Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sue Scheff: Feingold Family Favorites - How Food can Affect Your Child's Behavior


As a parent of an ADHD child, I have always respected the Feingold Program. Although it was not for my family, I know many families it has been very successful for. Again, this is part of all people and families being different and having an open mind to try different alternatives.
Source: Feingold.org

We have collected the best recipes from members, family and friends of the Feingold Association and compiled them into an attractive keepsake cookbook.

The cookbook contains 300 well-loved recipes including appetizers, main dishes, desserts and many others.

All proceeds will go to helping families implement the Feingold Program and generating public awareness of the role of food and synthetic additives in behavior, learning and health problems.
To save you money, we are charging only one shipping/handling fee of $3.50 no matter how many books you buy. So get a head start on Christmas and buy this book for your friends and family members!
To purchase today at a low introductory price, visit http://fgshop.org/cookbook.aspx

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Sue Scheff: Parenting Teens and Drinking


Parents need to take the time to be an educated parent and learn more about teens driving under the influence.
This educational website will offer you parenting tips about how to talk to your teens, (starting the conversation), parent resources and more.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Sue Scheff: Personal Child Stories - Creating Your Child's Unique Memories


Using photos as a proven learning strategy, PCS books will engage each child time and time again. Every book is hand crafted upon order, page by page, laminated and coil bound. Books may be ordered in any language! Personal Child Stories books can be created for children of every learning stage, including children with special needs.
PCS was founded in 2007 and has grown steadily since that time. With a loyal following of friends, educators and community, PCS strives to be a niche market that fills an array of emotional and learning needs for all children – both general ed and special needs. Research tells us that the more exposure to reading materials children have, the earlier they will read and comprehend.
PCS encourages parents to put books in their children’s hands from the start and to offer personal stories and books containing photos of the child – for the most beneficial reading experience possible. Our books are laminated and bound and can be chewed on, stepped on, tossed, etc - with no damage done.

PCS books are hand crafted from start to finish. They are custom written, designed, laminated and coil bound for each unique child.Book themes include counting, the ABC’s, name recognition (top seller), welcoming a new baby to the home, adoption, fairytale style stories, potty training, training a new puppy, dealing with a special need (custom ‘social stories’), colors, shapes, explaining a divorce or new home…ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.
PCS custom books are exactly that: CUSTOM to each customer. As individual and unique as each child. While our books are created as learning tools, their durability allows them to double as keepsakes, giving the customer twice the value for their money.

When you order, you will simply tell us what theme you’d like, send us photos to go along and answer some questions to help us organize your book. We will help you every step of the way and can offer book theme and photo suggestions, too!

These are not your typical personalized children's books! Whether ordering for your own child, a grandchild, niece, nephew, friend's child, godchild, neighbor or even a student or classroom, your book(s) will be one of a kind.

Each child’s personalized, interactive story will be laminated and coil bound and will be theirs to read at home or to share with others: at school, play group, preschool, day care, family gathering, etc....
Visit Personal Child Stories at http://www.personalchildstories.com/index.php and start your child's memories today! Follow them on Twitter at @MommyPerks

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sue Scheff: Single Dad Life


Single Dad Life

About

Being a single dad doesn’t mean your life as a guy is over. Single Dad Life was created for men who believe designing their best life is about being an awesome dad and living their life ‘full out’! Men who for lack of a better term, maintain their “mojo” for life.

Single Dad Life defines a single dad as any dad not living with his children’s mother. He could be divorced, separated, widowed, or remarried.

Through vehicles such as youth sports, personal development, volunteering, and others, we aim to show examples of single dads who are “doing the right thing” in thousands of communities around the world. Imagine the impact we can have. Imagine the difference we can make.

We Call This Living B.I.G. (TM)

Believe… believe in yourself, your kids, your goals, your purpose
Inspire… inspire others, your kids, your family, your team
Give …… give back to your community, be a go-giver

Join us as we grow step by step, looking for other individuals, organizations and groups who share our positive outlook for designing your best life. Learning life lessons that benefit you, your kids, and making a difference along the way.

