**NOW WITH AN AFTERWORD AND ADVICE FOR A NEW MOTHER** 'A powerful, moving and inspiring story - it opens up a whole new world of understanding.' Esther Freud 'This is wonderful. I urge you to read it. It is life enhancing and I defy you not to fall in love with Ben!' Natasha Poliszczuk, Books Editor, YOU Magazine 'An honest and unflinching account of Jessica's journey as the mother of a child born with complex needs. Essential reading... and a source of solace for those who may find themselves on a similar path.' Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story 'Jessica's beautiful words gave me a deeper understanding about embracing disability. I am inspired and will be recommending this book to parents as a testament to following your parenting instincts.' Arabella Carter-Johnson, author of Iris Grace 'A gripping and vital insight into the lives of families trying to thrive in bureaucratic systems that all too often add to the challenges of providing disabled children with basic care and human rights. Impossible to put down.' Hannah Barham-Brown, deputy leader of the Women's Equality Party 'Rooted in love and is a moving story about the transformative power of adapting, practically and emotionally to changing circumstances. As a disabled adult, it was a joy to join the parent of a disabled child as they embrace Disability Culture and allyship.' Jess Thom, Touretteshero 'A courageous, heartrending story of grief, love and ultimately hope.' The Sun, 5 star review *** Jessica thought she was prepared for the experience of motherhood. Armed with advice from friends and family, parenting books and antenatal classes, she felt ready. After giving birth, she found herself facing a different, more uncertain reality. Her son, Ben, was fighting to stay alive. Jessica shares her journey raising Ben. His disability means he will never be able to move or communicate without assistance. Jessica has to learn how to feed Ben when he can't eat, wrestle with red tape to secure his education and defend his basic rights in the face of discrimination. But the act of reading to Ben enriches both their lives and brings them joy. As Ben begins to thrive, alongside his two younger siblings, Jessica finds that caring for a child with unique needs teaches her about appreciating difference and doing things your own way. This uplifting story is about the power of family love, finding inner strength and, above all, hope.

'Wonderful ... we need music in our lives now more than ever' HERBIE HANCOCK 'Joan Koenig is on a wonderful mission to enrich children's lives through music' DR GUY DEUTSCHER A pioneering music educator reveals how parents and caregivers can harness the power of music and use it to supercharge early childhood development. Since opening her famed Parisian conservatory over three decades ago, Joan Koenig has led a global movement to improve children's lives and minds with the transformative power of music. With a curriculum and philosophy drawn from cutting-edge science, L'Ecole Koenig has educated and empowered even the youngest students. From baby Max, whose coordination and communication grow as he wiggles and coos along to targeted songs and dance; to five-year-old Sara, who nourishes her empathy, creativity, and memory, while practising music from other cultures. In The Musical Child, Koenig shares stories from her classrooms, along with tips about how to use the latest research during these critical years, when children are most sensitive to musical exposure-and most receptive to its benefits. A gift for parents, caregivers, musicians, and educators, The Musical Child reveals the multiple ways music can help children thrive-and how, in the 21st century, its practice is more vital than ever. * Filled with at-home activities and musical games * Recordings and tutorials available instantly with scannable QR codes

A hands-on guide for parents and caregivers to develop best practices in revitalizing and teaching Cree to young children. In nehiyawetan kikinahk / Speaking Cree in the Home , Belinda Daniels and Andrea Custer provide an introductory text to help families immerse themselves, their children, and their homes in nehiyawewin -the Cree language. Despite the colonial attacks on Cree culture, language, and peoples, Custer and Daniels remind readers that the traditional ways of knowing and transferring knowledge to younger generations have not been lost and can be revived in the home, around the table, every day. nehiyawetan kikinahk / Speaking Cree in the Home is an approachable, hands-on manual that helps to re-forge connections between identity, language, family, and community-by centering Indigenous knowledge and providing Cree learners and speakers with a practical guide to begin their own journey of reclaiming and revitalizing Cree in the home. Readers are guided through methods for language learning, the basics of reading Cree and Standard Roman Orthography, pronunciation of vowels, engaging language-learning games, and examples of high-frequency words and phrases that can easily be incorporated into daily routines and taught to children young and old.

As a culture, we are increasingly failing to respect young boyhood, pathologising normal boy behaviour and foisting burdensome and stigmatising diagnoses of ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, bipolar disorder, and more on boys as young as three years old. The result, as Dr. Anthony Rao passionately argues in "The Way of Boys", is nothing less than a crisis in boyhood, with ever-increasing numbers of boys being treated and medicated for problems they simply don't have. In this practical and accessible guide to the distinct challenges of raising young boys into good men, Dr. Rao urges parents, educators, pediatricians, psychologists, and other developmental experts to reevaluate and radically alter how we deal with our youngest boys. He teaches parents how to rear their sons with respect for their natural development right from the start, which gives them the best shot at growing into confident and healthy men ready to make their unique contributions to the world.

