and-bear-it solution of getting up from dusk to dawn as often as necessary. If you don't believe in letting your baby cry it out, but desperately want to sleep, there is now a third option, presented in Elizabeth Pantley's sanity-saving book The No-Cry Sleep Solution. Pantley's successful solution has been tested and proven effective by scores of mothers and their babies from across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Based on her research, Pantley's guide provides you with effective strategies to overcoming naptime and nighttime problems. The No-Cry Sleep Solution offers clearly explained, step-by-step ideas that steer your little ones toward a good night's sleep--all with no crying.
 

Seven Ways to Ease Kids’ Anxiety When You Date  - By Michele Germain, LCSW - www.thejillprinciple.com - When their parents date, it creates anxiety in children and teens. The changes and losses they have gone through often cause them to feel jealous and insecure.  They may become uncooperative, withdrawn, and rebellious or over attached to you.  Each child, depending on age and personality, will react differently.  But it is important to understand that they are struggling with two main feelings. Being single with children has it own set of challenges can be demanding and exhausting.   And as a single parent you can be confused as to how to parent and date at the same time.   Keep in mind that communication is always the goal.  We want to let go of blaming, angry outburst, silence withdrawal or acting out, all of which can occur in families, either by you or your children. Being sensitive to one another, respectful of your needs as well as your children’s needs is what will bring families together.  Healthy talk is the way to get there.

Diversity and Bully-busting: 4 Tips To Stop Bullying and Bias Before It Happens - By: Deb Capone - Fasten your seat belt and get on the diversity train! Experts agree that bullying not only exists in every school and community in our country, but it is also escalating at a frightening pace.  Bullying, defined as strong preying on the weak has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. as nearly one out of three American children have experienced bullying, either as the victim, perpetrator, or both with few victims letting on they are, in fact, victims. A Google search on "bullying," returns more than three million sites. Meanwhile, millions of research dollars are being poured into studying child and adolescent violence and the National Institute of Mental Health considers bullying one of the anti-social behaviors to watch for.
Home Environment and Parenting as a Predictor of Achievement - By Kelly Nault www.MommyMoments.com - Although home environment and parenting definitely influence a child's ability to succeed, the number one predictor of achievement is a child’s own internal belief system. Their beliefs, how they interpret their home environment, and the parenting style they grew up with all help define who they are and who they will become. When it comes down to it, it isn’t so important what happens to a child. How a child interprets and responds to what happens to her or him is a more accurate predictor of their ability to succeed in life. (Home Environment: NOT a Predictor of Achievement)

Conflict Response Styles And Strategies In Your Home - By Kelly Nault www.MommyMoments.com - Conflict is part of life. It is only when we as family members don’t have the skills to move through conflict that it becomes a problem. If you find yourself revisiting the same issues—“Why can’t you pick up after yourself?”, “Why can’t you help out more with the kids?”, or “Why can’t you two just get along for once?”—you may be living in a cantankerous home environment that has your whole family in the “deep end” of life. Don't despair: there is a solution.
Activities For Conflict Resolution Skills Development In The Home - By Kelly Nault, MA www.MommyMoments.com - Conflict is part of life. It is only when we as family members don’t have the skills to move through conflict that it becomes a problem. If you find yourself revisiting the same issues—“Why can’t you pick up after yourself?”, “Why can’t you help out more with the kids?”, or “Why can’t you two just get along for once?”—you may be living in a cantankerous home environment that has your whole family in the “deep end” of life. Don't despair: there is a solution.
Proactive Strategies For Preventing Behavior Problems - By Kelly Nault www.MommyMoments.com - Parenting Question “At my recent baby shower, one of my favorite gifts was your book When You’re About To Go Off The Deep End, Don’t Take Your Kids With You. I absolutely love that it is so easy-to-read. This may be a silly question but, as a mom who has not yet given birth, I am wondering if there are any proactive strategies for preventing behavior problems down the road that I could start focusing on or learning now. Thoughts? Thanks again for your book!“—Soon-To-Be Momma
Behavior Modification Plan Example - By Kelly Nault www.MommyMoments.com - The good news? Changing children’s behaviors for the better is possible when you are consistent. Since you want your kids to change their misbehavior permanently, you need to prove to them that you mean business and are committed to a new way of doing things. The great news is that generally after a week or two of being consistent, children will trust your follow-through enough to change themselves. At this point, you have lift off. You have mastered the secret of changing behavior and maintaining the change with your children!
The Secret To Changing Behavior And Maintaining The Change - By Kelly Nault www.MommyMoments.com - Parents need not search any further for the secret to changing their children's behavior and maintaining positive changes in their home. I have taught hundreds of parents how to motivate children to want to be well-behaved. Readers of my book When You’re About To Go Off The Deep End, Don’t Take Your Kids With You and thousands of my audience members are amazed to find the secret to changing behavior is much easier than they thought.
Behavior Strategies To Use At Home - By Kelly Nault www.MommyMoments.com - It's a fact: parenting is the most demanding job on earth! If you have ever thought about handing in your resignation letter after a particularly trying day with the kids, you're not alone. Fortunately, having effective behavior strategies to use at home can mean the difference between thriving in your job as parent or struggling through days and weeks of conflict, chaos and frustration.