Visit http://singledadlife.com/ and Follow on Twitter @SingleDadLife

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Sue Scheff: Mind Your Own Business, Kid. Young Entrepeneurs


Here's a TASTE of What To Expect From Our "Mind Your Own Business Kid" Young Entrepreneur Support Programs:
CEO Clubs in your Local Schools, Churches, and Community Centers - Networking, Challenge, Competition, and Support
Online Training - Video/Audio/Camtasia Training
Accountability and Action Checklists
Peer Advisor Consulting and "Hot Seat"
Connection to Networking and Venture Capital
Blueprints for Successful Business Ventures
Success Stories - Other "Kids" (from 5 to 19) Who Have Taken A Business From Idea to Profit!
Online "Sales" Expos
Does your child or teen have a dream - a goal? Encourage them to become all they can be! Visit http://www.kidbiz.org/ today!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Sue Scheff: Wired Safety - Helping You and Your Kids Stay Safe In Cyberspace


Parry Aftab is one of the leading advocates in promoting Internet Safety for our children and all people.
With the popularity of Social Networking on the increase, WiredSafety provides schools, parents, regulators and the media with a wealth of information on keeping Kids and Teens Safe on MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Xanga and other Social Networking Sites.
The following resources are all available for viewing online and/or download as PDF files:
Find out more about other organizations that Parry works with here:
Follow Parry Aftab on Twitter @ParryAftab and @WiredMoms

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sue Scheff: Teens Helping Teens


Cati Cares - Helping Teens Stay Safe Online
Please Help Me STOP CYBER BULLYING and Help Keep Teens Using the Internet SAFE! Cati Cares is dedicated to serving teens in our community by providing a valuable resource for internet safety tips and cyber bullying prevention.
My name is Cati and I am a 16 year old junior at a local high school in San Diego, CA. I want to help make our world a safer place!
I decided to start this site on my 15th birthday as a way to reach out to other teens about how important INTERNET SAFETY is and how we can join together to STOP CYBER BULLYING. TURNING TEARS INTO ACTION.......
Unfortunately, many teens have been the victims of internet crimes and cyber bullying. Take the pledge to not be a bully and to BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE! If you have a problem and don't know where to turn, please CONTACT ME and I will offer some helpful advice and a safe haven to share your story and seek help.
I continue to strive to be better everyday of my life and I live my life to the fullest. Being a teen isn't easy and each teen should be able to face middle school and high school prepared and ready for some of the tough issues they may face.

I want everyone to be able to feel safe on the internet and be confident that they WILL NOT be cyber bullied. Join ME and use my tips to stay safe and to stop the vicious trend of cyber bullying.
Visit Cati's website at https://caticares.com/Home_Page.php and help her to help others!
Follow Cati on Twitter @CatiCares


Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sue Scheff: 1001 Things Every Teen Should Know Before they Leave Home


By Harry H. Harrison
1001 Things Every Teen Should Know Before They Leave Home: (Or Else They'll Come Back)
Adult teens think they're ready to live on their own, but are they?Will they know how to pick a good room mate? Buy a car? Create a budget and actually live on one? From changing the oil to applying for jobs, best-selling author Harry H. Harrison, Jr. has compiled the definitive book for preparing your teen to live on their own. Or else they might come back!
Use the Amazon Box on the sidebar to find it fast and order today!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Sue Scheff: Moms Material - Ideas Moms Want!


MomsMaterial is a website that offers great ideas for moms, from party ideas for your kids - to creative ways of sharing your families memories.
You will find informational articles, books, crafts, gifts, parenting tips and advice and more. If you are looking for new ways to have fun with your kids and family, check out MomsMaterial and get some great ideas! www.momsmaterial.com
Follow MomsMaterial on Twitter @MomsMaterial

Monday, July 20, 2009

Sue Scheff: The BIG BOOK of Parenting Solutions


As a Parent Advocate, I am a huge fan and friend of Michele Borba! I am very excited that her 23rd book will be released in September 2009.
The reviews are in and they are outstanding!


