Full of Life Mom to Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Full of Life Mom to Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant
Nancy O’Dell, host of Access Hollywood, offers straightforward mom-to-mom tips and kernels of wisdom from the minute you decide to have a baby until you bring your little one home.
When Nancy O’Dell was pregnant she found herself saying often, Why didn’t y’all tell me that was gonna happen! Nancy’s friends didn’t think to warn her about half of the things that happened to them during pregnancy — like how those red dots might appear on her chest in the third trimester or how her calves (not just her feet) would swell too much for those cute new boots.
Now that her own little bundle has arrived, Nancy shares candid observations and motherly advice that will help other expectant mothers prepare for all those spontaneous itches, emotions, skin changes, and cramps that can be quite terrifying and downright embarrassing if you don’t know ahead of time that they might occur. She even shares her mother’s delicious spice cake recipe with prunes, for those constipated days. (Hey, even in Hollywood pregnancy isn’t always glamorous.) So don’t panic if you forget the word for toothpaste or if your boobs leak before you give birth — these nine (well, ten!) months of your life will be full of crazy and often hilarious moments.
With warmth and humor, Nancy talks openly about her experiences in each stage of expectant motherhood, from pre-conception through delivery, and even the intimidating but joyful first week at home with her new baby. A sweet celebration of pregnancy and new motherhood — the good, the bad, and the just plain unexpected — Full of Life is the perfect companion for every mom-to-be who needs a little reassurance from someone who’s been there as to exactly what might happen next!
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great gift!
This is a great gift for an expectant mother! I just bought one for a friend’s baby shower, and she told me she had already read every page!
5 Stars Good Advice, Entertaining, … but is it realistic for the general public?
I read this book in one day. It’s fun unlike all the pregnancy books you will read and it’s a nice draw away from the standard sterile medical type reads. I have to say, the biggest accomplishment this book serves for me are all tips she serves from when you are pregnant to delivery and after! Make little notes on the side while you read this. I love the one on one conversation you feel like you’re having. You really won’t find this kind of advice in other books. This is not a medical book, but more like a friend to friend book. But comfy read for first time moms!
Nancy is a Hollywood gal and in reality I still believe she was treated better at the hospital than most of us would. She could afford to interview/hire a baby sitter right away and get the utmost help/attention with breastfeeding and first week baby is back home. These are not realistic expectations for the general public I felt.
Overall, I love this book for making me feel sooo much more at ease about L&D!
5 Stars So much great information!
I gave my wife this book as a gift because this is our first pregnancy. She couldn’t put the book down and I got a big thank you for getting it as a gift for her. There were so many helpful tips in the book that we have not read in other pregnancy books! We love this beautiful book and are going to give it to our pregnant couple friends as a gift.
5 Stars Best Pregnancy Book I’ve Read-Kid U Not!
I loved this book! It is such an entertaining read and with every story Nancy O’Dell tells, you learn a tip or piece of advice. I’ve never read one done this way before and I loved its format. It will make a great gift for my pregnant girlfriends as well. I watched Nancy O’Dell on The Today Show talking about her book with Meredith Viera. Meredith went on and on at how great the book is and I must agree!
The Baby Owners Manual Operating Instructions Trouble Shooting Tips and Advice on First Year Maintenance
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
The title, Baby Owner
Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro toilet training
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro toilet training
“Desperate parents will want this book…”– Library Journal, May 15, 2006
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Potty Train Your child in just one day.
I took the survey in the book and found out my child is not ready for potty training yet. It was a big help.
5 Stars Worked GREAT for triplets
Potty training three children seemed like an overwhelming task for me, so I decided to do a great deal of research. I bought many books, and planned out my stratagy…. did I want to train them one at a time, or all at once? When I read Teri Crane’s book, I really liked the approach and the idea of a party. Some of the other approaches I had researched had some negative strategies, and I loved how positive this apporaoch is. Because I had to have three parties, I did not decorate as much as the book suggested, and my treats were not at all theme related, but I was still VERY successful.
My kids had shown no interest in going potty and after their third birthday I decided that enough was enough. I planned their parties for three differnt days, a couple days apart so I had enough time to reinforce. I loved the one on one bonding time I had with each child, and they LOVED the party aspect!!! All three of my children really LOVED teaching the doll, and celebrated each success!!!
