This book is concerned with what it's really like to overcome obstacles and adopt a child in a foreign country.

What if schools, from the wealthiest suburban nursery school to the grittiest urban high school, thrummed with the sounds of deep immersion? More and more people believe that can happen - with the aid of video games. Greg Toppo's The Game Believes in You presents the story of a small group of visionaries who, for the past 40 years, have been pushing to get game controllers into the hands of learners. Among the game revolutionaries you'll meet in this book: *A game designer at the University of Southern California leading a team to design a video-game version of Thoreau's Walden Pond. *A young neuroscientist and game designer whose research on Math Without Words is revolutionizing how the subject is taught, especially to students with limited English abilities. *A Virginia Tech music instructor who is leading a group of high school-aged boys through the creation of an original opera staged totally in the online game Minecraft. Experts argue that games do truly believe in you. They focus, inspire and reassure people in ways that many teachers can't. Games give people a chance to learn at their own pace, take risks, cultivate deeper understanding, fail and want to try again-right away-and ultimately, succeed in ways that too often elude them in school. This book is sure to excite and inspire educators and parents, as well as provoke some passionate debate.

Corrections of Fathers' Sins, is a 68,000 word narrative fiction of repetitous torments from a Vietnam veteran to his family, and the elder sons' plight to not fall in those hereditary foot-steps. What can be gathered from this is that the thought process: the plotting, conniving efforts, the underhandedness of the acts for personal gain, the selfishness of what is being done or attempting to do, all stemmed from what can be observed at home with Father Figure and how he lies, cheats and steals to have everything his way until family, the judicial system and even death catches on to his game. Good Fathers are made, not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective Father to your son. Good Fathers develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. But, there can also be a negative impact congruent to having a negative influence. These passages are of a child that is transitioning into adulthood and reflects back to the choices made by his Father Figure and the paths taken to self-fulfillment. This story will help you through that same path of what NOT to do.

Paul Owen began his life with a lot of disadvantages. His single mother did the best she could to raise him on food stamps and welfare. But when he was only thirteen, she died tragically of cancer, leaving him at the mercies of relatives and foster care. This is the story of his journey through seven foster homes, across three states, during his high school years. Eventually, he found a settled life, and a career as a college professor in North Carolina. How did he get there? This book explains how ordinary people can overcome difficult challenges. Among many poignant themes in these pages, one will read of teenage angst, the despair of poverty, the solace of nature, the power of romance, a boy's love for his dog, and the challenges which face many thousands of children who live in foster care in our country.

Parenting is one of the most influential and powerful leadership roles. This book explores how parents' decisions affect themselves, their children, and the family as a whole. Strategic Leadership Consultants and I conducted studies within the Washington metropolitan area in order to illustrate to readers how children are less negatively affected in a harmonious, intact family. Also, we provide suggestions on how to promote a positive family structure by means of leadership training for parents, thus reducing the numbers of youths in special education classes, foster care, and risky practices like experimentation with drugs, joining gangs, gun violence, suicide, early parenthood, and mental health issues. Although, my primary target audience is parents, it is my sincere hope that others may benefit from the information provided. This book further explores how wildcard scenarios such as abuse, depression, and divorce can impact the mental and emotional stability of children. Expert advice from psychiatrist Stanley Turecki and psychologist Cynthia Buckson along with other professionals is shared. Candid stories throughout this book support my theory that parents' choices can affect their children, in many cases, causing long-term mental challenges. These stories further underscore the great impact parents have on their children, both positive and negative. Additionally, I will provide a list of suggested topics that parents may discuss with children at different developmental stages, as well as a resource section for parents and children in crisis, or in need of information. The purpose of this book is to inform and motivate parents to apply the leadership strategies suggested. The strategies and case studies presented may inspire parents to develop into stronger leaders for their children.

It's All About Daddy addresses the themes of love, appreciation and death quite vividly. The book is comprised of a wide array of messages, of course for fathers, but many are very pertinent to parents on a whole. Jody Esi Otu maturely and completely speaks to every important moment within which any child would like to express his or her feelings to their father. She looks at birthdays, Christmas, death and dying, Valentine's Day, father's day, she also address the stereotype of black fathers not being there for their children, and every day moments when a grateful child just wants to say I love you and or thank you for being there.

If your adult child becomes incapacitated or dies, you do not automatically gain custody of your grandchildren. Sometimes, depending on the age of the children and whether or not they are adoptable will determine who gets custody. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal bonus monies are given to states each year when they exceed the number of adoptions from the previous year. Your grandchild may be needed to help reach the numbers necessary for your state to receive its bonus.

Today's grandparents have many roles with their grandchildren. Some grandparents provide care on a regular basis when the child's parents aren't available; others are great playmates with their grandchildren or what many may think of as traditional grandparents. An emerging role that some grandparents find themselves in is raising their grandchildren.
Grandchildren, Our Hopes and Dreams provides practical help, encouragement and a wealth of knowledge and understanding to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

In her first week inside the womb, a developing fetus can hardly wait to meet her mother who she knows is a beautiful person because the angels have told her so. This, however, is their little secret because the only ones who know about Grace now are God and her angels.

