5 comments about Nonverbal Learning Disabilities at Home: A Parent's Guide.

1. First, you don't need your highlighter for this book! At the end of each chapter, the author does it for you. I found this book informative and helpful.
   My favorite chapter was Chapter 7: Managing the Environment, it gives an overview of how hard and confusing life can be for a child with NLD. Great to read again & again if you find you are losing patience with your NLD child. I also often copy the first 6 pages of this chapter and give it to those that work with my child; in the hopes they will have the necessary empathy in working with my child.



2. I must say that my feelings about this book are mixed. I agree that it has some incredibly helpful practical advice. However, this book has such a pessimistic view of NLD children. The social skills section was great in terms of the advice, but it seems to imply that there is no chance that A NLD child will escape her school years without being a loner, a victim, and an unhappy child.
   
   As a background, my 6 1/2 year old daughter has been receiving intervention since she was 3 1/2 (OT, speech, etc.). She doesn't have an official diagnosis of NLD, however, she has most of the characteristics. Her IQ testing revealed a 25 point difference between her verbal and non-verbal skills. The psychologist wasn't ready to give her a NLD diagnosis because her non-verbal test results were still in the high average range (but significantly lower than her verbal skills which are in the very superior range).
   
   I am sure that she uses her high verbal skills to compensate for her difficulty with non-verbal skills.
   However, I still find that the early intervention has made a tremendous difference in her life. Yes, I did worry about her social skills alot when she was younger. But, now in the middle of first grade, she is well liked by her peers and has several best friends with whom she is able to play easily and happily for long stretches without any intervention.
   
   We feel that it has helped tremendously to do alot of one on one playdates. And, the OT and speech that she has received for the past three years has improved her body awareness, fine motor skills, and pragmatic speech skills.
   
   Is she perfect, no! We still struggle with her self-help and organizational skills, and she still misses some non-verbal cues in social situations. But, we feel that her outlook is MUCH more positive than presented in the book.
   
   While it is obviously geared towards children with severe NLD symptoms, I still feel that it could have used a more positive and sensitive approach. If I had read this book several years ago - when she was struggling more - I would have been devastated - as it implies that there is little room for growth.
   
   And, three years later, our child is a happy, loving (okay disorganized!!) child. We don't doubt that there will always be new hurdles to mount, but we are confident that she will surmount any obstacles in her path.
   
   Good luck!



3. Recently our teenager was diagnosed with NLD. This book was recommended to us by a psychologist. We found the book to be extremely helpful in explaining NLD (in plain English) and helping us understand how to deal with the NLD child. The book addresses the needs of parents with either young or adolencent children with NLD. I highly recommend this book as a starting point for parents and educators in learning about NLD.



4. I find this title's subject refreshing but its approach problematic.
   
   The book doesn't address the overall issues and problems with disabled children. You need to FIRST get a handle, an overview, of how you and your disabled child will fit into the modern world. This book is too myopic, too focused, and although that's its intent, without a context to use it in, you will not succeed as much as you otherwise would.
   
   FIRST, get the Big Picture. Learn how society will SEEK TO HARM YOUR CHILD so you can take immediate action to protect your precious one. That means get an understanding of the true disabilities picture from a book such as Disabling America: The Unintended Consequences of the Government's Protection of the Handicapped and THEN you'll have a context in which to raise your child in a healthy environment.
   
   Teachers, consultants, ADA advocates, and lawyers all want their paws on your little one. Don't let them do that! Love and protect and guard your precious ones and learn the dangers of today's almost-draconian approach to children with disabilities.
   
   I know, I know, it sounds HARSH. It is! But only once you know what your little one will face in society, not from peers but from those who seek to profit from her or him, only then can you have the proper framework to raise your little one with the best chance at success possible.



5. This book has provided me with very needed insight into the issues my son has been experiencing and can't express. It explained alot of what we have been going through for years. What we thought was an attitude & disciplinary issue has actually been a learning disability.
   
   My son was diagnosed in August '07 with high functioning Asperger's & NLD. He is 11 years old. I have had so much difficulty finding support & knowledge. This book was a good start!

3 comments about The Sensory Processing Disorder Answer Book: Practical Answers to the Top 250 Questions Parents Ask (Answer Book).