My one daughter was trained before nap time. She turned to me during the doll training stage and said, “Mommy, I have to go potty.” From that point on she was trained. She has had a few accidents(maybe 3 or 4) since, and it has been a month. My son was trained in a day, just as the book states, and he is a very stubborn child. He was so proud of himself, and he also very rarely has an accident. My third child was in a power struggle with me over actually going potty, she would sit and “try” but not actually go on the potty. She held in her urine for over four hours despite me feeding her beverage after beverage. I emailed teri is exhaustion and desperation, and she immediately CALLED me at home. She made sure that she knew all of the facts of my struggle, and gave me STEP - BY - STEP instructions on how to get the power back from my daughter. She calmed my fears and gave great advice! My daughter was completely pee trained in a few days. The author was so helpful, I felt like she was a good friend who called to help me plan out my strategy. The author, Teri Crane, also called a few days later to see how the plan was working, and then called to check in on the day of the BIG reward. She is still helping me as now we are working on poop training my daughter, who has been having difficulty due to medical issues. I RAVE about this book and the author to everyone I meet. I HIGHLY recomend this book - the idea is great, the author really knows her stuff and is extremely HELPFUL! Potty traing multiples was simple when you use this book!
5 Stars Potty Training Success Story
Thank you Terri Crane.
Although I was a skeptic, I bought the book when my friend kept teling me about the success she had with her daughter. I must say, I, too, have had a wonderful experience with the book!
My friend mentioned that I could email the author and that she would call me before the party or the day of!!!!! I did just that, sent an email to Teri Crane telling her we were going to do our party. Not only did she call me, but she emailed me, too. Teri called me the day before and answered some of my questions–AND she called me after the party, too. She even called me most recently to see if I needed any follow up advice!!!! I think this in itself is a reason to buy the book. The author really knows her stuff, and has some other tips to help you succeed!!!! How fantastic!!!!!
As for the book…the technique worked great. It was a fun way to approach a frustrating milestone. A couple of things…if you want to save a few bucks, maybe opt not to buy the doll recomended. The boy version leaked and my son was disinterested in it as he has never liked dolls. I went with a “Potty Monkey” training doll instead and it did the trick. My son wanted a “prize” or a food “treat” every time he went to the potty for a while…I should have told him up front tha the prizes and treats were only for the party day…he was sad when we went and there were not goodies to reward him a couple days after. Also, save money by going to your local dollar store–I was able to get EVERYTHING I needed there for the lists Terri gave me (we did beach party!)
Instead of stickers we went with stamps for the chart…my son loved putting stamps on his chart…a tip not mentioned in the book is that I left our bathroom decorated for several weeks. Since my son was so sad that the “diaper birthday party” was over (that is what he called it), it was nice for him to see the bathroom still in theme and it was fun for him to have all of the books and toys there to keep him busy for his potty time.
My son went from pull-ups to “throwing his diapers away” and wearing underware. The money you may spend on the party is well worth the money you will save in diapers and pull-ups. And, even though the day at home is exhausting–it is nice to have mother-child bonding! The day at home not only potty trained my son, but it trained me to recognize his potty body language and schedule.
The week my son had few accidents here and there, but the book worked for us!!! A fun way to accomplish the task at hand–just dont go overboard…the kids will love the attention and planning you have done regardless!
1 Star Sorry, but this is totally overrated.
I bought this book after reading the first couple of chapters in the bookstore to make sure it sounded like something my little girl would do. She loves dolls, so I thought teaching her with a doll would be perfect. I also thought the party would be a great way to keep potty training positive for both of us. It’s just too bad it didn’t work. I ran into every problem imaginable, and I did three months worth of planning, research on different potty dolls, etc. First, I read the entire book. Then, I read the prerequisites and party day chapters several times, including the day before the party. The first time we took the readiness quiz, my daughter wasn’t ready. I waited two months, worked on the prerequisites, talked about the potty everyday, watched videos, read stories, etc. We took the quiz again and she met ALL the criteria. I was so excited. Believe me, I tried so hard to make this a success. Here are the issues I had:
1. Dolly: Teri Crane recommends the Emma doll who drinks and wets. I researched this doll and found that parents hated it. For starters, it looks like a baby and not a big girl. Isn’t that what we’re telling our children? We’re telling them they are big kids and not babies; meanwhile, we’re potty training them with dolls that look like babies? Plus, it’s not anatomically correct as promised. Most recently, they’ve been marketing a doll that goes with the book. Again, parents hate this doll. Both the Emma and the “official” potty party doll wet instantly. You would have to give them the drink while they’re on the toilet in order for them to have success. How realistic.
