Dictionary definitions of the term mishpachah are seemingly straightforward: "A Jewish family or social unit including close and distant relatives-sometimes also close friends." As accurate as such definitions are, they fail to capture the diversity and vitality of real, flesh-and-blood Jewish families. Families have been part of Jewish life for as long as there have been Jews. It is useful to recall that the family is the basic narrative building block of the stories in the biblical book of Genesis, which can be interpreted in the light of ancient literary traditions, archaeological discoveries, and rabbinic exegesis. Rabbinic literature also is filled with discussions about interactions, rancorous as well as amicable, between parents and among siblings. Sometimes harmony characterizes relations between the parent and the child; as often, alas, there is conflict. The rabbis, always aware of the realities of life, chide and advise as best they can. For the modern period, the changing roles of males and females in society at large have contributed to differing expectations as to their roles within the family. The relative increase in the number of adopted children, from both Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds, and more recently, the shifting reality of assisted reproductive technologies and the possibility of cloning human embryos, all raise significant moral and theological questions that require serious consideration. Through the studies brought together in this volume, more than a dozen scholars look at the Jewish family in wide variety of social, historical, religious, and geographical contexts. In the process, they explore both diverse and common features in the past and present, and they chart possible courses for Jewish families in the future.

The Spiders Strategy is about survivalbeing forced to remember and then advised to forget. As a child, Carol learned early to handle pain and cruelty, experiences that created the prism through which she views her life. She is now seventy-five and spending more and more time mulling over the past. She comes to realize how destructive to her adult life are the defenses she developed as a child. She worries she is becoming senile. She takes to her bed where she feels she can hide from the world while she thinks. She imagines her memories as a web that she must untangle and the spider who spins the web as a part of herself she converses with. She sees the spider. She feels its web insinuating itself through her nostrils, into her ears, wrapping itself around her neck, and she is terrified. Slowly, she understands that the spider is a symbol of integration, that her task is to clarify her memories, accept their reality, and reenter the world.

When you’re a new parent, the miracle of life might not always feel so miraculous. Maybe your latest 2:00 a.m., 2:45 a.m., and 3:30 a.m. wake-up calls have left you wondering how “sleep like a baby” ever became a figure of speech—and what the options are for restoring your sanity. Or your child just left bite marks on someone, and you’re wondering how to handle it. First-time mom Tracy Cutchlow knows what you’re going through. In Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science (and What I’ve Learned So Far), she takes dozens of parenting tips based on scientific research and distills them into something you can easily digest during one of your two-minute-long breaks in the day. The pages are beautifully illustrated by award-winning photojournalist Betty Udesen. Combining the warmth of a best friend with a straightforward style, Tracy addresses questions such as: Should I talk to my pregnant belly / newborn? Is that going to feel weird? (Yes, and absolutely.) How do I help baby sleep well? (Start with the 45-minute rule.) How can I instill a love of learning in my child? (By using specific types of praise and criticism.) What will boost my child’s success in school? (Play that requires self-control, like make-believe.) My baby loves videos and cell-phone games. That’s cool, right? (If you play, too.) What tamps down temper tantrums? (Naming emotions out loud.) My sweet baby just hit a playmate / lied to me about un-potting the plant / talked back. Now what? (Choose one of three logical consequences.) How do I get through an entire day of this? (With help. Lots of help.) Who knew babies were so funny? (They are!) Whether you read the book front to back or skip around, Zero to Five will help you make the best of the tantrums (yours and baby’s), moments of pure joy, and other surprises along the totally-worth-it journey of parenting.

