Raven's Roost is a story about Halloween. A mother and her three children relocate to a small town on the eastern seaboard to be closer to her parents and sister who live in the small town. It is fall and Halloween is fast approaching. The relocated children become friends with the two little boys who live next door to them. The two little boys harbor a dark secret about the old house on top of a hill called Raven's Roost. The two little boys have already discovered a secret cave and tunnel under the old house and they believe from what they have discovered that the house is haunted. There is further evidence that something mysterious is going on up at the old house and the children believe it is haunted. A mysterious floating light appears sometime after dark and there are sounds coming from the top of the hill that suggests a ghost does live at the house. The children set out to discover exactly what is going on up at the old house. On Halloween night they sneak off to go up to the old 'haunted' house under the guise of trick or treating the occupants of the house if there are any. Much to the dismay of the children's parents, the children have found a gold coin in the cave beneath the old mansion. The children's plot to trick or treat the house goes awry when a monstrous form appears at the house and an apparent ghost does appear during their Halloween night trip to the house.

In "If I Knew it Was Going to Be This Much Fun, I Would Have Become a Grandparent First Willard Scott, along with celebrities and ordinary people, will write about all the joys of becoming a grandparent. "If I Knew it Was Going to Be This Much Fun will be similar in format to "The Older the Fiddle, The Better the Tune-a long introduction by Willard, followed by shorter pieces by each contributor. This is a great follow-up book for Willard who was married for almost 50 years and has two grandchildren.

‘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.

The book deals with the generation gap which exists between elders and youngsters and how the same can be bridged through a genuine introspection which can help in taking remedial action in daily life. With the fast-changing times, it is vitally important to be able to solve these differences through self-change. The book gives specific examples of differing mind-sets as well as unusual situations which keep occurring and how they are ultimately solved. The dismal relationship which existed between the parents and the daughter ultimately changes due to self-realization. There are specific examples highlighting the positivity and negativity of such situations.

Bringing your baby into the world rocks your life. Not only is your body changing physically, but everything is now different-your home, relationships, and finances. And that barely scratches the surface "The Chic Mom's Guide To Feeling Fabulous" is a practical approach to feeling fabulous in every area of your life following the birth of your beautiful bundle.

Fashion and beauty expert Nina Sutton brings together actionable advice on beauty, fashion, fitness, relationships, cooking, finances, and even positive thinking. Her approach focuses on realistic strategies to being chic despite the midnight feedings, extra responsibilities, and changing emotions.

Both new and experienced moms will appreciate the practical, easy-to-read advice Nina shares. Tips cover the entire spectrum of chic including energizing your skin, essential fashions for your closet, staying fit with baby/toddler in tow, creating "mommy and me" happy hours, keeping the romance alive with your husband, preparing fast and fabulous meals, and managing your finances.

Presented in a beautifully browsable format, this guide includes hundreds of tips to help manage the new life that has been created. As your busy life gets busier and your family grows, you'll find yourself feeling great and staying chic

"Throughout her seven secrets, Rolfe models how parenting can be the most fulfilling work of our lives."
-Linda Aronson, author of "Big Spirits, Little Bodies"

Every parent has the innate power to be successful. But life can get in the way. It is hard to be at your best when you are tired, angry, rushed, surprised, preoccupied, or just too busy. But then you may have to deal with regret, frustration, or guilt, or a hurt or angry child.

In "The Seven Secrets of Successful Parents," author and family therapist Randy Colton Rolfe shares the core attitudes which will prepare and empower you to be successful in any parenting situation. With her powerful approach of prepared, holistic, responsive parenting, you can master all these parenting goals and more:
Setting appropriate limits that stick Promoting safe relationships Inspiring learning Nurturing your child's spirit Rebuilding after negative feelings Fostering good judgment Venting parental frustration harmlessly Resisting unhelpful criticism from outsiders Encouraging your child to speak up with respect Enjoying your child totally, without reservation

In "The Seven Secrets of Successful Parents" you will discover new options, helpful case histories, amusing anecdotes, valuable research, dialogues, and meditations to help you raise happy, healthy, productive children. Watch your parenting success grow

For this generation of Moms, there is no cookie-cutter mold for how motherhood should be or, more importantly, how it should appear to be. These days, whether we moms have a career or stay at home with our kids, whether we are single, married, divorced, or widowed, we are forging a new path in motherhood. Perhaps most importantly, this generation of moms is releasing the need to be perfect all the time, and is embracing the notion that we can have balance in our life (most days). This new breed of moms understands that this frees up the time and energy necessary to pursue growth in ourselves outside motherhood. Furthermore, we are learning to shake off guilt and celebrate the imperfections in our daily lives. This empowers us to redefine ourselves, to use our gifts and talents to create a purposeful vision for our lives outside motherhood. Finally, we are becoming champions of our own lives, awakening the "champreneurs" within ourselves. We are grateful for the sacrifices our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers made to get us to this point. We are merely standing on their shoulders. Without them we are nothing; our gratitude to them is everything. But rather than looking behind us for affirmation, today's mothers lean on, support, and empower each other. No guilt allowed. Mommy Magic gives these moms an encouraging pat on the back, a good laugh, and affirmation that being real is important. It gives moms permission to admit that motherhood is not perfect; it is, in fact, a journey. Mommy Magic is meant to be a humorous and inspirational guide to living in chaos, an empowering and easy read to squeeze in while waiting in the carpool line. Most of all, Mommy Magic is meant as a vehicle for mothers to share, talk and laugh over the fact that nobody is perfect all the time.

