Parents these days are under a great deal of pressure to be "perfect." From psychologists to social scientists, journalists to weekend bloggers, everyone has an opinion about the do's and don'ts for raising healthy, well-adjusted--and let's not forget, polite--children in today's fast-paced world. Where does this leave parents? Too often, lacking in confidence, ill equipped, and overwhelmed. Parenting expert Vicki Hoefle makes the bold claim that it's time for parents to get off the perfection path and get back to the real job of parenting: to grow a grown-up. In this no-nonsense parenting guide, Hoefle draws upon twenty-five years of experience with helping parents see the big picture and sidestep what she calls the "detail drama" that too often trumps everyday life with our kids. Parents learn more than just strategies; they learn a methodology that allows them to help their toddlers build a strong foundation for success in adulthood. In her trademark, tell-it-like-it-is style, Hoefle tells parents to trust their intuition and develop an intentional strategy for meeting each child's unique needs. Above all, The Straight Talk on Parenting offers the confidence-boosting reminder that parenting is about practice (and a healthy dose of humor), not perfection.

Today's parents are increasingly concerned about the reading and spelling skills taught in schools and are taking charge of their children's education. Full of ideas and suggestions--from innovative preschool exercises to techniques that older children can use to increase reading speed and comprehension--Straight Talk About Reading will instantly help any parent lay a solid foundation for their child's formative educational years.

Best-selling recovery author Claudia Black introduces readers to five different families and reveals how each of the parents talked with their kids about recovery, relapse, and the child's own vulnerability to addiction. Alcohol use, drug use, and addiction are challenging topics for parents to discuss with children. These subjects are even more complex, and more urgent, for recovering parents to discuss with their children. Best-selling recovery author Claudia Black introduces readers to five different families and reveals how each of the parents talked with their kids about recovery, relapse, and the childs own vulnerability to addiction. Discussion tips and clearly presented facts help parents focus on key issues. Age-appropriate strategies help reduce childrens experimentation with alcohol and other drugs.

Parents reach for dog-eared copies of Dr. Spock when their child has a rash or the flu, but when "moodiness" lingers or worrisome behavior problems grow, they have nowhere to turn for answers or reassurance. Now, in this compassionate resource, prominent Harvard researcher Dr. Stephen V. Faraone gives parents the tools they need to look clearly at how a child is feeling, thinking, and behaving and make wise decisions about when to call for professional help. Cues and questions teach readers to become scientific observers of their child, and vital facts about common disorders help them distinguish between normal variations in speech development and Asperger syndrome, between moodiness that's just a phase and depression, between childhood fears and the symptoms of anxiety. Knowing what to ask--and tell--the professionals, from the pediatrician to a mental health specialist, will help parents ensure a complete and accurate diagnosis. Filled with handy sidebars, charts, and checklists, the book also teaches parents to weigh treatment options to determine what's best for their child. Winner--American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award

"When a child is struggling with an emotional or behavioral problem, parents face many difficult decisions. Is medication the right choice? What about side effects? How long will medication be needed? In this authoritative guide, leading child psychiatrists Drs. Timothy Wilens and Paul Hammerness explain the nuts and bolts of psychiatric medications--from how they work and potential risks to their impact on a child's emotions, school performance, personality, and health. Extensively revised to include the latest information about medications and their uses, the fourth edition is even more accessible, and includes pullouts, bulleted lists, and "take home points" highlighting critical facts. In addition to parents, this is an ideal reference for teachers and other school professionals"--