The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries


Publishers Weekly


Borba, author and Today Show regular, employs a cookbooklike approach in her latest volume: rather than read through the entire tome, parents can flip to topics pertinent to their family. Borba opens with a friendly overview, noting that contemporary parents feel more stressed and find their roles increasingly difficult (June Cleaver, she points out, didn’t have to deal with cyberbullying or Facebook). With characteristic wit, Borba identifies the “seven deadly parenting styles,” including helicopter, buddy, incubator, bandage, paranoid, accessory parenting (judging themselves by their kids’ accolades) and secondary parenting (relinquishing power to such outsiders as marketers or the media).

In nine sections on family, behavior, character, emotions, social scene, school, special needs, day-to-day and electronics, the author urges readers to roll up their sleeves and get back to basic, instinctual parenting. As she tackles 101 issues ranging from sibling rivalry, lying and peer pressure to cell-phone use and TV addiction, Borba helps readers identify the reason underlying the behavior or problem, and work with 10 essential principles of change. With her no-nonsense yet compassionate voice, Borba once again delivers an indispensable resource for parents of toddlers to 13-year-olds. (Sept.) Publishers Weekly

The Big Book of Parenting Solutions is available now for advance orders — on online stores or at Amazon.

Follow Michele Borba on Twitter @MicheleBorba

Congrats Michele!

Sue Scheff: Kids Awareness Series


By Kara Tamanini - Author and Therapist
No Quick Fix for Anxiety Sufferers
This is something we hear as therapists all the time, “can you fix me really quick.” Or, “do you have a magic wand to just fix me.” Whether the sufferer of anxiety is a child, an adolescent, or an adult, there is NO “quick fix” for anxiety. The problem that we as therapists often run into, is that patients want to be “fixed”, however they are not patient in the amount of time it takes to start to improve and the other “biggie” is that patients do very little of the prescribed treatment in order to get better.

For parents that have children that suffer with anxiety, a large part of anxiety is fear based as well as personal concerns that the child has. There is really no one “right treatment” that works for every child and as a parent or caregiver you need to be patient with your child. Most parents if they have a child that suffers with anxiety symptoms are often very fearful themselves as well as reacting to their child’s anxiety with anger, fear, frustration, etc…
The best way to help your child to get through their anxiety for the long-term is to first let them work through some of their anxiety themselves. Do not “fix” everything for them. A child first has to recognize their anxiety and try to problem-solve for themselves. If they are unable to do this, then be patient and help them through their anxiety.
A thoughtful; well thought out approach with the assistance of a therapist is a really good place to start. Help your child work through their fears and anxieties, but do not take over out of your own fear and do things for them. There are a few treatments out there that are a “quick fix” such as an anti-anxiety medication, however medications “mask” the symptoms of anxiety and do help, but they will not “fix” the problem.
Learn more about Kids Awareness Series at http://www.kidsawarenessseries.com/ and Follow Kara Tamanini on Twitter at @KidTherapist

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sue Scheff: Boyology - A Teen Girl's Crash Course in All Things Boy


By Keri Smith and Sarah Burningham
A crash course in understanding boys Boyology delves into the many mysteries of teen guys dissecting flirting tactics offering dating suggestions and providing tips on forming solid friendships. It's an up-close-and-personal look at boys in their natural habitats with analyses by teen girls and insight from the boys.
Parenting teens is a challenging in today's society. The more you can learn, the more you can be prepared for your teenagers when they start dating and falling into relationships.
Learn more- type Boyology in the Amazon Box on the side bar and order today.
Follow Sarah Burningham on Twitter @SarahBurningham

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Sue Scheff:12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know: Getting Back to Basics and Raising Happy Kids



Best-selling parenting guru Michele Borba, the mother of three, has surveyed 5,000 mothers for their experience and wisdom in raising happier, more confident kids by returning to a more natural, authentic kind of mothering. She shares 12 top secrets of successful moms culled from her research and shows how to apply them to your family.