Explore the meaning of annulment to Catholics and the Church!This valuable book examines the use of annulment by the Catholic Church to grant divorced Catholics the right to remarry within the Church. Divorce, Annulments, and the Catholic Church: Healing or Hurtful? is the first published study on annulments with wide-scale usage of questionnaires and interviews comparing Catholics who have sought an annulment with divorced Catholics who have not sought an annulment as well as married Catholics. In addition to delivering a quantitative analysis of the responses to various questions (religious, social, or psychological), it explains in lay terms what annulments are and what the acceptable grounds are for annulment and takes you step-by-step through the process of obtaining one. This insightful book also contains case studies of individuals who have been hurt by annulments and offers suggestions on how people who want to contest an annulment should proceed.This well-referenced book: explores the factors that lead to divorce provides a theoretical perspective as to why people either support or oppose annulments examines the religious influence on divorce and remarriage discusses the social integration-related aspects of annulment and divorce for Catholics presents recommendations for petitioners, respondents, clerics, and the members of tribunals who act as advocates, defenders, and judgesDivorce, Annulments, and the Catholic Church is an invaluable reference work for counselors dealing with the issue of divorce for Catholics, non-Catholics whose former spouses are seeking annulments, divorced Catholics who are contemplating an annulment, members of the clergy, and members of marriagetribunals and Family Life groups.

Contents:
1. Navigating Through Adolescence: Jari-Erik Nurmi; Part I. The Role of Values, Goals and Strategies During Adolescence and Young Adulthood; 2. Adolescents' Values Matter: Hakan Stattin and Margaret Kerr; 3. Personal Goals during Transition to Young Adulthood: Katariina Salmela-Aro Eronen: 4. Achievement and Social Strategies in a Transition to Young Adulthood; Sanna Eronen; Future Planning and Identity Explorations in Educational and Vocational Settings; 5. Future-orientation in Educational and Interpersonal Contexts: Lars-Erik Malmberg; 6. Adolescents' Career Exploration in the Context of Educational and Occupational Transitions: Barbel Kracke and Eva Schmitt-Rodermund; 7. Adolescents' Future: A Comparison of Young People's and their Parents' Views: Margherita Lanz, Rosa Rosnati, Elena Marta and Eugenia Scabini; 8. Family Context and the Development of Adolescent Decision Making: Bruna Zani, Harke A. Bosma, Djurre H. Zijsling and Terry M. Honess; Part III Theoretical Developments in the Research on Navigating through Adolescence 9. Adolescents' Self-Direction and Self-Definition in Age-Graded Sociocultural and Interpersonal Contexts: Jari-Erik Nurmi; 10. A Dynamic Systems Approach to Identity Formation: Theoretical Background and Methodological Possibilities: E. Saskia Junnen, Harke A. Bosma and Paul L. C. van Geert: 11. Adolescents' Scholastic Field, Identity Frames and Future Projects: Jean Guichard; 12. Conclusions and Future Perspectives: Jari-Erik Nurmi

You are special.
You are precious.
You are It!

Today, Iyanla Vanzant is a bestselling author with her own business and a loving family. But it wasn't so long ago that she was a teenager -- a sixteen-year-old mother and high school dropout on welfare. Iyanla knows that a young woman's journey can be lonely and hard. She remembers how difficult it is to put into words the way you feel, how it feels to want to be loved.

In Don't Give It Away!, Iyanla presents a workbook in which you can write your feelings and express your thoughts about the things that matter to you -- your family, your friends, your body, and your love life. Problems at home and at school are a natural part of every young woman's life, but understanding what to do with how you feel about your problems is the key to growing up. Iyanla Vanzant shows you that the love you seek is the love that you are.

How much would you risk for a child who isn't yours? An ingenious, taut, global thriller for fans of Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben... * * * * * * * When struggling journalist Harper returns a dress to the shop she bought it from that morning, she sees the same little girl sitting in the exact same place she saw her hours ago. No one in the shop knows who the girl is. No desperate parents have contacted mall security to say they've lost their daughter. And the local police have no new reports of a missing child. The girl says she misses her mother. But why is nobody looking for her? And what if finding her home is the worst thing you could do? * * * * * * * From the chilly streets of New York City to the electric blue skies of coastal Florida - this is an emotional, page-turning road trip that follows a trail of theories, all the way to a devastating revelation...