The Ups and Downs of Childrearing: America Is Riding the “Pendulum of Parenting”- By Kelly Nault, MA www.MommyMoments.com  - The “pendulum of parenting” is a common obstacle that prevents many moms (and dads!) from accessing the ultimate parent within. When something flies out of your mouth that you wish you could take back, when you feel taken advantage of, or when you think your children don’t appreciate all that you do, there’s a good chance you’re on this “pendulum of parenting” or “roller coaster of childrearing.”
Violence in the Media—Effects on Child Behavior - By Kelly Nault, MA at www.MommyMoments.com - It’s no secret that we’re living in a violent world. Between news reports on terrorism, bullying at school, and violence in the media, our children are exposed to all kinds of aggression. It’s also no secret that such violence can have negative effects on child behavior and development.

The Two Home Family - by Sally Adams Hedgecock by www.morethanasinglemom.com - I am part of a loving family. To begin with, my family includes my three children, their dad, his wife, their baby daughter and my boyfriend. In a time when my situation might be referred to as a broken home, my family is anything but broken. When one of my two daughters had her first period she not only shared this exciting news with me, she also called her stepmom. After all, her stepmom is one of the two most important women in her life.

Military Family Children- Tips for Parents and Teachers - For children that have to deal with parents that are on active military duty it can be very stressful.  With all the coverage on the news, their fears can become heightened.  Here are some tips and suggestions that parents and teachers can use to help children in military families cope with the situation.

Teach Your Kids the Basics on Money - Money Management - by Kelly Kennedy - Kids are taught about sharing, safety, acceptable behavior, physical health and safety, and good study and work habits but seldom are they taught about money.

Four New Ideas to Help You Motivate Your Children - by Jason Gracia - Motivation123.com - Motivation is not only important for adults, but also for children. What they learn as children will have an enormous impact on the rest of their lives.

When It's Hard to Share - Having trouble sharing often means something else is going on. Here is how to help. by Polly Greenberg - Question: Shaun, our 6-year-old, monopolizes toys, ideas for made-up story lines, and coveted places to sit . We have explained about sharing over and over. If we get angry and insist our son share, he gets frustrated and furious.

When a Parent Remarries - In the middle of a newly blended family, a child can feel adrift and alone by Adele M. Brodkin, Ph.D.THE PARENTS' STORY - My marriage to Kyle's mother broke up before he was 3. It was a tough time for all of us. Kyle cried easily, had a lot of tantrums, and for a while forgot everything he'd learned about using the toilet.

Food for the Mind and Soul—Emotional and Spiritual Sustenance – Part I of II - by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD.   Humans need three types of sustenance to thrive—physical, emotional and spiritual.  Physical sustenance seems quite simple and readily available, yet as I have written previously in this column, physical sustenance is complex, multifaceted and needs to be managed based on each individual’s unique body type, food likes/dislikes as well as allergies and sensitivities.

When it hurts to hug - Karyn Mandan from spirituality.com
“Be sure to hug the children goodnight!” the headmistress told me on my first day of work.

Teen Drug Abuse Website - Teendrugabuse.us has been created to help bring awareness to the teen drug problems in the U.S.

