Jane Dwinell has written an important book using real-life scenarios to illustrate her unique philosophy of childbirth, one that can only inspire women to take greater control over how and where they give birth. From her vantage point as a birth attendant, Dwinell recounts the moving birth experiences of twenty different women. Thus the reader learns that there are no right or wrong ways to give birth. In fact, the author shows how satisfying it can be for women to exercise their own strength, power and choice in the birth process instead of yielding to unnecessary technological and medical interventions. Birth, she says, is a process of wellness, not illness. Hence, most women don't need medication to help them deal with normal birth pains if they have the proper empowering support during labor.

When women give birth in a comfortable setting of their choice, the medical wrongs against them, committed in hospitals in the name of safety and technology, are prevented. In the face of opposition from an entrenched segment of the medical establishment, Dwinell dares the view that hospital care should not be routine but should be given only with good reason and the women's permission. For pregnant women and their partners, "Birth StorieS" makes a convincing argument that under normal circumstances wach women's intuitive knowledge and individual resources can help her to labor and deliver successfully in her own way. Nurses, midwives, doctors, and birth educators will find it useful to realize that there are many ways to give birth . . . that it is important for the family to be together and make their own choices . . . and that pregnant women can have safe births without excessive medical intervention. This book can also serve as a guide for professionals who want to develop this type of birthing model within their own institution.

Poet and scholar Thomas W. Pierce, using his spiritual name "Chandra Lal" from seventeen incarnations ago, presents a fascinating study on how we can eliminate war, crime, and violence from our world in The Revenge of the Child.

Using a combination of intuition and research, Pierce delves into the history of the twentieth century and focuses primarily on two high and two low points as a framework for his argument. The high points include the discovery of cold fusion and the Marshall Plan and the low points include the atomic bombing of Japan and the Holocaust in Europe.

Pierce argues that human progress is dependent upon human understanding. With the continued improvement of communication, the world has become a global village, which in turn has contributed to the slow increase of mass human understanding that all are entitled to help and protection. By harnessing this powerful element, we are better prepared to acknowledge the constructive forces of light and the destructive forces of darkness in the human psyche, enabling us to improve our world.

By combining this knowledge with historical studies, Pierce shows how we desperately need to use this enlightened understanding to keep from repeating the mistakes of our history, particularly when it comes to child abuse. Only then can we transform Earth into the Paradise it is rightly destined to become.

The Revenge of the Child aptly demonstrates what we as a people need to do to prevent tragedy from overtaking our beloved world.

All parents want their children to be successful in college. For most, success means that their children graduate from college with a good job or are accepted to Graduate School. This book is for parents who want to help their children achieve the success they desire in college and beyond. Clearly, there are paths that lead to those two goals, paths that are often unknown or unclear to parents and students alike. For that reason, the author describes and emphasizes the key factors that lead to college, employment and career success. Parents also receive much useful advice on how to help their children capitalize on their natural talents, find their stride and pursue their dreams. The early chapters quickly take readers through the years prior to college, so parents with children who are not yet in college can determine if they are ready and what they need. In fact, some students may benefit from taking a year off after high school. For parents with children about to enter college or already in college, the author has included the information, tools, techniques and suggestions that both parents and students need. Parents will learn how students can avoid the ugly side of college life, how students can select their major and career direction, the three areas in which students must excel, the universal success skills students should develop, the 18 myths that students believe, the importance of accomplishments, the value of preparation and much more. Most importantly, parents will learn to play an effective supporting role in student success. Each chapter of this book covers a topic that all college parents should understand and address. With the information provided, parents will have the ability to help their children chart a course that can significantly improve their chances for success, during and after college.

