The Working Mom’s 411 provides parents with the options, tools and solutions that will enable them to make educated and informed choices for their family and successfully navigate the waters of the two parent working household. It’s an all in one resource that will rescue moms trying to put together the how to do it all puzzle. With informed insight, a healthy sense of humor, and a fresh, expert perspective, Michelle LaRowe shares time saving tips and practical solutions to the common complications working mothers face! Here are at your fingertips current childcare options, including an assessment tool for moms to evaluate which option best suits their needs; solutions to everyday problems working parents face from scheduling to overcoming the stigma often associated with moms who work outside the home; and practical tips on managing childcare, school activities, self care, home life and marriage.

What do moms thirst for even more than coffee? Moms want to know they matter, that they make a difference. They want to know they are not alone in their parenting experience and that their lives have purpose. They want to see their children prosper. They want a full cup. Celeste Palermo gives moms more than a jolt of caffeine with these humorous, yet poignant, brief devotions easily read while on the run. Moms juggling cups of coffee will relate to her coffee related stories and insights on such basic needs as affirmation, purpose, good health and eternal life. “Coffee Talk,” “Common Grounds” and “A Perfect Cup” sections provide quotes, Scripture references and interviews with coffee-drinking moms offering insight and inspiration. “Soul Sip Solutions” offer questions to encourage reflection and response. After reading The Coffee Mom’s Devotional, moms will be reminded that caffeine can never sustain us, only Jesus can.

The Christian community tends to operate under the assumption that the only women attending church are traditional stay-at-home moms. But in truth, more than 75% of mothers with school-age children work outside the home. Chasing Superwoman gives these working mothers what they’ve been craving—a funny, intelligent, relevant exploration of what it means to live out a vibrant faith amidst the many demands placed on their time and energy. Chasing Superwoman provides a much needed dialogue (not a formula) about the complex spiritual struggle of the working mother, plus a lot of laughter and encouragement for working women to embrace their busy life and trust God’s grace for getting it all done.

Grocery lists. Checklists. To-do lists. Lots of people love--and live by--lists. And parents are no exception. Today's families are busier than ever, and moms don't have the time or energy to search and scramble for the parenting information they are desperately seeking: How much should my child be sleeping at this age? What toys will most benefit my child? What items are truly essential in furnishing a nursery? What questions should I ask a potential caregiver? What are the signs of a family-friendly restaurant? The answers to these questions and more than a hundred others are at a mom's fingertips with A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists. This handy, practical reference guide will save time, money, and sanity for today's busy women.

Being a ‘devoted mother’ is not easy. It is more than a full-time job. A full-time job lasts only for 8 or 9 hours whereas a mother’s job lasts 24 hours, 7 days a week. There are no holidays or leaves. But of late, this most important job is becoming the least valued job. In a new book, The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued, author Ann Crittenden looks at how a lack of social support for modern moms forces them to make bitter choices Crittenden’s research shows that despite the overall advancement of women, mothers’ work remains unappreciated in an economic sense, even though moms are cultivating “human capital.” Raising productive citizens directly contributes to the overall health of the economy and wealth of the society. But in our modern culture, “mothering” is substantially, but not uniquely, a woman’s role.

If you're waiting to live abundantly until the house is tidy, your kids are clean and well behaved, and you have plenty of free time to pursue a glamorous hobby, you may be waiting awhile. However, you don't have to wait for things to settle down to live the good life, because motherhood--with all its chaos--is the abundance God promised In Chaotic Joy, you will discover how to experience abundant life in the midst of the madness and mess. Find out what's keeping you from the joy and satisfaction you dreamed being a mom would bring, and learn how to recognize God's hand of blessing even through countless diaper changes, toddler meltdowns, and thousands of important tasks that clamor for your attention. Motherhood can be chaotic, for sure. But it's meant to be so much more.

We celebrate, talk about, and worry a great deal about transitions in life. Going to college, having a first child, losing a job, and retiring constitute just a few of the pivotal moments in the lives of many. Sociologists and psychologists have devoted considerable attention to life transitions. Yet we know very little about whether there exists a common thread to our understandings of life transitions in general. How do journalists, leading politicians, sport icons, bestselling authors, government agencies, Hallmark cards, popular TV shows, and other “voices” of popular culture talk about transitions in life? Do these voices provide a coherent picture of how we make sense of life transitions? In this book, Francesco Duina shows how the dominant American discourse articulates two basic approaches to transitions in life. The first approach depicts transitions as exciting, individualistic opportunities for new beginnings: the past is cast aside, the future is wide open, and the self has the opportunity to recreate itself anew. The second paints transitions as having to do with continuity, our connections to others, and the life-cycle, with an emphasis on acceptance and adaptation. Though contrasting, the two approaches ultimately complement each other. Their analysis reveals a great deal about American culture and society, and will be of great interest to students of the life course and the sociology of culture.

In a world full of negativity, a psychologist reveals how to send your kids healthy, positive messages—both verbally and nonverbally. As a parent, you constantly send your children messages with your words, attitudes, and actions, creating their earliest ideas about themselves, others, and the world around them. This guide describes the vital opportunity you have to shape your children—even when they may not appear to be listening—and shows how you can instill healthy beliefs that will strengthen them against peer pressure, manipulative media, and other negative influences. Your Children Are Listening offers: Nine essential messages all children need to hear—on love, competence, security, compassion, gratitude, nature, respect, responsibility, and emotion Why these messages are so important The different “conduits” through which children receive your messages “Message blockers” that can prevent them from getting through Fun catchphrases and activities you can use to send these messages every day

Becky Johnson and her daughter Rachel Randolph come from a long line of laughter. The female side of her family tree is dotted with funny storytellers, prolific authors, hospitable home cooks, and champion chatters. In We Love, We Laugh, We Cook, Becky—a butter and bacon loving mama—and Rachel—a vegan bean eating daughter—share stories of their crazy, wonderful, and sometimes challenging lives as Rachel becomes a mother herself. Becky is messy; Rachel craves order. Becky forgets what month it is; Rachel is an organizational genius. (At least before baby arrives.) Sprinkled throughout are the lip-smacking, nourishing recipes they love to make and share. From food for a family reunion of thirty, to lunch for a party of one in a high chair, to a hot meal for a sick friend, the authors demonstrate grace, acceptance, and love to others through the bonding gifts of humor, attentive listening, and cooking ... whether diners prefer beef or tofu in their stew.

From your baby's perspective, choosing the right nanny is probably the most important decision a parent can ever make: this book is about making the best possible choice. Coming home to an abused, badly injured, or even deceased child is a parent's most horrific, unimaginable scenario. And yet it happens: In 2012, two small children died while in the care of a nanny. The Nanny Time Bomb is the most accurate and comprehensive analysis of the current crisis in child care, offering case studies and practical advice to help parents make the most educated, well-informed decision when choosing a nanny for their child. The book takes the reader through various types of nannies—from graduates to undocumented workers—thus allowing parents to see how the industry has evolved far past schoolgirl babysitters. Setting itself apart, Jacalyn S. Burke's exploration of the different types of nannies offers a new perspective on child care not only for parents but also for those interested in larger sociological trends. This book gives a voice to the often-unheard grievances of nannies, showing why they may snap; explaining how to prevent tragedies; and describing how parenting has evolved. The author's examination of current cultural and social trends will be useful for a wide readership beyond parents.