Keeping Children Safe Until Parents Come Home - Statewide, more than 3.8 million children have parents who work outside the home, and over 1 million children in California have no place to go once the school day ends.

Parents need to teach their college-bound kids about wise money management - Amanda Bach - With back to school season in full swing, Your Credit Card Companies (YCCC), a coalition made up of several credit card organizations is providing details on how parents can approach talking to their young adults about wise credit.

Children Can learn to Love Making Music - Imagine an evening at home with your smiling children entertaining the family by playing guitar, piano or cello. Instead of forcing him to practice and perform, your child refuses to put his instrument down.

Co-Parenting Do's and Don'ts - Things that you should do & should not do as a parent.

Coming Clean About Being Mean - In our society, girls are not allowed to be upset or angry, and they often avoid honest confrontation because they're afraid of losing friends or being alone, she said. When she asked, "Has anyone in this room ever held anger in?" almost every hand went up.

Coming Clean About Being Mean - Girls Speak Out - Boys don't "get it" because it isn't part of their culture, Julia explained. "My brother getting beat up was always considered more important psychologically than the problems of me or my sisters."

Coming Clean About Being Mean - Advice to Parents - Finally ask non-intrusive questions "without ceremony or drama." A general question like, "Do you think there are differences in the ways boys and girls are mean to each other?"

Stress, Conflict and Kids - If you are a typical parent today, you probably have more stress in your life than you would like. 

The Power of Negotiation - What can you do to manage conflicts more effectively with less stress? Negotiate.
 

Safety for your children on the Internet

According to CyberTipLine.com, 1 in 5 kids online is sexually solicited.
For Parents and Guardians - by Amanda Bach - Whatever your age, the Internet is a great place to hang out. It’s not only fun, but it lets you keep in touch with friends and family and provides an enormous amount of information. There are lots of great educational sites as well as places to keep up with your favorite hobbies, music, sports, and much more.

Teens need to know about the Internet - by Amanda Bach -  The Internet is an amazing way to exchange information.

SURF SAFER - by Amanda Bach - The most important thing to remember is that when you’re online in any kind of a public forum, anyone can read what you post.
 

Questions & Answers on Child Safety - by Amanda Bach - What are the most important things a parent should know & tell when talking to a child about this issue?

Internet-Related Safety Tips for Teens - by Amanda Bach - from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 and www.ChildrensPartnership.org.

Children Safety Tips

Car Seat - 'How To’ Knowledge Retained by Parents - Sources by Amanda Bach - New Study Shows Car Seat Clinics Are Effective, according to Safet Kids Worldwide. Based on data from car seat checkup events conducted in 29 states in February 2005, Safe Kids found that parents successfully changed their behavior and retained their child passenger safety knowledge six weeks after receiving hands-on instruction. At a second child safety seat checkup, 45% more seats were properly installed by the parents than at the first instructional event. Families with older children were also significantly underrepresented in the research. Children who attended checkup events tended to be young—ages 4 and under—even though Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that kids who have outgrown car seats ride on booster seats until they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and 80 to 100 pounds. Most children reach this height and weight between the ages of 8 and 12.

Never Leave Your Child Alone - Sources by Amanda Bach - How Does A Hot Car Affect Kids? From 1996 through 2000, more than 120 children – most of them three and younger – died from heat stroke after being trapped in a vehicle’s passenger compartment. Research conducted by General Motors revealed that these children were left behind in a closed, parked car by parents or caregivers, or that they gained access to the car on their own and could not get out.  This is a serious public health issue, and one that is entirely preventable. General Motors and the National SAFE KIDS Campaign want to end these needless deaths by reminding parents and caregivers about the dangers of leaving children in, or allowing them to play around cars.

Home Water Safety - by Amanda Bach - What You Need to Know - In 2004, an estimated 340 children ages 14 and under drowned in or around the home. Of these children, more than 80 % were ages 4 and under.  Children can drown in as little as one inch of water and are therefore at risk of drowning in bathtubs, buckets, diaper pails, toilets, and other places where there may be some water accumulated.  Keep bath time safe! More than half of drownings among infants (under age 1) occur in bathtubs and many of these occur in the absence of adult supervision. 