I purchased the Baby Alive Learns to Potty so I could have some control over when the doll had accidents and when the doll made a successful trip to the potty. However, BA did not work the way the instructions said. It was supposed to ask to go to the potty once, then twice, then three times, and on up to five. This never happened. There I was trying to coax my two-and-a-half year old to the bathroom with the doll. We NEVER made it on time. Instead of being fun, it just became a hassle. I turned the doll off and hid a cup behind the potty along with some chocolate covered raisins. I just staged my own successes for the doll. BA cost me about $50. Baby Emma costs about the same. I could have achieved the same results with a doll that cost $10 at Dollar General. What a huge waste of money!!!
2. The Party: Some aspects of the party made it fun, but overall, the party was totally unneccessary. One reviewer said she just put up a few balloons and gave her daughter a new doll. I wish I would have done something simple too. I would have decorated the bathroom A LITTLE, gotten an inexpensive and grown up looking doll, and had a simple reward system. The treats tray, for example, became a battling ground. My daughter wanted treats just for going INTO the bathroom. Ultimately, she won that battle b/c that was the only way I could get her in there! Fortunately, I purchased a CD called More Music from Bear in the Big Blue House, which has her favorite potty song, Toileteers. We played that when she or dolly went potty.
I agonized over every detail of the party, keeping it as close to the book as possible. I did all the decorations Crane suggested and everything. I even had a cake and invited her grandparents over at the end of the party. At lunchtime, I had them call to congratulate dolly just like the book suggests. I think the doll, the one-on-one attention and the encouragement were good. The decorations, however, were a hassle and a hideous waste of money!! Who has money to throw around these days?!
3. It’s the day after and I feel like I’m starting from scratch. My daughter went pee-pee in the potty three times during the party. She had four accidents b/c she doesn’t tell me she has to pee until RIGHT before. LOL. I thought that three times in the potty was a tremendous success and a good start was all I really expected. However, she hasn’t gone in the potty once today. She’s napping right now, so I’m hoping for a better afternoon. She’s wearing pull-ups instead of panties, so I wonder if she’s treating them like diapers (waiting for me to take her off the potty so she can go in the pull-ups). Hey, she’s just a kid and she’s learning. I am disappointed in the book though. I worked so hard and it just didn’t live up to it’s promises. One star, that’s all it gets.
5 Stars Happy Mom of a Big boy!!!
I saw Teri Crane speak about a year ago and was so inspired and motivated when I left, that I went straight to the store and bought everything right then and there. I didn’t spend a lot of money but bought a few books, potty videos, Thomas stickers, Thomas underwear, Thomas plates and napkins (can you guess my theme?)and of-course some Popsicles. A couple days later my potty party was ready. Dad was at work, the house was decorated and friends and family members were ready to call that evening to congratulate the new big boy on his accomplishment. I start off by giving my son a wrapped present with his new potty doll inside. Because he is a boy and my husband refused to let him own a doll, so I gave him a Bob the builder doll. No, Bob didn’t pee on his own but with the magic of mom my son didn’t know the difference. My son was so excited to help Bob pee and congratulate Bob for being a big boy. He really got into it. We started the party around 9am and by 5pm he was an official potting big boy. We ate dinner at McDonald’s play land and Dad, grandma and grandpa all came to join us. It was such a rewarding day and my son still talks about the day he became a big boy. Thanks so much Teri. I couldn’t have done it without you or your book.
Golf The Art of the Mental Game 100 Classic Golf Tips
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Golf The Art of the Mental Game 100 Classic Golf Tips
Dr. Parent has drawn on a career coaching the masters to write a hundred brand new tips for improving any golfer’s score, from the essentials of the mental game to helpful hints to keep your composure. Each of Dr. Parent’s texts is accompanied by insightful illustrations compiled from the Ravielli archives, which balance the physical instruction and mental practice that can keep your swing and your attitude working in perfect harmony. Mirroring the unique structure of Dr. Parent’s personal lessons, Golf: The Art of the Mental Game moves from the mind to the body, from mental approach through discipline in practice to action on the links.