You’ll learn how to…

Apply the 12 essential principles that child experts and 5,000 parents say matter most in good mothering
Raise children with confidence, resilience, and character
Create a customized mothering plan and use it so it leads to success with your child
Cut the guilt and reduce the stress by sticking to what really counts in parenting good kids today
Discover simple ways to make big differences in your family’s life

Use the Amazon Box on the sidebar to order today!

Follow Michele Borba on Twitter @MicheleBorba

Friday, July 17, 2009

Sue Scheff: "Boy Interrupted" Bipolar, Depression and Teens


This is the first time I have posted a Documentary Review on my Book and Website Blog, however this movie/documentary is so profound - and has an urgent message to parents. How many of us have "typical teens" and start making excuses for their negative behavior? We watch as they slowly start failing in school, dropping off of sports activities (or being expelled from them), changing friends, not having friends, the list goes on.

"Boy Interrupted" moved me in such a way that I can barely put it into words. Dana and Hart Perry are filmmakers - they are the Director's of this film, but first and foremost - they are Evan Scott Perry's parents. Evan tragically ended his life at 15 years old on October 2, 2005. He struggled with depression and finally was diagnosed with Bipolar.
So, how do these professional filmmakers complete such a film? It is straight up raw emotion - and at the end of the day, it is about helping that next family so they may not have to endure the pain the Perry's went through.

I cannot express how unselfish Dana and Hart Perry are in giving us this opportunity as they share their private lives, including the suicide note which was very compelling as it was typical. The note itself can be a wake up call to all parents of at risk teens. Evan's older brother (Nick) bravely admits that his note is how he (when he was 15 felt) and typically how most teens feel. If Nick only knew - he could have answered all those questions and negative feelings to Evan.

Boy Interrupted interviews the doctors, friends, family members as well as intimate conversations with Dana and Hart. The footage they have is amazing and gives an indepth look at their private lives and allows the viewers to see, hear and "feel" their love and their pain.

This documentary will be airing on HBO on Monday August 3rd (check your local listings) as well as being sold on Amazon. Type the title in the Amazon Box on the side bar. Don't miss it!
Remember, don't be a parent in denial - be an educated parent and proactive!
Read my Blog from earlier this week prior watching this film - click here.

Sue Scheff: How To Raise Your Parents


A Teen Girl's Survival Guide
Being a teen (or the parent of a teen) doesn't have to be so hard. How to Raise Your Parents will help teens and their parents navigate those years between training bras and keys to the family car. In a voice teens will relate to and parents will appreciate, author Sarah O'Leary Burningham offers smart advice about negotiation and parental hot buttons and a little insight about what the world looks like from a parent's point of view.
Buy the book today on Amazon - type the book title or author's name in the Amazon Box on the sidebar.
Learn more about Sarah Burningham at http://sarahburningham.com/ - and check out her new Advice Column for ABC.
Follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahburningham

Sue Scheff: Horse Sense for Children with ADHD/Autism


Check out her newly updated website! It radiates excellence as she continues helping ADD/ADHD and Autistic Children through her equine therapy.
Founded and run by 15-year-old Danielle Herb, Drop Your Reins is a collaborative experiential training school based in Live Oak, FL. The flagship program offered by Drop Your Reins is called ‘The Experience’, which is a dynamic and progressive program that breaks down the social segmentation that exists among humans, animals and science. The holistic and progressive program infuses direct interaction with horses, supplemental training videos, experiential coaching techniques and community collaboration to help guide the powerful minds of ADD/ADHD and Autistic children to reach their greatest potential while maintaining their innocence and purity.