Any woman in the midst of it will tell you that pregnancy is, above all, a bodily function—from sore breasts to exhaustion to a wildly strong sense of smell. But the body is not the only storyline. Starting a family can be a downright magical time—the growth can be a welcome sign of a positive identity shift. It can feel exciting, exhilarating, and oftentimes, suspenseful. In 12 essays, Parenting Uncensored covers this whole gamut of changes, some pleasant and exciting, others surprising and uncomfortable. Lyz Lenz grapples with the shifting landscape in "Pregnancy Boobs": "I was warned that my boobs would get bigger. But I wasn't warned about the lifestyle change. About how everything from the way I slept at night, sat in a chair and walked across a parking lot would change." Blogger Liz Gumbinner writes about gaining perspective when she comes down with a potentially hazardous case of toxoplasmosis. In her post, "Obesity, Pregnancy, and The New York Times" Cecily Kellogg writes about weight discrimination and how her ideas about her own body changed during pregnancy. Hopefully, you'll be able to identify with at least one, maybe more, of these stories, and be inspired to join the conversation. The Babble community chose some of these essays as the most compelling and helpful examination of the topic.

This new and expanded second edition is written for people who stutter and for those who interact with people who stutter, including caregivers, teachers, and speech-language pathologists. The text is presented in two parts. The first part includes basic information about the disorder and addresses common questions that people have about stuttering: What is stuttering? What causes it? How does it develop? Can it be prevented? This section also includes a new chapter entitled Living with Stuttering. The second part of the book discusses effective therapy approaches used with both children and adults who stutter. This part includes another new chapter, Evaluating People Who Stutter. The text is written in a very reader-friendly and practical manner. It represents a reasonably thorough review of what is known about stuttering and offers bottom-line conclusions rather than theoretical speculations and research findings that arrived at these conclusions. While the text includes the technical language used by speech-language pathologists in reference to stuttering, great care has been taken to explain each term. In addition, the book includes a helpful glossary. This unique and exceptional book is written by a clinician who stutters and who is passionate about helping others learn about stuttering. He addresses the reader, not as a guru of truth, but as a person who has gained some understanding about stuttering through both his professional and personal experiences with the disorder.

Best-selling author Claudia Black, PhD introduces readers to five different families facing addiction and demonstrates how recovering parents talked with their kids about substance use disorders. Talking with your kids about alcohol use, drug use, and addiction can be difficult for any parent. For recovering parents, conversations with your children about substance use disorders are even more complex, urgent, and personal. In this revised and updated edition, foremost recovery author Claudia Black provides clear direction and gentle support for discussing your addiction with your children. In Straight Talk from Claudia Black, you will meet five very different families and explore with Dr. Black how each of the parents handled discussions about recovery, relapse, and their children’s own vulnerability to chronic, compulsive behaviors. Dr. Black also addresses the latest research on genetics and addiction as well as practical prevention strategies for raising resilient children. While you can’t make up for the past in a few conversations, and you can’t completely protect your children from the ominous scope of addiction, you can, with Dr. Black’s intelligent and sensitive guidance, move closer to becoming the parent your children deserve—and the parent you most want to be.

When looking ahead to college, high school students often don’t consider the here and now. Meanwhile, parents might plan for tuition, but even they don’t know much about preparing their child for higher education in an every day sort of way. Straight Talk for College-Bound Students and Their Parents is a “pocket guide” that focuses on creating a successful college experience. Starting in high school, students can improve their odds by enrolling in certain courses that help prepare for two- or four-year colleges. Learn tips on academic advisors, the college catalogue, FERPA, and more, all in an effort to help students move smoothly from semester to semester toward graduation. Author and educator Saundra Richardson Mckay speaks directly to all college-bound students and their parents. She teaches how to take an active role in preparation and persistence in higher education, and she makes concrete suggestions to help break down the walls that hold young students back.

Parenting a daughter with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is no easy path--especially because of the myth that the disorder is rare to nonexistent in girls. From pioneering researcher Stephen P. Hinshaw, this empowering guide provides vital information and advice to help you understand and meet your daughter's needs. Dr. Hinshaw delivers up-to-date facts on what ADHD is, why symptoms often appear differently in girls than in boys, why girls with ADHD behave the way they do, how to get an accurate diagnosis, and what treatments are most effective. There is so much pressure on girls to be "perfect"--and for those with ADHD, it feels especially hard to measure up. Learn concrete steps you can take to support your daughter's success from preschool through high school and beyond, while nurturing her confidence and self-worth.