Beach Safety - by Amanda Bach - What You Need to Know - Children ages 5 to 14 most often drown at open-water sites (rivers, lakes and oceans). In fact, 29 % of drownings involving children ages 5 to 14 occur in open bodies of water. Lifeguards are not enough! One in five parents believes that when lifeguards are present, the lifeguard is the main person responsible for supervising children in the water. Don't let a beach day turn into a bad day – follow these tips around open water. Remember active supervision is the best way to keep your kids safe!

Pool and Hot Tub Safety - by Amanda Bach - What You Need to Know - In 2003, 285 children died from accidental drowning in a swimming pool.  Every year, thousands more are treated in emergency rooms for near-drownings. Most young children who drown in swimming pools were last seen in the home, had been missing from sight for less than five minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning. Don’t be one of the 66 % of parents who have little or no awareness about entrapment risks. Find out how to protect your children in pools and hot tubs.

Boating Safety Tips - by Amanda Bach - What You Need to Know - In 2004, 55% of children ages 14 and under who drowned in reported boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. It is estimated that 85% of boating-related drownings could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a life jacket. Make your children wear a life jacket … it may be the law! Forty-five states have enacted laws that require children to wear life jackets while participating in recreational boating. These laws vary in age requirements, exemptions and enforcement procedures. 

Great Articles & Submissions from our Contributors
Kids All Around Me
Darcey Blain resides in Rockford, Michigan with her son, Max, and various pets. Her mother instilled her with an intense love of words and reading. She began writing short stories and poems in elementary school, but later turned to the more practical administrative field as she also enjoyed good food and a roof over her head. She eventually found her way back to the writing field by accepting the position of managing editor for North Star Writers Group. Editing and clarifying the work of others is definitely her strong suit, but she couldn’t hide her desire to create and write any longer.

Parenting Insight? Like Everyone, You’ll Learn to Trust Me - By Darcey Blain - Always one for offering an alternative point of view, I’d like to introduce my new column, “Kids All Around Me”. I’m not your typical parent living the average family life. I’m actually a forty-something, single mom living in an apartment with my teenage son, three cats and a pet mouse (the last of three mice we adopted last summer – the other two are in plastic bags and cardboard box caskets in our freezer waiting to be buried in the spring). I’m not kidding. This is my world and, honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m rarely bored and few would consider me dull. So, a parenting column? I know this stuff, really.

We Know How To Do Birthdays Right - By Darcey Blain - I’m exhausted. I just returned to my nice, quiet apartment after spending the afternoon at my niece’s seventh birthday party. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoy hanging out with five children between the ages of three and seven years for an afternoon. (Maybe enjoy isn’t exactly the right word, but it’s very close.) I’m just incredibly grateful when I can say good-bye, get my hugs and walk out the door with my 14-year-old and go home.


"Finding Neverland": Finding the child in my parenting style - Meg Dendler from spirituality.com - Watching this brilliant film really opened my eyes to something I had let slip away in the past few years: the appreciation of childlike qualities.

I'm adopted and that's okay - Jodie Swales from spirituality.com  - When I was 18 years old, I learned that I was adopted. The news upset and confused me.

Soccer mom practices civility on the sidelines - Sandra Scott from spirituality.com - I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth—well, almost couldn't.

Mother & daughter negotiate the teen years - Beth Carey - Spirituality.com - Her already short skirt hiked up even higher when 14-year-old Anna slung her backpack over her shoulder.

Helping a Lonely or Rejected Child - When a child comes home and says, "No one likes me" or "everyone hates me," it can be hard for parents to tell the difference between temporary exclusion versus ongoing rejection.           

The Top 10 Tips for Communicating with Children - Educating yourself on how to communicate effectively with your child can be the key to achieving your parenting goals.

Talking to Your Kids about Drugs - Amanda Bach - As a single parent, each much harder for you to have anytime to spend with your kids; Drug is a tough issue & sooner or later, you have to talk with your kids about it.

Are Your Children Ready For School? by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, MSW, CSW, CCH, CRT - To adequately prepare your child for school you need to prepare your child to protect him/herself from cunning sexual abuse perpetrators.