Whether your art is in your pen, your keyboard or your heart the only way to nurture and foster your innate creative being is to embrace and explore it. Adults often get immersed in their ‘daily routine’ and they lose sight of this ’special creative place’ that they once thrived and roamed wild and free in as a child. However, they often seek out this place as they continue to age and mature. Adults have choices, outlets and tools that they can use to rediscover this place and align themselves with others that celebrate their differences.

For children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and Autism their journey is much the same, however, it exists on the opposite end of the spectrum. They are constantly immersed in their ‘creative being’ so they are in search of a serene place to escape where they can find peacefulness and tranquility. Yet, the more they seek out this place, the more the world labels them and puts them under a spotlight. Children have no choices, few outlets and lack the tools or self-sufficiency to empower themselves on this journey. While they have differences, few people identify with them and those differences are certainly not celebrated.

Read more and contact Danielle at http://www.dropyourreins.com/

Follow Danielle on Twitter @DanielleHerb

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Sue Scheff: Nobody Likes Me, Everyone Hates Me


The Top 25 Friendship Problems and How to Solve Them

Do you wish your kid had more friends or could keep the ones she has?
Is teasing, gossiping, bullying, or cyber-bullying a problem?
Is she often left out or rejected by other kids?
Does he just follow the crowd? Are you concerned about his friends?
Does she complain that she’s unpopular or that nobody likes her?
Are you at a loss for how to help your child handle those play dates, sleepovers, being shy, too sensitive, too competitive, or having a bad reputation?

Look no further. The resource you need to solve these problems and boost your child’s social competence is in your hands Based on a survey of five thousand teachers and parents, Nobody Likes Me shows how to teach your child the 25 most essential friendship-building skills kids need to find, make, and keep friends, as well as survive that social pressure from peers.
Learn more - type the book title in the Amazon Box and order today!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Sue Scheff: The Parents Guide to Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace


Just about everyone agrees that certain places in cyberspace are inappropriate for children. What people don't agree on is how to keep kids from wandering into areas where they don't belong. From the ACLU to Congress, local PTAs and national teacher's organizations, the issue is devise and polarizing.
Given recent events such as what happened in Littleton, Colorado, it is also becoming clear that there's more to protecting children in cyberspace than just blocking pornographic sites with filtering programs. How can parents, teachers and librarians navigate this confusing issue without overstepping legal boundaries while at the same time protecting kids from the dangers--both hidden and obvious--that abound on the Net? Internationally respected attorney and cyber-expert Parry Aftab offers a sensible, clear-cut guide to protecting children from the dark side of the Web.
Based upon her self-published book A Parent's Guide to the Internet and How to Protect Your Children in Cyberspace, Aftab details the threats that lurk throughout the world wide web, from spam and chatrooms, to cyber porn and cyber stalkers, to sites that promote violence fantasy role-playing and hatred. She then goes on to detail what steps parents and teachers can and should take to keep children from accessing certain sites.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Sue Scheff: Too Stressed to Think? A Teen Guide to Staying Sane When Life Makes you CRAZY!


I have read Annie Fox's Middle School Confidential book series for tweens, kids and teens and they offer real life characters that your child can relate to. The illustrations are fantastic!
When stress has the “survival brain” on overdrive, what happens to the “thinking brain”? How can teens learn to use the mind-body connection to stay cool and make smart choices when the pressure’s on?

This book is packed with practical information and stress-lessening tools teens can use every day. Dozens of realistic scenarios describe stressful situations teen readers can relate to. Each scenario is followed by a clear, understandable process for reducing or stopping the stress and making decisions that won’t leave a teen lamenting, “What was I thinking?”
Throughout, quotes from real teens remind readers that they’re not alone—that stress affects everyone, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Includes resources.
Check it out today on Amazon (use Amazon Box on the Sidebar) or Annie Fox's website!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Sue Scheff: A Relentless Hope - Surviving The Storm of Teen Depression


By Gary Nelson
After reading this book, I highly recommend it to anyone that has a tween-teen that you suspect is suffering with depression. Gary Nelson painfully describes his journey with his own son, as well as offering insights about Teenage Depression.
Visit http://www.survivingteendepression.com/ for more information.
His YouTube video on Teens Surviving Teen Depression has been both inspirational and encouraging to thousands! Take 10 minutes and learn more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1hSpxC_G24

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sue Scheff: Building Moral Intelligence by Michele Borba Ed.D.


