‘I straighten her little tiara every morning – I lift her chin and remind her that she is meant for greater things than playground bullies.’

‘Everything shines in its own time. There is no timetable for life.
Timetables are for classrooms, not for people.’

These are just some of the wisdoms shared on The Village, South Africa’s beloved Facebook group for parents raising tweens, teens and young adults.

Having kids is a baffling endeavour beset with sulks, meltdowns, anxiety and disappointment – and that’s just the parents! When you get that call to the principal’s office? When the school acceptances don’t come? When the bedroom door slams and you hear your child sobbing behind it? All awful but the family years are also, to many of us, our most precious time. The trick? To find a way to enjoy our families, love our children and believe in them and ourselves despite the daily challenges. And laugh . . .

In this book, Vanessa Raphaely and Karin Schimke have gathered together experiences and insights from The Village members. These are the gems and remedies from the real parenting experts – the parents – to help you raise your family in your own perfectly imperfect way.

Offers 25 practical, action-oriented tips for parents before, during, and after a move. This work includes tips such as: giving kids a sense of control and involvement in the move, making the physical move less stressful, and creating a sense of belonging in a new home. It is useful for those looking to help children adjust to a move.

Loving Your Adult Children Without Losing Your Mind (Or Your Heart, Or All Your Money, Or Your Soul)

Your kids will always be your kids. But figuring out how to adapt to the new phases in that parent-child relationship can be tricky. And if you fail to navigate that transition well, the result will be stress, alienation, and maybe a broken relationship.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. In Your New Life with Adult Children: A Practical Guide for What Helps, What Hurts, and What Heals, Dr. Gary Chapman—author of the worldwide bestseller The 5 Love Languages—teams up with clinical psychiatrist Dr. Ross Campbell to provide insight.

You’ll find help for moments when:

• Your adult child isn’t succeeding
• Your child moves back home
• You have conflict over lifestyle issues
• You become an in-law or grandparent

Helpful stories from parents and adult children on what works best are included. An online study guide is also available.