The Essential Baby Organizer Birth to One Year The Essential Organizers
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
The Essential Baby Organizer Birth to One Year The Essential Organizers
The Essential Baby Organizer is sure to become your go-to book. A smooth sleek design covering ALL your bases. It is a must have for every mother. –Tangled & True, February 2008
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Love it!
I love this organizer and give one to everyone I know that is having a baby. We used the book for my son’s first year and it’s great to look back at all the people he visited, the little things he learned, and how much he changed. I like the layout with options to write about different milestones each week. I highly recommend this organizer.
3 Stars not for me
Is really nice when you have a book for discribe the baby firt year the only problem is you dont have time for this. Is practice and easy for use, is you have time for that the book is perfect.
4 Stars Perfect with one exception.
I used the 40+ organizer for both of my boys. I loved them. It really helped with the first one. Especially as a new mother, with dozens of questions. It was great. I wasn’t able to get the Birth to One Year for my first, because they were just in print and it was too late.( I’m waiting for the “Sprout” organizer for him). I love the birth to one year..however..I miss the blank, fill-in calendar that was in the beginning of the 40+ organizer. That is the only thing. I hope that when this is reprinted that it is included, because it helped. That’s why I gave it 4 stars.
5 Stars a great idea
A friend recommended I get a binder to hold all of the first year well baby visit records, etc… This book not only has a section for each well baby visit but has so much more in a small notebook size. The tables for writing down times of feeding, naps and diapers were so helpful in tracking my son’s growth and development. Especially in those early weeks when you’re not quite sure if your baby is getting enough to eat or sleep. I’m not a very compulsive person but I was addicted to this book. It also has a section in each week where you can recount your babies likes and dislikes, developmental firsts and precious moments, so it becomes not only a log but truly a journal of memories too! This book has a great section in the back with tables for recommended sleep, eating, first aid, developmental milestones, play ideas and even a babysitter interview questionaire all of which have been extremely helpful. Lastly it has a nice plastic sleeve in the back to insert immunization cards, etc. I plan on getting this as a gift for all my friends and family who are expecting.
5 Stars A must have!
This baby organizer is a must have for all new moms! It is a perfect way to track your babies daily activities and first year milestones. It is ideal for working moms that need to go back to work and want their childs caregiver to leave the details of what their child did that day. I will use this product for every child of mine! I highly recommend it!
Just Tell Me What to Say Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Just Tell Me What to Say Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents
“Parents of young children will find themselves reaching for this wonderful book by Betsy Brown Braun over and over again!” — –Reveta Bowers, Head of School, The Center for Early Education
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars Linda Gilman
I started reading this book but it wasn’t what I needed so I stopped reading it after a couple pages. It might be OK if you needed advise on how to answer questions about death and etc, but I had already gone thru that time with my kids/grandkids.
5 Stars Must Have 4 Every Parent
Not even fully finished with the book and already must give it 5 stars. My husband and I love the easy to read format. We have a 17 year old from his first marriage and a new baby on the way. This book has helped us in so many ways. We baby sat a almost 4 year old boy the other day and this book came IN HANDY. With in minutes we had him listening to us and walking with us in the store. Much better then he does with his mother (he runs away all the time). We are also reading “Scream Free Parenting”. I want to give both books to every parent. I say it’s a must buy!
2 Stars Go with your own instincts
Some of the suggestions in this book are okay, but some are a bit far fetched. Go with your instincts. Truth is…you know your children and what works best with them. This, to me, is another person’s opinion and should be taken that way.
5 Stars The Most Pertinent Book You Will Find for your Family’s Everyday Life
Of all the many books I have read about child rearing, this book is by far the best and most useful book for dealing with your everyday (and not so everyday) problems. Betsy’s words are relatable, concise and her approach makes complete sense. Her advice is presented in a readable (often very funny) manner that translates very easily to the real world. From nose picking and back talk to table manners, sex and death, this book covers it all. Besty’s words are absolutely invaluable. Buy this book and refer to it often. You will not be sorry!
5 Stars MUST HAVE FOR ALL PARENTS
The best book I’ve found so far! Practical ideas for all parents. I’ve implemented a lot of the tips and it works wonders!!!!!