Educating and raising gifted children presents highly specific challenges. This book explains how parents can learn to optimize their child's potential and work with schools, spouses, friends, and specialists to create a nurturing and stable life. Having a gifted child is a joy, but it is also one of the greatest challenges of parenthood to help that child find the right fit for education. In this remarkably insightful text, noted psychologist Barbara Klein, PhD, EdD, explains the emotional and social issues of giftedness, identifies parental actions and reactions that can exacerbate or soothe the challenges, and describes how these key factors tie in to identifying the best school and educational program to enable a gifted child to achieve his or her goals and maximize success. The text includes many vignettes from children and families who have sought guidance across 30 years from the author, an accomplished psychotherapist recognized as a national authority on raising gifted children. This single-volume work presents an understandable theoretical overview of the psychological problems parents face raising their gifted child and clearly explains why the parent-child interaction can be so intense and stressful-a reality that is rarely acknowledged in the existing literature on giftedness. Parents of gifted children will learn how to make decisions about their children's social emotional development and educational future and understand how their actions can be helpful or harmful to their gifted child and his/her education. Educators will fully grasp why and how gifted kids are different and why they need different educational environments, while mental heath professionals will gain insight into their gifted patients' emotional struggles. And gifted individuals will realize that others experience similar struggles. Details how to find a school that satisfies a child's particular needs Presents the ideas, thoughts, and feelings of parents in words that other parents with gifted children can identify with and understand Provides information on the over-excitabilities and intensities of gifted children presented in a practical, straightforward way that helps the reader apply these concepts in actual strategies in their everyday lives Identifies specific problems of parents with gifted children and outlines effective solutions to these challenges

"We never thought our lives would turn out this way but who really knows such things?" During the Leider's seven-year marriage they brought three beautiful babies into the world. They marveled at their good fortune and, like most parents, had dreams of what their children would aspire to and accomplish in life. In a moment, all that changed when their idyllic world collapsed around them. Deena and Jeff received the worst news any parent could ever imagine. The world they once embraced and adored was instantly over. The words "life expectancy" rang in their ears and reverberated with the steady tic-tock-of the clock-their personal time bomb. That's when the battle against time began for them and they vowed to save their cherished family. In the quest to fight for their children's lives, they decided that they will not rest until their voices and unique story was heard from the halls of Capital Hill to state and local government. These incredible parents turned a devastating situation into an altruistic crusade. They were determined to live for their little boys and to try their hardest to grieve later. This story is not wrapped with a silver lining but anything worth changing and fighting for never is. The Leider's represent all the unsung heroes who travel a harrowing road with fortitude, extraordinary courage, humility, and endless hope. As you read about this exceptional and remarkable family, you will be deeply moved and greatly inspired by their perseverance and infinite parental love. At story's end, you will be profoundly motivated to accompany them on their continuing journey of strength and optimism.

A mother's worst fears are almost always centered on her children. Gifts Of Grace is the compelling and true story of Deb Marcotte's worst nightmare becoming an unimaginable reality. As Deb anxiously awaited the results of the CT scan, she had almost convinced herself that her four-year-old daughter, Allie, was fine. A glance at the medical chart showed otherwise. Deb's heart sank as reality was confirmed by the doctor with words that sent her world spiraling - "It looks like she has had a stroke. But there are older strokes that are present as well." Guilt, fear, panic and an avalanche of other emotions erupted as Deb began to tearfully attempt some level of control. As she had done so many other times, Deb turned to God. Deb prayed for strength and understanding. She prayed that her faith would overcome her questions. This was the beginning of countless medical procedures in hospitals around the country. Allie would endure multiple brain surgeries and endless tests as medical experts worked to find a cure. Deb remained strong in prayer and even stronger as Allie's advocate. Gifts Of Grace is an unforgettable story of a young girl's inspiring strength, a mother's unbreakable faith and indomitable spirit, and a loving God's everlasting gifts.

Kaci's children have craniosynostosis, a condition where the infant skull sutures (openings) fuse early and a secondary condition, chiari malformation, caused by the growing brain pushing its way down the spinal column. With 13 surgeries between the children, the Kings are often asked how they manage daily life along with the difficult diagnoses and seemingly endless trips to the operating room. Finding help did not come easily. Kaci trusted her instincts and pushed on, focusing on the children's health and leaning on sources of strength. The conditions could be fixed once they found a doctor who knew how to help. Their continued search led to Dr. Ben Carson, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital: an angel in disguise. The children would have suffered gravely without the treatment they so desperately needed. As Dr. Carson states in his foreword, "In Light Will Emerge, Kaci King has provided a wonderful mechanism to gain foreknowledge of the difficulties of navigating the medical system..." There is hope even in the worst of situations, blessings when most aren't sure any exist. Life is about attitude. Kaci was taught that for every action, there is a reaction, good or bad. She shares her family's journey: how they coped; how they found their inner strength; and how not knowing what else to do, they prayed. Kaci offers a wealth of information explaining the medical conditions, websites and online support groups. Through this book, she sheds light on what helped them overcome obstacles, how they found strength during difficult times, and encourages others who may feel hopeless. Kaci shares the heartache and many blessings received throughout this journey. Light Will Emerge enables parents and caregivers to push on to find help in a medical crisis and hopefully to help medical professionals understand their very real story.