The Most Expert Parenting Advice  - by Susan Webb  - Spirituality.com - I've come to the conclusion that I'm a good parent. But I didn't always believe it.

Divine Daycare - by Laura Matthews - Spirituality.com - My kids know from daycare.

Your Home Day Care - by Lisa - ChildFun.com - Art is necessary for young children's proper development.
 

Interviews & Great Books
An Interview with Cris Beam - author of "Transparent: Love, Family and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers" Book - The book covers the lives and culture of transsexual kids living on and off the streets of Los Angeles, and is based on seven years of research. When Cris Beam first contacted the Eagles program, a school for gay and transgender teenagers in Los Angeles, she simply wanted to volunteer for a few hours. She didn’t know that most Eagles volunteers lasted just a few weeks or a few months; she stayed to teach journalism there for two and a half years. She also didn’t know that Eagles would lead her to become more than a teacher: She would also become a lifeline, an advocate, and eventually a foster parent. This is a book that may reinforce or dispel your notions about gender. It may cause you to rethink your definitions of family. It may open your eyes to the often misunderstood world of homeless teens. One thing is certain: It will spark meaningful conversation about the ways we as a society can ease despair and celebrate the power of individuality and the courage it takes to be one’s self.

JUST LIKE HIS FATHER? We all want our children to grow up to live productive and fulfilling lives. Sometimes however, a mother’s good intentions are simply not enough, since the genes for ADHD, addiction and antisocial behavior are found in many American families. As Liane J. Leedom, M.D. describes in Just Like His Father? some kids inherit genes that send them down a path of destruction. In Just Like His Father? the dance between nature and nurture that gives rise to ADHD, addiction and antisocial behavior is revealed so that mothers can take action now to protect their children. Dr. Leedom warns, “Your at-risk child’s needs may be different from those of other children.”  A commitment to educate other moms about the needs of at risk children, began when Dr. Leedom realized that her son is at risk.  For three years she poured through masses of scientific literature to gain the tools she needed to care for her own son. She says, “Although the government has spent millions uncovering the genetic and environmental factors involved in antisocial behavior, addiction and ADHD, the findings of this work are not available to the public.” She believes, “We all have a right to the information that will help us protect and enjoy our at-risk children.”
 

Daughters of the Revolution - By Dan Kindlon, PhD - Author of Alpha Girls: Understanding the New American Girl and How She Is Changing the World - There's a new type of teenage girl growing up in America today, and she is having a profound and beneficial influence on society. That's the conclusion of Dr. Dan Kindlon, the widely respected. Part of the first generation that is reaping the full benefits of the women's movement, today's American girl is maturing with a new sense of possibility and psychological emancipation. Dr. Kindlon provides us with an in-depth portrait of the alpha girls born leader who is ready to explode into adulthood and make her mark on the world and, by her example, serve as an inspiration for women everywhere. American girls today are the daughters of the revolution -- the first generation that is reaping the full benefits of the women's movement. Their mothers and grandmothers fought and won the battles that produced the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote.
Top 10 Baby Sleep Myths - By Cathryn Tobin, MD - Author of The Lull-a-Baby Sleep Plan - Dear Mom and Dad - What if I were to tell you that I’ve uncovered a secret that enables very young babies to sleep through the night—and that with the information I’m about to divulge in this book, you can begin to reap the benefits tonight? Even though research findings from the past 2 decades have provided us with a deeper understanding of the nature of infant sleep problems—including ineffective associations, inappropriate timing, and addictive nurse-to-sleep habits—these insights have not helped Mom and Dad get more sleep. That’s what Lull-a-Baby is all about. In the coming pages, I’ll describe good sleep habits in infants, tell you how to identify when your infant is ready for the Lull-a-Baby training, and explain what to do if you’ve missed the magic WOO. Most important, I’ll show you how to lull your tiny baby to sleep so neither he nor you feel any grief. You’ll soon see that the true beauty of the Lull-a-Baby Sleep Plan is that a small baby needs only a tiny nudge to become a good sleeper. Are you ready for more sleep? Then read on!