The Seven Essential Virtues that Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing
Television, games, the Internet, peers and other forces shape children's morality, but consultant and educator Borba (Parents Do Make a Difference) argues that it is parents who provide the most enduring modeling and instruction. Kids, she asserts, should be fortified against the onslaught of increasingly negative cultural influences violent video games, nasty music lyrics by parental involvement and guidance.
Designed as a guide for parents and caregivers of children from three to 15 years old, the book describes an epidemic deficiency in the moral development of American kids and outlines seven virtues (Empathy, Conscience, Self-Control, Respect, Kindness, Tolerance and Fairness) to be engendered in children. Devoting an identically designed chapter to each virtue, she defines the virtue in accessible and secular language. She then provides a test for parents to assess their children and offers practical actions parents can take on a daily basis.
Throughout, her tone is pragmatic and optimistic. She advises parents to make sure they are providing a moral example that they would want their children to follow in other words, watch their own behavior. She advises parents to be direct about their own moral beliefs and encourage specific virtuous behaviors. Borba concludes the book with a helpful resource list.
A packed storehouse, this helpful, informative and hopeful book will be dog-eared over years of consultation.
Type the book title in the Amazon Box on the side and find it quickly! And don't miss Michele Borba's upcoming book, The BIG Book of Parenting Solutions.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Sue Scheff: Kids Are Heroes


As my Book and Website Blogs keeps growing, I really enjoy bringing new sites I am finding with great Children and Parent Advocates helping all of us through educational articles, parenting tips, advice and inspiration!
Check out this engaging and encouraging website targeted at helping your kids grow in a positive direction!
Kids are indeed heroes and each one has the power to change the world. This website is dedicated to them. Are you a kid looking for ideas on how you can make a difference? Are you a parent looking for ways to inspire your children?
If either of those descriptions fits you then you've come to the right place!
To see how kids are making a huge difference, click on "Lily's Heroes".
If you think your child should be featured here click on "Nominate a Kid".

Check out the other menu items above - let us know how we can help YOU become a hero!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Sue Scheff: ParentShack


Parent Shack Family Websites
Create free online birth announcements and free family websites
Safely and easily share family photos, videos, stories and memories with your friends and family all over the world.
What a great way to stay connected and build your personal family tree!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Sue Scheff: Summer Learning



National Center for Summer Learning

What's the problem we're trying to solve?

During the summer months, young people living in poverty often don’t have access to essential resources that support their academic and developmental progress. As a result, they experience well-documented setbacks in academic performance which contribute to growth in the achievement gap. They also face nutritional setbacks which contribute to the problem of childhood obesity.

Our vision and mission.

The vision of the National Center for Summer Learning is for every young person to experience enriching, memorable summers. To realize that vision, our mission is to ensure that children and youth in high-poverty communities have access to quality summer learning programs.

What we do.

Based at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, the Center engages in research, develops policy, and delivers professional development designed to achieve the following results:

Increase the number of providers offering high-quality summer learning programs to young people living in poverty;
Increase the number of organizations and policymakers that identify summer learning as a public policy priority; and
Increase funding for high-quality summer learning programs for young people who currently lack choices and opportunities

Through its nation-wide network of providers and partners, the Center is focusing national attention on how high-quality summer learning programs help close the achievement gap, lead to higher graduation rates, and promote healthy development.

Sue Scheff: Don't Give Me That Attitude



By Michele Borba

Does your kid never take no for an answer and demand things go his way?