Revised and expanded: America's bestselling "baby bible" –– an encyclopedic guide to the first two years of your baby's life. The million-copy bestseller by “the man who remade motherhood” (TIME) has now been revised, expanded, and bought thoroughly up-to-date — with the latest information on prenatal vitamins, breastfeeding practices, daycare, midwifery, hospital births, preventing and overcoming postpartum depression, and infant development. The Searses draw from their vast experience both as medical professionals and parents to provide comprehensive information on virtually every aspect of infant care. The Sears Baby Book focuses on the essential needs of babies — eating, sleeping, development, health, and comfort — as it addresses the questions of greatest concern to today's parents. The topics covered include: Preparing for a safe and healthy birth Bonding with your baby Feeding your baby Soothing your fussy baby Getting your baby to sleep Understanding your baby’s development Treating common illnesses Babyproofing your home Understanding toddler behavior Dealing with temper tantrums Toilet training Working parenting First-aid procedures and much more Unrivaled in its scope and authority, The Sears Baby Book presents a practical, contemporary approach to parenting that reflects the way we live today. This is a rich and invaluable resource offering the basic guidance and inspiration you need to get the most out of parenting — for your child, yourself, and for your entire family.

Sure you've read your medical books, washed and folded all those cute baby clothes, and maybe even put the crib together, but are you ready? Are you really ready for the life-changing event about to arrive? Relax, The Everything Get Ready for Baby Book, 2nd Edition is here to get you through it all! Inside you'll find tips on: Baby safety (Lock those cabinets and plug those outlets!); Choosing a pediatrician (More difficult than choosing your mate); Baby names (We have to name her too?); Sleep for the baby and you (Ah, sleep, the long-lost friend); Activities for baby (What do I do with him?). With tried-and-true answers and ideas to help even the most shell-shocked parent, this guide will be the survival handbook for your new exciting life-with baby!

Dr. Leman's ever popular book on birth order is ready for a new generation of readers. With insight and wit, Dr. Leman offers readers a fascinating and often funny look at how birth order affects personality, marriage and relationships, parenting style, career, and children. Whether at home or on the job, birth order powerfully influences the way people interact with others. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about how they react to their world. Dr. Leman even shows readers how to overcome ingrained tendencies they never thought they'd be rid of, all by focusing on their birth order.

Greg and Lisa Popcak—popular Catholic authors, radio hosts, and marriage and family experts—present this unique guide to caring for one’s baby, self, marriage, and spiritual life in the first three years of parenthood. In Then Comes Baby: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Three Years of Parenthood, Greg and Lisa Popcak lend readers the benefit of their twenty-five years’ experience in parenting and marriage and family counseling to help them navigate the earliest years of parenthood. They recommend rituals, routines, and tips on how to manage feeding, fatigue, and finances and how also to prioritize marital bonding and faith life, suggesting that setting the pattern early will pay dividends later. The Popcaks coach Catholic couples as they become first-time parents as they adjust to their new identities and help them face the inevitable challenges of parenthood with ideas for bonding with babies and getting sufficient sleep and nutrition—all while seeing these everyday experiences through the lens of Catholic teaching on the purpose of family life.

Discover the gentle art of Infant Massage... In this completely updated version of her renowned classic, Vimala McClure, founder of the International Association of Infant Massage, and its premier proponent in the United States, helps you master the techniques of infant massage so you can incorporate this joyful and wonderful healing art into your baby's life. She shows you why a daily massage can be one of the greatest gifts you give your child...and yourself. For generations mothers the world over have known that the soft stroke of their hands soothes, calms, and communicates their love to their babies. Now scientific research proves that massage can do all that and more. In Infant Massage, McClure shares how massage benefits children--easing discomfort, releasing tension, helping premature infants gain weight, even helping asthmatic children improve breathing function. She explains each step of the massage process with simple easy-to-follow instructions and delightful photographs demonstrating each stroke. You'll also find: Specific routines tailored to help relieve colic, fever, chest and nasal congestion Modified instructions for premature infants and babies with special needs Helpful hints on dealing with crying and fussing Lullabies, rhymes, and games to enhance the massage experience Guidance for teaching children about "good touch" A special chapter dedicated to fathers Compassionate advice for foster and adoptive parents And much more