From two-time National Book Award nominee Melissa Fay Greene comes a profound and surprising account of dogs on the front lines of rescuing both children and adults from the trenches of grief, emotional, physical, and cognitive disability, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Underdogs tells the story of Karen Shirk, felled at age twenty-four by a neuromuscular disease and facing life as a ventilator-dependent, immobile patient, who was turned down by every service dog agency in the country because she was "too disabled." Her nurse encouraged her to tone down the suicidal thoughts, find a puppy, and raise her own service dog. Karen did this, and Ben, a German shepherd, dragged her back into life. "How many people are stranded like I was," she wondered, "who would lead productive lives if only they had a dog?" A thousand state-of-the-art dogs later, Karen Shirk's service dog academy, 4 Paws for Ability, is restoring broken children and their families to life. Long shunned by scientists as a manmade, synthetic species, and oft- referred to as "Man's Best Friend" almost patronizingly, dogs are finally paid respectful attention by a new generation of neuroscientists and animal behaviorists. Melissa Fay Greene weaves the latest scientific discoveries about our co-evolution with dogs with Karen's story and a few exquisitely rendered stories of suffering children and their heartbroken families. Written with characteristic insight, humanity, humor, and irrepressible joy, what could have been merely touching is a penetrating, compassionate exploration of larger questions: about our attachment to dogs, what constitutes a productive life, and what can be accomplished with unconditional love.

Every adult I have ever worked with has identified a broken, hurt or disillusioned child memory within; "The Children in my Chair." Susie had an intense phobia, Lucy was a compulsive over eater, Valerie believed women are subservient and had no voice, Noreen grew up with a lack mentality and was always broke, Erin never felt good enough, Julie believed she was unlovable, Doug was angry all the time and Katie distrusted her feelings and hide them inside. How did this happen? We are living in a world full of people living with shame, guilt, self blame, unhappiness, unworthiness, fear and obligation that was originally put upon them'  unconsciously by their mentors and role models in early life.  How we, as innocent children, learn about and what we come to believe about ourselves and about life are the teachings of this book.  We've been conditioned Conditioning begins with words we hear, think and speak. This book is a simple call to presence for all because everyone was once a child themselves.  Take this opportunity to; recognize your own conditioning; break the chains of the past; learn what it is to be present; and learn how to consciously use words that empower, inspire, support and encourage both yourself and the children in your life now. 

The Parental Brain: Mechanisms, Development, and Evolution presents a comprehensive analysis of how the brain regulates parental behavior in nonhuman animals and in humans, how these brain mechanisms develop, and how such development can go awry, leading to faulty parental behavior. Further, the proposal is examined that the maternal brain served as a foundation or template for the evolution of other types of strong prosocial bonds in mammals, such as the hyper-prosociality that occurs in humans. Unique aspects of this book are its multilevel perspective and the integration and comparison of animal and human research in order to create a complete understanding of the parental brain. Topics covered include the following: * Maternal, paternal, and alloparental behavior * Hormonal regulation of parental behavior * Oxytocin and parental behavior * Subcortical neural circuits regulating parental behavior in nonhuman mammals * The interactions between cortical and subcortical neural circuits that are associated with parental cognitions, emotions, and behavior in humans * How maternal care directed toward one's infants influences the development of the parental brain in the affected infants * The intergenerational transmission or continuity of normal and abnormal maternal behavior * The involvement of epigenetics and gene by environment interactions in the development of the parental brain * Evolutionary perspectives on the parental brain, particularly with respect to alloparenting and cooperative breeding that have provided a framework for appreciating how the parental brain could have provided a foundation for the hyper-prosociality that occurs within human social groups This book will be a valuable resource for behavioral neuroscientists and neuroendocrinologists, social neuroscientists, developmental psychobiologists and psychologists, anthropologists, and evolutionary psychologists with an interest in parental behavior, mother-infant relationships, child development, and the evolution of prosocial behavior.

Are you confused or overwhelmed with all the parenting strategies out there? As a parent, are you feeling defeated and discouraged? Would you like a simple, powerful, life-changing perspective on parenting? In "A Compass to Parenting," author Lydia Weatherly provides a Christian-based perspective about your role as a parent.

In this guide, the author shares her experiences as a Christian parent, using personal stories and anecdotes to illustrate how you too can raise your children with wisdom and love. "A Compass to Parenting" helps you see your purpose in parenting; shows you practical ways to nurture, love, and instruct your child; and demonstrates how to become the parent your child needs.

"A Compass to Parenting" communicates that parenting is more than changing your child 's attitude and behavior; parenting is becoming the person God desires you to be. This guide provides encouragement, insight, and the tools to parent passionately and purposefully. It is filled with ways to influence your child 's attitude and behavior, while preserving and promoting a close, loving relationship to help you experience joy and fulfillment in parenting.