Do her theatrics leave you drained at the end of the day?
Are you resorting to bribes and threats to get your kid to do chores?

Does he cheat, complain, or blame others for his problems?

Do you feel you’re running a hotel instead of a home?

Are you starting to feel like your child’s personal ATM machine?

What happened? You thought you were doing the best for your child and didn’t set out to raise a selfish, insensitive, spoiled kid. In one of her great parenting books, Don’t Give Me That Attitude! parenting expert Michele Borba offers you an effective, practical, and hands-on approach to help you work with your child to fix that very annoying but widespread youthful characteristic, attitude. If you have a child who is arrogant, bad-mannered, bad-tempered, a cheat, cruel, demanding, domineering, fresh, greedy, impatient, insensitive, irresponsible, jealous, judgmental, lazy, manipulative, narrow-minded, noncompliant, pessimistic, a poor loser, selfish, uncooperative, ungrateful, or unhelpful, this is the book for you!

Learn more and order today from Amazon! Type the title in the Amazon box on the sidebar.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Sue Scheff: The Daddy Shift


By Jeremy Adam Smith

A revealing look at stay-at-home fatherhood—for men, their families, and for American society.

It’s a growing phenomenon among American families: fathers who cut back on paid work to focus on raising children. But what happens when dads stay home? What do stay-at-home fathers struggle with—and what do they rejoice in? How does taking up the mother’s traditional role affect a father’s relationship with his partner, children, and extended family? And what does stay-at-home fatherhood mean for the larger society?

In chapters that alternate between large-scale analysis and intimate portraits of men and their families, journalist Jeremy Adam Smith traces the complications, myths, psychology, sociology, and history of a new set of social relationships with far-reaching implications. As the American economy faces its greatest crisis since the Great Depression, Smith reveals that many mothers today have the ability to support families and fathers are no longer narrowly defined by their ability to make money—they have the capacity to be caregivers as well.

The result, Smith argues, is a startling evolutionary advance in the American family, one that will help families better survive the twenty-first century. As Smith explains, stay-at-home dads represent a logical culmination of fifty years of family change, from a time when the idea of men caring for children was literally inconceivable, to a new era when at-home dads are a small but growing part of the landscape. Their numbers and cultural importance will continue to rise—and Smith argues that they must rise, as the unstable, global, creative, technological economy makes flexible gender roles both more possible and more desirable.

But the stories of real people form the heart of this book: couples from every part of the country and every walk of life. They range from working class to affluent, and they are black, white, Asian, and Latino. We meet Chien, who came to Kansas City as a refugee from the Vietnam War and today takes care of a growing family; Kent, a midwestern dad who nursed his son through life-threatening disabilities (and Kent’s wife, Misun, who has never doubted for a moment that breadwinning is the best thing she can do for her family); Ta-Nehisi, a writer in Harlem who sees involved fatherhood as "the ultimate service to black people"; Michael, a gay stay-at-home dad in Oakland who enjoys a profoundly loving and egalitarian partnership with his husband; and many others. Through their stories, we discover that as America has evolved and diversified, so has fatherhood.
Learn more and order today - type the book title in the Amazon Box on the sidebar.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Sue Scheff: Family School Your Go-To Guide for School Success


Another great parenting website, School Family - your go-to-guide for school success offers a tremendous amount of educational articles, parenting tips, information to help you guide your way through your child’s school years. Here is one of their recent articles on helping your teen manage their time and money this summer.

Help Your Teen Budget Time, Money This Summer

For many teens, the summer paycheck is the first “real” money they’ve ever had. And some have a tendency to spend every cent they make on clothes, CDs, and entertainment.

You can teach your teen a valuable lesson by insisting that he make a budget for his money. Included in the budget should be a regular savings plan—both for things he’d like to buy in the near future (for example, a personal digital media player) and for college or other education after high school.

