When gay couples become parents, they face a host of questions and issues that their straight counterparts may never have to consider. How important is it for each partner to have a biological tie to their child? How will they become parents: will they pursue surrogacy, or will they adopt? Will both partners legally be able to adopt their child? Will they have to hide their relationship to speed up the adoption process? Will one partner be the primary breadwinner? And how will their lives change, now that the presence of a child has made their relationship visible to the rest of the world? In Gay Dads: Transitions to Adoptive Fatherhood, Abbie E. Goldberg examines the ways in which gay fathers approach and negotiate parenthood when they adopt. Drawing on empirical data from her in-depth interviews with 70 gay men, Goldberg analyzes how gay dads interact with competing ideals of fatherhood and masculinity, alternately pioneering and accommodating heteronormative "parenthood culture." The first study of gay men's transitions to fatherhood, this work will appeal to a wide range of readers, from those in the social sciences to social work to legal studies, as well as to gay-adoptive parent families themselves.

Experience the world through the eyes of children Go back to a time of angelic innocence, delighting in the uncensored first words and ideas of Ammie and Tristy. Journaled nightly by their mom from the time they began to speak until they reached about the age of seven, she later turned their reflections into poems. Their amusing (and often surprising) words offer unique explanations, unexpected questions, provocative opinions, creative solutions, and loving emotions addressing a host of topics of special interest to little ones, including the difference between outer space and heaven, the true identity of Santa Claus, how to prevent child abduction and alcoholism, why girls know best and spiders make great pets, and how much they love their mother, grandparents and their dog Taken as a collection, The World According to Ammie and Tristy: Angelic reflections of my daughters provides a humorous, inspirational, and insightful look at the world of children, with implications for early childhood education, socialization, and parenting. Enjoy the journey

On August 1, 1983, Laurel Greshel's world changed forever after a phone call from her doctor. After receiving word that her unborn baby had serious health issues, Laurel was overwhelmed. As she and her husband, Ted, struggled to accept the diagnosis that their daughter, Amanda, would be born with spina bifida, they had to slowly learn to say goodbye to "normal" and embrace each of their tiny newborn's accomplishments.

Without any instruction book on how to raise a child with spina bifida, Laurel and Ted must learn to survive countless medical issues and several near-death scares with Amanda by leaning on their faith in God. As Laurel candidly shares experiences-both good and bad-that she has with doctors, nurses, teachers, family members, and friends, she offers a heartfelt glimpse into her painful struggles as she gives entirely of herself to help Amanda grow to her full potential. With the help of God's steady hand, Laurel manages to raise two other daughters, nurture her marriage, and cope with all the ups and downs of caring for a medically challenged child.

In this poignant memoir, one mother describes her unforgettable journey through her daughter's difficulties, revealing the important message that God creates all of us just the way He wants us- perfectly made.

The Parental Peace Accord describes a unique process that allows divorced and divorcing parents the opportunity to shift their focus from their own emotional turmoil to the needs and best interests of their children. In doing this, parents learn that while they may no longer be husband and wife, they can and will be "parenting partners." This process, when implemented properly, often creates a powerful byproduct that allows the parents to experience an amicable dissolution and create a positive environment for their children. Bailey's direct in-your-face approach, tempered with insightful humor, makes it difficult to put this book down. If you are a divorced or divorcing parent, this book is a must-read. The perspective you gain from Bailey's experiences as a lawyer, divorced parent, and orphan, will be one of the most valuable gifts you can give your children as they adapt to the dissolution of their parents' marriage.

With baby boomers swelling the ranks of grandparents, there is a large and growing audience for Let's Grandparent. There are no other books on the market with the variety of content or perspective presented in this book. With its emphasis upon the crucial early years, it has special appeal for new grandparents and those with young grandchildren. During this honeymoon period grandparents are typically enthusiastic about their new role and eager to learn all they can to make the most of time spent with their grandchildren. They want it to be fun, have an educational value, and strengthen close intimate bonds. Let's Grandparent shows them how to achieve these goals through an in-depth understanding of child development, over four hundred kid-tested activities and tips for simple but satisfying experiences together. The author brings together her personal experience as an enthusiastic grandparent with her professional career in early childhood education to create this insightful and enjoyable guide. The intended audience for this book is grandparents with young grandchildren, especially targeted for a well-educated, middle-class audience and grandparents of both men and women in their late middle-age and early retirement years / Parents of young children, who often are looking for ways to encourage closer connections between their children and their grandparents / Anyone wishing to form a close relationship with a young child, such as other relatives or mentors to young children / Participants of workshops and classes for grandparents / Early childhood education (National Association for the Education of Young Children and Association of Childhood Education International)

Parents know that their children need their prayers. But sometimes, they aren't sure where to start. For moms and dads who long to lift their kids up in prayer, Powerful Prayers for Your Daughter and Powerful Prayers for Your Son offer hope, encouragement, and practical help. Rob and Joanna Teigen assure parents that just because they don't always understand their son or daughter, that doesn't mean that God doesn't. Collecting specific prayers parents can use, along with stories from other parents about how God has answered their prayers, Rob and Joanna give readers a strong foundation to build a lifelong habit of praying for their kids. They also explain what boys and girls need to learn as they grow up, including character, courage, modesty, self-control, forgiveness, and more, so parents can pray for every part of their kids' lives.