Raising Confident Boys 100 Tips for Parents and Teachers
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Raising Confident Boys 100 Tips for Parents and Teachers
Like girls, boys are enjoying more freedom than ever, having been at least partly liberated from a traditional masculinity. Yet statistics show that they also have more behavior problems than girls have, as well as higher suicide rates. In addition, they are losing their academic edge over girls. Like girls, boys can only take advantage of their new freedoms if they are raised to believe in themselves, and in Raising Confident Boys, Hartley-Brewer explains how parents and teachers can help.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars suzie1967
I purchased this book after reading the great reviews. I am extremely disappointed. This book is simply a laundry list of anything that a parent/teacher could possibly do to give children better self-esteem. Each tip is dedicated two pages. It wasn’t what I thought it would be and would not be easy to refer back to any particular item.
4 Stars Excellent Information for communicating with boys
I had started some really bad habits, when my son was trying to express him self and become independant. Although I encouraged his independence and gave him as much positive feedback as i could I was going about it all wrong.
Reading this book helped me to see things more from his point of veiw as a male.
Boys are such senitive creatures and if you are not sensitive towards their feelings it’s going to make thim feel withdrawn. I was starting to see this in our relationship and wanted to fix the problem before we grew apart.
The information in this book has helped me in many ways.
4 Stars Simple and direct and highly effective.
The advice is broken up into topic sections which is very helpful, and then within those sections are simple, direct, one page intorductions to a problem/solution followed by one page of suggested tips. I LOVE this format and find it so very useful; more so than reading through 400 pages of bla, bla, bla and psycho-babble to get to that nugget of info that will help get to the core of the problem one is facing that day. Some of the solutions are pretty obvious and simple, some are new and enlightening. I think that any reader will be reminded of the simple tools we may have forgotten, or will discover new ideas and ways of approaching our children that will benefit all.
3 Stars Raising confident boys 100 tips for parents and teachers
This book is a good reference guide. A good quick read.
2 Stars Disappointed
I was very disappointed with this book. The author continually tells the reader to be kind and gentle with children, and then recommends “alternatives to spanking” that are simply other types of punishments: time out, removal of privileges, and the like. She simply doesn’t get it that children are human beings who behave as well as they are treated, and who will behave well when treated with love and respect. Would the author respond well if her partner tried to control her in these ways? There are many better choices - see the book titles listed at The Natural Child Project and La Leche League websites.
Parenting Gifted Kids Tips for Raising Happy And Successful Children
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Parenting Gifted Kids Tips for Raising Happy And Successful Children
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children by James R. Delisle (Professor of Gifted Education at Kent State University) is an informative and “parent friendly” reference for enabling a truly gifted child to expressively and productively achieve their life goals, develop sound character, and generally enjoy his or her life. Examining overly excitable children, the type of gift granted to each child, working with the school system, dealing with perfectionist children, being a positive role model, building a child’s character, and helping kids achieve their set goals and dreams, Parenting Gifted Kids is very highly recommended reading, especially to all new parents of a gifted child. –
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children provides a humorous, engaging, and encouraging look at raising gifted children in our world today. Jim Delisle, well-known for his experience in the area of social and emotional needs of gifted children, once again comes to the rescue of parents by offering practical, down-to-earth advice that is very likely to challenge parents to reexamine the ways they perceive and relate to their children. –
Gifted Child Today, Vol. 29, No. 4, Fall 2006
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children by teacher, counselor, college professor, and parent James R. Delisle is an expert collection of tactful and educated approaches to children. Deftly examining and exploring the findings of child-psychology and his experiences of more than 30 years of working with children, Professor Delisle offers his readers a cogent understanding of giftedness in children, how to work with the school system, dealing with perfectionism in gifted children, being an adult role model for children, building a child’s character, and helping kids achieve their goals and dreams. For its clear, concise, and incalcuable practical information, Parenting Gifted Kids is very highly recommended for all parents, counselors, and teachers of a gifted child. –
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children by James R. Delisle (Professor of Gifted Education at Kent State University) is an informative and “parent friendly” reference for enabling a truly gifted child to expressively and productively achieve their life goals, develop sound character, and generally enjoy their life. Examining overly excitable children, the type of gift granted to each child, working with the school system, dealing with perfectionist children, being a positive role model, building a child’s character, and helping kids achieve their set goals and dreams, Parenting Gifted Kids is very highly recommended reading, especially to all new parents of a gifted child. –
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children by teacher, counselor, college professor, and parent James R. Delisle is an expert collection of tactful and educated approaches to children. Deftly examining and exploring the findings of child-psychology and his experiences of over thirty years of working with children, Professor Delisle offers his readers a cogent understanding of giftedness in children, how to work with the school system, dealing with perfectionism in gifted children, being an adult role model for children, building a child’s character, and helping kids achieve their goals and dreams. For its clear, concise, and incalcuable practical information, Parenting Gifted Kids is very highly recommended for all parents, counselors, and teachers of a gifted child. –
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Mercifully, omits testing info
A book for parents who know their child is gifted and who want to learn about their child’s inner landscape. Not for parents who are wondering HOW to get their child into their school’s gifted program. I checked out many books from the public library, looking for one like this. The others devote multiple early chapters to testing, which was a moot point for me.