As Grace grows bigger inside her mommy soon she is not a secret anymore While the angels dance, Grace's parents learn that a baby is on the way and they are delighted Over the next few weeks God peeks in to check on her as Grace forms fingers, toes and even eyelids. While the angels gently guide her she develops in exciting ways, learns about her waiting family and tap dances on her mommy's bladder Finally it is time for her to be born

Through amusing text and adorable illustrations Grace, a growing fetus, comments on her weekly changes and observes, mostly through her angels, what is happening in the outside world and what to expect after she is born.

"Growing With Grace" is an illustrated tale that shares an educational, entertaining glimpse at a growing fetus as she observes her physical development, celebrates the miracle of creation and, with the help of God and her angels, waits to enter the world.

This guy is tough, and so is his message.(By Ruben Rosario, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN August 2011. Edited for length)Like the U.S. Postal Service, apparently nothing keeps Larry Bauer-Scandin - foster dad to 125 - from his self-appointed rounds.Not the weather. Not the heart ailments or the genetic neurological disorder that robbed him of movement and rendered him legally blind. The 64-year-old Vadnais Heights resident just gets up and does it."My life was normal for the first nine years of my life until 1957 when my foot went to sleep, except that my foot never woke up," Bauer-Scandin told a group of inmates from the 3100 unit at the Dakota County Jail.But that's not the main message that Bauer-Scandin, a retired probation officer and jail counselor, wants to deliver on this day. "Whom do you blame for your problems?" he asks the group of 34 men, who are members of IMC, or Inmates Motivated to Change. Under the program, inmates with chemical dependency or mostly nonviolent offenses sign an agreement to take part in several programs and pledge not to make the same mistakes that keep landing them in lock-up."What people need to do is stand in front of a mirror and ask: 'How much of the problem is mine and how much is it somebody else?' "I first wrote about Bauer-Scandin five years ago. It was centered on his life as a foster parent. As he told the inmates, two of his former foster kids are cops, one in St. Paul. Two are soldiers deployed to Iraq. One's a millionaire. One's an author. Most are raising families or staying out of trouble in spite of hardships.But "15 are dead," said Bauer-Scandin, author of "Faces on the Clock," an engrossing memoir about his life. The dead include suicide victims, including an 11-year-old, others from AIDS and "my last one, they found in three or four pieces, as I understand."Bauer-Scandin's worth writing about again for what he continues to do at great pain and sacrifice without pay or fanfare. He didn't sugarcoat or pull punches with his audience."What I'm afraid is still happening is that the system is trying to figure out how to get tighter," he told them. "The sentences are getting tougher."And it's not the police, the sheriffs, the courts or even the folks in state and county-run corrections that are responsible for the race to incarcerate."It's the legislature," Bauer-Scandin said. "And legislatures have been known to do very stupid things."He also faults the media and a gullible public that forms opinions and dehumanizes people strictly on what they watch on TV and not on real-life experiences or knowledge."What do they see?" he said. "They see the Charlie Mansons. They see the unusual. They see the extreme. Most of you aren't that way. But that's what makes the news."Yet he doesn't divert from his main message: It's up to the inmate to take a positive step and choose the right way."Get yourself back into a position where you can influence those people, to be able to go to a school board or a city council or legislative meeting and have your voice heard."You can't fight the system from in here," he concluded. "You have to be out there."The inmates applauded and, one by one, stood in line to shake his hand on his way out the jail complex.His progressively debilitating disorder is taking more of a toll these days. But he steered the scooter inside the van and deftly wiggled his frail body into the driver's seat. He has no complaints, he told me. He will continue to go out and speak as long as God and his wife allow him."I hope something stuck," he tells me before he drives off.I hope so too, Larry.

This book unveils that "YOU ARE A GIFT, YOUR LIFE IS A GIFT" and "YOUR LIFE DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED." The life of a Teenager is too beautiful and precious. And your life is meant to be filled with the joy and abundance of happiness. This is your birthright Your life has a divine purpose You're here to shine, to accomplish, celebrate life, and celebrate your sacred purpose Young adults will find techniques, in this book that can harness their mind, their body and their intellect. When these three aspects are in sync, they will realize the world is at their feet. Fear is no longer in their psyche and confidence becomes their second nature. A must read for teenagers, this book should be a guide on a daily basis. When life get bumpy, read the book. You will gain knowledge on why and how things work. It will energize you physically and enrich your thoughts with inspiring ideas, quotes, and timeless universal principles of joy, happiness and health.

This friendly deck of 52 cards contains open questions and simple exercises to transform the way your child expresses and understands their feelings. The box also includes a pocket-sized booklet with information for caring adults. Let's get talking! Find new ways to connect, share and communicate with your child with the help of this supportive deck of 52 prompt cards. These thought-provoking conversation starters and gentle activities provide a fun and engaging way to spark conversation, encouraging children to talk openly about their feelings and develop their emotional awareness. Compiled by an experienced child therapist and accompanied by helpful instructions, the colour-coded cards are divided into four categories for easy selection, including feelings, well-being, self-esteem and mindfulness. The open questions and prompts in this deck will inspire children to connect with their feelings and thought patterns and grow their emotional intelligence. Get Talking Cards for Kids offers an enjoyable way to help improve communication, encourage self-discovery and foster an essential life skill.