If he doesn’t have a summer job, perhaps you can find ways to help him earn some money this summer. He could offer to baby-sit, for example, or do chores for an older neighbor who can’t manage by herself.

While you’re at it, have your teen make a time budget, too. It’s normal for teens to lounge around. But when they spend day after day in front of the TV, they’ll be bored at best, and possibly even depressed. Besides, kids tend to get into trouble if they have too much time on their hands.

Teens respond well to choices. If your teen seems to show no interest in getting off the couch, give her a choice of things she might do: organize the family photo albums, take neighborhood kids to the pool in the afternoon, volunteer at an animal shelter. When you give teens projects to do, you not only help them manage their time—you keep them interested in life.

Copyright ©2009 Parent Institute

Monday, July 6, 2009

Sue Scheff: You're Empowered! Parenting Teens with Conviction Communication & Love


So cool - I just received this CD collection and can't wait to listen to it! The workbook and main book have an enormous amount of great parenting information.


The Secret to Raising Teens is Communication!

In this three-hour audio program we'll tackle the big issues you face in parenting your teens. Using a communications framework, we'll give you the tools you need to be an empowered parent and enhance your relationship with your ever-changing child.

■ This CD set or downloadable program allows you to listen at home or on the go.
■28-page Companion Workbook guides you as you consider your own issues and ideas, and makes it easy to review what you learn.
YOU WILL DISCOVER:

■what's behind teens' behavior - why do they act the way they do?
■the three most common communication mistakes parents make and how to avoid them;
■the key to improving communication with your teen;
■three communication strategies you can put into effect today;
■the personality types and influences that make a difference in teens' involvement with alcohol and drugs;
■what you can do to keep your teen from getting involved with risky behavior.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Sue Scheff: TEEN HELP - Parents at their Wit's End!


Wit's End - Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out-of-Control Teen
A Mother and Daughter's True Story
By Sue Scheff
Compelling foreword by Dr. David Lustig (as seen on Oprah), author of Parent Survival Training.
It is July - teens are out of school and you may be a parent struggling with a teen that is controlling your household, sneaking out, defiant, disrespectful and more. All these negative activities and behavior may stem from peer pressure or feelings of low self worth. Many of these teens are highly intelligent, as a matter of fact, it is usually that very smart child that is capable of manipulation - or our "angel" child that you wonder where he/she went? That was my story.
If you are going through some hard times with your teenager, don't be a parent in denial, reach out for help, especially if you are looking for residential therapy. Learn from my mistakes, gain from my knowledge.
Order Wit's End today (from the same publisher that brough you Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sue Scheff: Parents Do Make a Difference: How to Raise Kids with Solid Character, Strong Minds, and Caring Hearts


Amazon Review:
Once you open the book, though, it's just as clear that, marketing aside, the book was not actually written as part of the parents vs. peers debate, which it has absolutely nothing to do with. Nor is it a scholarly work, in the vein of Harris's book.
The original title of this book was probably something like "The Eight Skills of Raising Successful Children." These simple skills, which Borba (author of 36 other educational publications) has researched and workshopped across the country, then implemented in the curriculum of three elementary schools, are commonsensical, feel-good affirmations for parents and kids. Borba uses lots of lists: the aforementioned eight skills, "four steps to developing positive self-beliefs," "four steps to enhancing social competence," and so on.
The "success tips" and affirmations are pretty straightforward, as with this suggested "pillowgram": "Slip a message under your child's pillow. 'Kevin, I loved looking at your drawings today. You are so artistic! Sleep tight! Love, Dad.'" These are fine, basic self-esteem builders; unfortunately, they can sometimes veer too much on the cloying side. But for parents who want to help their children develop the eight skills (self-confidence, communication, getting along, perseverance, self-awareness, problem solving, goal setting, and caring), it should be of significant help.
Read more about Michele Borba at www.micheleborba.com and follow her on Twitter @MicheleBorba - a wealth of parenting information!