Have been recommending it to other TAG parents as the “if you’re only going to read one book on giftedness, this is it” book.
5 Stars Excellent Resource!
This is an excellent resource for parents seeking to raise a child who is intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually balanced, as well as productive. — It offers real world advice concerning advocacy for and understanding of the gifted and talented, while reminding parents that gifted and talented children are just that — children.
I recommend this book over any other I’ve read thus far. It is enjoyable, exceptionally readable, and chok-full of insight and information.
4 Stars Help your child be happy: read this and “THE DRAMA OF THE GIFTED CHILD”
As a gifted child, I wish my parents had not understood me as gifted, but understood why I loved being the best at everything, i.e. why it was so important for me, and why I was losing my childhood to it. Not that it is bad to be the best, but it doesn’t make our children happy. I wish my parents had helped me break the deep feeling (and illusion) that I was loved when others acknowledged my being gifted…which inevitably came with the deep feeling of doubt about whether I was loved when I was not great. I wish they had helped me relax, made me feel loved unconditionally, helped me find out what “I” liked and focus on that, and most importantly, stop the emotionally empty pursuit of continuing to be “the gifted child”, stop looking for the excitement of compliments as an illusion of love. Feeling unconditionally loved by your parents is feeling that you can be ordinary at something, or that if you don’t like that game you don’t have to play it and if you play it, you can be ordinary at it (invest less time and focus on having fun rather than being “great”), and still know for sure, deeply, without having to test it, that your parents will always love you anyway. If your child is almost always great, by definition he/she does not feel/know for sure that you love him/her unconditionally.
As parents, it is our responsibility to help our child be happy, rather than extraordinary. When your child is gifted and extraordinary, the best you can offer is not encourage him/her to be great (he/she’s already doing that) but rather 1) for you to gain the insight of why he/she feels it is so important to be the best at everything, why he or she invests so much emotional energy in getting your and other people’s compliments, and 2) help him/her feel loved unconditionally, that it is perfectly fine to be ordinary at some things, by expressing your love “especially” when he or she is ordinary–that is when you should express the most love to your child–to tame his/her deep-rooted emotional illusion that compliments = love, because of what it also means in his/her heart: that no compliments = no love. Read this book and especially “the Drama of the Gifted Child”, so you truly help your child, so he/she doesn’t have to read the book in 10 to 20 years and has to mourn the loss of his/her childhood to being “gifted”.
4 Stars original approach
How happy I was to get a new perspective on the gifted parenting issue. Instead of a book merely listing the characteristics of gifted kids and the problems they face, this offered some new points. The included “Gifted Children Speak Out” section at the end of every chapter was very insightful and put everything I was reading in perspective; all the advice in the world can’t substitute for honest feelings given directly from the children themselves. I also really enjoyed the chapter on giftedness in adults. It was helpful both as a way for the reader to reflect on and remember his or her own gifted childhood, and as a reminder that our children are going to grow up, with characteristics that continue to affect them in adult life. Finally, the resource section at the back was full of schools, journals, web sites and other places to find additional information and support. Overall, a very thourough and insightful book.
5 Stars Fantastic!
This completely explained my child. Thank you for helping me to understand her and how her mind works. This is the beginning to parenting my child the way she needs.