The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids - By Alexandra Robbins - In this engrossing anthropological study of the cult of overachieving that is prevalent in many middle-and upper-class schools, Robbins (Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities) follows the lives of students from a Bethesda, Md., high school as they navigate the SAT and college application process. These students are obsessed with success, contending with illness, physical deterioration (senior Julie is losing hair over the pressure to get into Stanford), cheating (students sell a physics project to one another), obsessed parents ( Frank's mother manages his time to the point of abuse) and emotional breakdowns. What matters to them is that all-important acceptance to the right name-brand school. "When teenagers inevitably look at themselves through the prism of our overachiever culture," Robbins writes, "they often come to the conclusion that no matter how much they achieve, it will never be enough." The portraits of the teens are compelling and make for an easy read. Robbins provides a series of critiques of the system, including college rankings, parental pressure, the meaninglessness of standardized testing and the push for A.P. classes. She ends with a call to action, giving suggestions on how to alleviate teens' stress and panic at how far behind they feel.

Bully Busting - By Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D., Author of The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child - Bullies are, without a doubt, the bane of the social world of childhood. Alas, they're everywhere, and not always where you would expect. They may be the stereotypical big, mean kids with short tempers and quick fists, or they may be quiet loners. They can be fat or thin, female or male, smart or not-so-smart. Every one of us has been bullied at one time or another. In third grade, I was small for my age, and a girl named Audrey -- note that I remember her name -- used to rush up behind me, grab me around the waist, and lift me off the ground. In an attempt to humiliate me, she'd yell out to the kids on the playground, "Look how strong I am!" One time I kicked and screamed and flailed around until she put me down. She had expected me to be a pushover, but I resisted more than she had anticipated. That detracted from her show of strength. She never tried to make me into a human barbell again.
 

Things to Remember About Bullies - By Dr. Daniel Gottlieb - Author of Letters to Sam - Dear Sam, Because of your autism and because you are very small, you are at high risk of being bullied. My guess is that you're going to meet up with bullies at school. You're also going to meet them later on. Learning to deal with them now will help you then. There are things I want to tell you about recognizing bullies. But the most important thing is that dealing with bullying at this stage is something you and your parents need to do together. So this letter is for your mom and dad as well as you. So, Sam, whenever you get bullied, please make sure your parents read this letter before they do anything about it. I want them to be able to act for you rather than for themselves. And I want you to trust that when you need to talk, they will listen.
 

 Raising Confident Sons Who Have Respect For Others - By Peggy Drexler, Ph.D. - Author of Raising Boys Without

Men. Not long ago, I was rushing up the street, carrying groceries and my briefcase, barely closed from all I had stuffed inside it, trying not to be late to pick up my daughter from basketball practice. One of her classmates, 11-year-old Damien, was walking from school toward me. I’d known Damien and his family for years, as part of a study I was conducting for my book, Raising Boys Without Men. “Can I help you with that?” he asked in a concerned voice.  Although the bag was tearing from the weight of its contents and the awkward way I was holding it, his question almost made me drop everything completely.
 10 Easy Back-to-School Tips to Help Children (and Parents!) Eat Smarter This Fall - By Dr. Edward Abramson - Childhood obesity is at an all-time high in America, while the overall nutritional value of school lunches continues to plummet. With only weeks left before children and teenagers go back to school, how can parents help to control their children's weight and diet? How can a family dinner be a learning environment to teach proper nutrition? Here are ten simple remedies and lifestyle changes for families.

Me, and Mom and Our Journals - www.lambertangel.com - The first set consists of a version for young daughters, and a version for young sons both between the ages of 7 and 12. These books are designed to help prevent mom from feeling as though she has missed out on the details that surrounded her child’s day.

100 Promises to My Baby - By Mallika Chopra - When I found out that I was pregnant several years ago, it was one of the happiest and most exciting moments of my life. I was awed by the fact that I had a living being growing inside of me.
 

Finding Happiness in Your Child - by Stan Goldberg, Ph.D. - Once you associate happiness with goals, both you and your child are primed for a fall. The goals, many of which are unobtainable, become traps; if they can't be reached, neither can your happiness.

Learning to Understand - by Steven Marans, Ph.D.  professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, where he is also the director of the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence. As parents and caregivers, we have perhaps no gr