For First-, Second-, or Third-Time Moms, Single Parents, Same-Sex Parents, and More--This Isn't Your Typical "Birth Story" Book! With an exciting collection of personal narratives, How to Prepare for Home Birth sheds light on the varied and fascinating experiences of women choosing home birth. Anyone even remotely interested in home birth will want to pull up a chair and witness one of the most intimate moments in each family's life. From the redwoods of California to a converted cowshed in Ireland, readers will be not only entertained, but also exposed to what home birth really feels, looks, and sounds like. Topics include: First-time home birth Home birth after hospital birth Home birth after Cesarean section Postpartum advice And so much more Expectant parents will come away with a deep understanding and sense of security, knowing that if others have done this, they can, too.

A Mother who's life that came crashing down around her in a blink of an eye!!! A Mother's Worst Nightmare....How does a Mother continue to go on living her everyday life. When her beloved son Joseph was ripped right out of her heart and life......... My Life With My SonNothing is Stronger than a Mother's Love I cannot believe when I look up at you, and see a beautiful man that use to be my little boy. I am always in awe, when I see the changes in you, but yet it saddens me because that part of my life is over. Yet all the memories that I have, will still bring all the laughter, and this warmness in my heart, and I will always have tears in my eyes. Since you where a baby up until present time, you have always given me so much joy, and so many gifts, that I cannot even count. I don't think you ever realized all the ones you gave me that where from within. We made so many memories together, but the love you gave me, was something so special it will last a lifetime.

A police car rolls up in front of your house--with your son in the back seat. A voice on the phone says your daughter is all right but won't tell you where she is--and then hangs up. A wallet disappears from your dresser and you're sure who took it--at least, somewhat sure. Many parents face problems beyond their ability to cope. John White ofers comfort to parents of children with severe problems--alcoholism, homosexuality, even suicide. Though he gives practical suggestions, this is not a how-to manual for making rebellious children behave. Rather the author helps all parents deal with their own guilt, frustration, anger and sense of inadequacy. White first asks, Why has the child rearing become such a complicated task? He looks to common sense, science and the Bible for an answer. Next he focuses on the parent-child relationship itself as trust erodes, arguments arise and the need for professional or legal counsel develops. Finally, he cautions us to avoid parenting techniques which emphasize pragmatism at the expense of what is moral and just. A book of comfort and counsel to parents in pain.

Goethe showed long ago in his Werther a clear understanding of the significance of individualistic and psychological training, an appreciation which will mark the century of the child. In this work he shows how the future power of will lies hidden in the characteristics of the child, and how along with every fault of the child an uncorrupted germ capable of producing good is enclosed. "Always," he says, "I repeat the golden words of the teacher of mankind, 'if ye do not become as one of these, ' and now, good friend, those who are our equals, whom we should look upon as our models, we treat as subjects; they should have no will of their own; do we have none? Where is our prerogative? Does it consist in the fact that we are older and more experienced? Good God of Heaven Thou seest old and young children, nothing else. And in whom Thou hast more joy, Thy Son announced ages ago. But people believe in Him and do not hear Him - that, too, is an old trouble, and they model their children after themselves." The same criticism might be applied to our present educators, who constantly have on their tongues such words as evolution, indivi-duality, and natural tendencies, but do not heed the new commandments in which they say they believe. They continue to educate as if they believed still in the natural depravity of man, in original sin, which may be bridled, tamed, suppressed, but not changed.

Dit stel ouers in staat om van vroeg af en te midde van 'n druk lewe alledaagse geleenthede om hulle te gebruik om hul kleingoed gemaklik in die wereld van wiskunde in te lei. En dit verg geen spesiale kennis of opleiding van ouers nie; net 'n positiewe instelling en 'n opskerping van hulle interaksie met hul kleingoed om hulle al spelenderwys vertroud te maak met wiskundebegrippe.

Die skrywer, 'n raadgewer, bemagtig jou danksy jare se praktiese ervaring om jou kinders se angstigheid en gevoelens van onsekerheid te beperk en so doeltreffend moontlik die ewewig in jou gesin te hervestig. Sy gee praktiese riglyne oor die volgende aan die hand van talle gevallestudies uit haar omvangryke leers: Hoe, wanneer en waar om jou kinders op 'n ouderdomsgepaste en eerlike manier in te lig; Emosionele ondersteuning vir jou as ouer; Hoe om aktief te luister, woede te hanteer en duidelike, ferm en konsekwente grense daar te stel; Die regsaspekte van die nuwe Kinderwet wat die beste belange van die kind beklemtoon; Ooreenkomste vir gesamentlike ouerskap; Voortgesette verhoudings met uitgebreide familie en hoe om nuwe lewensmaats bekend te stel; Raad aan stiefouers en ouers wat nooit voor die skeiding getroud was nie.