As a first time writer my book Pick up the Phone and Listen/Wake up Call is about (The Reality and Actuality of Youth Violence: Family, Community, & Prison). The book brings attention to the rise of youth violence, bullying, recognizing changes in attitude and behavior that affects youths mentally, physically, socially emotionally and educationally.
My book addresses the needs of youths lacking responsible parents, living in a single/two parent family, peer pressure and role models that they can trust and confide in. Their dire need of respect for their personal opinions having someone to listen to what they have to say, the lack of passion and compassion. (Parents and youth need to communicate). In my book there are comments from incarcerated and discharged inmates who became imprisoned at an early age as a juvenile and adult offender, and now wants to share their experiences to help make a difference by giving something back.
Opinions from professionals, parents, and other adults who work with or have youths at risk/at promise are discussed. Pick up The Phone and Listen stresses the need to educate and make our children aware as young as toddlers and preschoolers regarding violence, hate, prison, crime and bullying by having volunteers during presentation in our schools and communities. I also express my concern of holding adults accountable for their actions and non actions when being irresponsible for our children's, safety, health, welfare and education. In my book I share the importance of my family foundation, Parents for Prevention.
A section of my book is a autobiographical, describing my childhood growing up in the 60s, my "Vietnam" experience, my 25 years of employment as a Operation's Officer with the Department of Corrections at the Erie County Prison and my introduction and training into Martial Arts. As a result of this experience I gained mind and body Discipline.
I was the first karate instructor who trained and promoted my student Billy Blanks, the "Tae Bo" founder and Martial arts movie star, to his first- and -second - degree black belts as an inner city youth growing up in Erie Pennsylvania during the early 70s. I talk about the Billy Blanks I use to know. (Photos are included in my book).
Founder of the following programsThe Karate Fighting School of Self Defense- 1969Women on Guard Program- Self Preservation- 1974Children on Guard Program-Self Preservation- 1979Erie County Prison Juvenile Awareness Program-prevention-1986Youth on a Mission Team Inc.- Youth Service-1990Victims of Bullies ALLY Group Exposure- Support Group-(V.O.B.A.G.E)

As an older foster child, Andrew longed for the day when he'd be adopted by a real family because they loved him and wanted him to be part of their family unit. Until that day dawned, like many other foster kids, he lived with the stigma that he was kept by his foster parents to generate income for them.

Of late, bad had gone to worse for 13 year old Andrew. He was being sexually abused by Blanche, his new single foster mom. Blanche had been abandoned by her husband and despised men. Although she used Andrew for her own depraved needs, she treated him poorly. To add to his pain, news of this sexual relationship leaked out to his peers at school and he was now enduring verbal torment at recesses and noon hour. Andrew couldn't bear the pain any longer when the only friend who'd stuck up for him at school turned against him. He felt totally alone, so unloved.

"Dear God, I have nothing left to live for," he sobbed one night when his foster mom left for a party. "Please forgive me for what I have to do, but I'm hurting so much."

Andrew headed to his foster mother's shed to get the rope. With the rope coiled up under his coat, he headed to the big black poplar tree in the Kinsman Park. Twelve feet off the ground was a large branch at right angles to the trunk. Andrew quickly fashioned a hangman's noose and shinnied up the tree. Bracing himself with his legs he slipped the noose over his head and tied the other end of the rope to the branch. Grasping the branch, he let himself down. As he hung there by his fingertips, his short life passed before him.......

In Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking?, an attorney who practices exclusively in reproductive law shares her expert guidance for those ready to create a family via third-party reproduction. Theresa Erickson, managing partner of Erickson Law, APLC, and the Founder and Chair of Conceptual Options, The Surrogacy and Egg Donation Center, educates and guides parents, surrogates, egg donors, sperm donors, and embryo donors through fertility, infertility, IVF, and third-party reproduction. Erickson includes a glossary of terms, a list of recommended reading for both parents and their children, and legal forms while covering a multitude of relatable topics such as the: Top ten myths of third-party family building History of reproduction technologies Ways to begin the process Ethical and legal issues Questions to ask when building a family the nontraditional way Methods to select a physician and attorney Four fertility options Infertility is a global tragedy that no one should have to endure alone. This guidebook provides valuable information for anyone ready to embark on the journey of becoming parents through third-party reproduction.