Parenting Is a Contact Sport 8 Ways to Stay Connected to Your Kids for Life
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
Parenting Is a Contact Sport 8 Ways to Stay Connected to Your Kids for Life
Build a relationship with your children that’s so strong, nothing will sever it. From toddlerhood to teen years and beyond, you can make ‘real’ contact with your kids, forming an unbreakable bond that makes you the person they want to share with and gives you the opportunity to guide and counsel them in every phase of their lives.
In Parenting Is a Contact Sport, you will discover how to:
- Communicate openly with your kids and create a connection that will weather anything life throws your way
- Help your children learn from their experiences, even through the storms of adolescence, by using effective discipline
- Stay in touch with the realities of your kids’ lives so you can continue to talk with them, even when they’re dealing with such important issues as sex and drugs
- Increase the influence you have over their choices and behaviors so that, even when you can’t be there, they use good judgment
- Develop mutual trust and respect that improves your kids’ self-esteem and brings joy and laughter into your home
Praise for Parenting Is a Contact Sport:
‘This is exactly the kind of book I wish I’d had when I was raising my two kids. Simple concepts made easy by a double pro. Brava!’ –Linda Ellerbee, author of Take Big Bites and executive producer of Nick News
‘Without jargon or scolding, this book shows you how to build and live a resilient and vibrant connection with your kids and step kids.’ –Joe Kelly, author of Dads and Daughters: How to Inspire, Support and Understand Your Daughter and The Pocket Idiot s Guide to Being a New Dad
‘Parenting Is a Contact Sport is that valuable, wisdom-packed book that is always there for you as you navigate the challenges of parenthood.’ SuEllen Fried, founder of BullySafeUSA and coauthor of Bullies, Targets & Witnesses: Helping Children Break the Pain Chain
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars A Safe Haven
Above all, Dr. Joanne Stern advocates an emotional safe haven for children. By teaching parents how to keep an open line of communication with their children, Joanne promotes a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere for establishing enduring parent-child relationships. Truth and trust are paramount. But, equally comforting is the message “Don’t even try to parent perfectly-just do the best you can…” Enjoy the book!
5 Stars A great resource for parents and pediatricians
A friend recommended this book to me as a new mom of a baby daughter. But as a pediatrician, I was surprised to discover that it also offered truly helpful insights for my job by suggesting some successful strategies for communication with kids and teens. Parents often come to pediatricians for parenting advice, and I would definitely recommend this book to help them tackle issues with children of all ages while building and maintaining important parent-child relationships.
5 Stars Healthy Communication = Healthy Families
I have witnessed first hand Dr. Joanne Stern’s relationship with her adult daughters and can verify the parenting methods that she shared in her book “Parenting is a Contact Sport” do work! I was also a single mother raising three daughters. How I wish I had the common sense, patience and compassion my good friend and colleague possessed during those difficult years, and before.
As a marriage and family therapist, I realize the importance of good communication within families. Starting with young kids and continuing the dialog throughout their lives prepares adults to use their skills in work, marriage and in many other venues. How much we need good talking, listening and openness on a global scale in the difficult times we live in.
Joanne’s book is a must read. I will share it with my adult daughters and will recommend it to my clients. Bless you Joanne Stern for “Parenting is a Contact Sport” - a loving book that is needed and is very topical!
5 Stars Great!
I’ve been criticized on more than one occasion for not making it through the first chapter of multiple parenting books. I find myself picking this one up during breaks and evenings purely out of enjoyment. The author’s honesty of it all is what I think I appreciated most about it. This book will leave you nodding your head with a smile, and you’ll learn a ton in the process!
5 Stars A Nurse’s Observation
As a former psychiatric adolescent unit nurse, I was amazed thinking how a complicated downhill spirling life for my patients could have been turned around if their parents would have read this book and applied these simple principles.
Helping Hyperactive Kids A Sensory Integration Approach Techniques and Tips for Parents and Professionals
April 28, 2009 by Parent Tips · Leave a Comment
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A book that all parents and teachers will find useful
This book is very well written. It is meant for parents and teachers and is done in an easy to read and succinct manner. It touches on every aspect of sensory integration. You will find information here on smell, taste, touch, vision, the effect of the environment in general, and more. It wone me over with the sentence All children need discipline. It has been my experience that many parents whose children receive a diagnosis of anything that affects behavior, simply throw up their hands in resignation and say “There is nothing I can do, he/she has