Helicopter parenting and child-centered parenting, two of the latest parenting fads, have resulted in a new generation of highly dependent, overly sensitive children who demonstrate few qualities of resilience and confidence. Perhaps as a response to the strict parenting of yesteryear, we have now seen the pendulum shift to an overly permissive style, where crying and punishment must be avoided at all costs. But having high expectations of kids and teaching them to be self-sufficient does not mean a return to the Bad Old Days of parenting.

This book presents a mix of tried-and-true and new parenting strategies. It offers a counterbalance to some of today s prevailing parenting theories, teaching parents how to reclaim their authority while remaining caring and nurturing. It is perfect for parents who find themselves thinking, Didn t my own parents do this better? "

"Middle School Makeover" is a guide for parents and educators to help the tweens in their lives navigate the socially fraught hallways, gyms, and cafeterias of middle school. The book helps parents, teachers, and other adults in middle school settings to understand the social dilemmas and other issues that kids today face. Author Michelle Icard covers a large range of topics, beginning with helping us understand what is happening in the brains of tweens and how these neurological development affects decision-making and questions around identity. She also addresses social media, dating, and peer exclusion. Using both recent research and her personal, extensive experience working with middle-school-aged kids and their parents, Icard offers readers concrete and practical advice for guiding children through this chaotic developmental stage while also building their confidence.

Sunday Times bestseller 'The mothering manual we all need' Claudia Winkleman Calling all Mums: Are you feeling lonely and confused? Are you panicking that you're getting everything wrong? Do you feel as if your relationship with your teenage daughter has worsened overnight? Don't worry, you're not alone. Enter parenting columnist Lorraine Candy, a mum of four (including three teens). Her warm, witty, and wise memoir will gently lead you to a harmonious place. This book is a reassuring survivor's guide to the highs and lows of parenting adolescents. It will reconnect you to your daughter and help you feel good about your mothering.

The No.1 bestselling weaning bible for babies and toddlers - over 5 million copies sold worldwide! Leading weaning expert and mum-of-three, Annabel Karmel celebrates the 30th anniversary of her most trusted cookbook with this special, fully updated and extended edition - now including NEW finger food guidance and even more recipes to raise healthy, happy babies. This go-to guide also includes essential advice, simple meal planners and a handy pull-out guide to step-by-step weaning. You will find everything you need to give your baby the best start in life, here, in this book. A must-have for all new parents - let Annabel guide you through baby's early years with her food wisdom. 'Her recipes prove that babies and toddlers will eat their greens - and much more - if served up in imaginative ways" Daily Telegraph 'A parent who does not have at least one of her books in her kitchen should waste no time putting that right' The Sunday Times

A practical conversation about creating a fulfilling and contented second half, including twenty practical activities to create a new you.

Midlife uncertainty is uncomfortable. You are trying to find the door leading to a more fulfilling life, but are dragged back to the constant responsibilities of work and relationships. That door is open, but you need to search for it. This book provides insights and exercises to help you make the mental connections, and take you to the important decisions that you must confront with in this phase of your life. It is crucial that you find that door yourself. It is there, it is open. You simply need to see it.

It fills you with a gnawing concern that somehow you are missing out. Everybody else around you is living purposeful, high achievement lives, and you are wallowing in drudgery. We spend the early part of our adult lives building a career, building a family or support structures around us; we become so bound up in the boredom of day-to-day survival that when we get those things sorted during this phase, we feel let down and disappointed.

James Forson studied at the University of Cape Town and was dragged into the world of business with work experience in the mining, steel, pharmaceutical and banking industries. For the past 24 years he has been an independent management consultant working with clients across a broad range of industries and environments. In the course of his consulting practice, he has worked with a number of executives who have expressed dissatisfaction with their lives. This is where his interest in midlife renewal was awakened, as he counselled and supported his clients to live more humanly rewarding lives. He has taken the tools, methods and concepts he used and developed and has created a book to assist folks dealing with the complexity and anxiety of midlife renewal.

Intelligence That Comes from the Heart

Every parent knows the importance of equipping children with the intellectual skills they need to succeed in school and life. But children also need to master their emotions. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child is a guide to teaching children to understand and regulate their emotional world. And as acclaimed psychologist and researcher John Gottman shows, once they master this important life skill, emotionally intelligent children will enjoy increased self-confidence, greater physical health, better performance in school, and healthier social relationships. Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child will equip parents with a five-step "emotion coaching" process that teaches how to:

* Be aware of a child's emotions
* Recognize emotional expression as an opportunity for intimacy and teaching
* Listen empathetically and validate a child's feelings
* Label emotions in words a child can understand
* Help a child come up with an appropriate way to solve a problem or deal with an upsetting issue or situation

Written for parents of children of all ages, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child will enrich the bonds between parent and child and contribute immeasurably to the development of a generation of emotionally healthy adults.