1. I have always lived with hydrocephalus and have grown up with SPD. Age has helped tremendously, but there are still some sensory "quirks" I have to deal with. They are nothing like those my son, who is autistic, has to deal with, but they're there. This book makes perfect sense of them! It gives a good lay-friendly explanation but also includes the technical terms that help me understand my own issues (and explain them to others) as well as my son's, and it gives some great ideas on how to deal with them.
   
   If I could, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars, only because it goes into some conditions that make SPD a problem, but there is no mention of hydrocephalus (which is much more common than even doctors think), or even more commonly-known conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Many of those mentioned are more mental conditions (i.e. affecting the mind), rather than the brain. Minus that tiny oversight, I'd recommend it to anyone who loves or cares for anyone who has SPD.



2. I'm an occupational therapist who works in a clinic and school setting.I just finished reading SPD answer book and it provided the specific information I've been looking for! It's a perfect resource for parents and for adults living with SPD. The book's written in a question answer format, so you can easily get your questions answered immediately. The author does an amazing job of breaking down the science of this disorder while explaining it in practical terms. It's like a mini encyclopedia on SPD, describing the physiology, everyday functional strategies to handle sensory overloading situations, therapeutic activities, and a list of concise resources in the back.



3. I have been teaching almost 12 years and I WISH I had read this book when I was student teaching. What a FANTASTIC resource! Having read this book explains so, so very much. I found it particularly helpful in allowing me to see how some children w/ ADHD may be misdiagnosed when in fact they have SPD. In general, I found it so very easy to read b/c of it's Question and Answer format and the simple layout of the book makes it easy to use as a desk-reference. The author's way of presenting the information is in understandable terms, not medical or psycho-babble! I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who works with children and especially to parents who seek to better understand the SPD world their children live in daily. Very informative, very important and a book I WILL NOT put up on a shelf and periodically dust off. This is one to dog ear, pass on and wear out!

5 comments about The Walk-Out Woman : When Your Heart is Empty and Your Dreams Are Lost.

1. Although this book was primarily written for women who are thinking of leaving their marriage, it is also a book that will help keep your marriage strong and vibrant whether you are newlyweds or a couple celebrating your fortieth anniversary. There are suggestions for activities and conversation at the end of each chapter. Read it alone or even better, read it as a couple. Both men and women have written commenting on how much the book has helped their marriage. Chapter 4, "What Happened to the Good Times," Chapter 10, "Different Walls," Chapter 14, "The Fantasy of Something Better," and Chapter 17, "Dreaming New Dreams" are especially important if your marriage is hurting.
   Neil Clark Warren, founder of eharmony.com, has endorsed the book with this comment: For any man who wants to love his wife more deeply--and for any woman who is dying to be loved that way.
   The book offers wise and gentle advice to restore hope to your marriage. You'll discover proven methods for how you can move toward each other rather than away, build up instead of tear down, and find love rather than lose it. God's blessings for you as your read it.



2. Although I am a Christian, I have not come across many outstanding Christian books on marriage. I tend to find their views unrealistic, sugarcoated, or stereotypical, and their advice either biased or impossible to follow. (Is everything really going to get better if you just decide to submit to your husband more?!) This book exceeded my expectations. First, it has a correct, realistic view on humanity - us Christians are not exempt from sinning or immune to temptations, we also face disappointments, and struggle in our married lives. Read the excellent chapter "The Fantasy of Something Better": it shows you how anyone can start having secret yearnings about that kind, gentle man in the next pew, but also how flawed and dangerous those fantasies can be, and how to redirect your thoughts and actions.
   
   Second, the book is compassionate and helpful without enabling victim mentality. It keeps you accountable for what you and your husband have or have not done for your marriage, but without judgment and guilt-tripping. If this is not a true expression of God's grace, I don't know what is! Third, the advice offered in the book is both plentiful, realistic and applicable. I can't overemphasize the word "realistic". The authors don't promise a magical overnight solution to your problems but the insights and encouragement offered will help you see what is wrong with your marriage and how you can start working on it.
   
   If you are feeling restless and disappointed in your marriage, I highly recommend this book. Even if you don't have any major problems, this book is worth reading and learning from.



3. I was thinking of walking out on my 25 plus years of marriage. This book helped me see all the good reasons to stay. It doesn't tell you not to leave, but helps you think through all the consequences of your choices.



4. I am in my mid 50's and on my 3rd marriage. I want to be married - I just didn't know how to stay married. I have finally learned.
   
   My husband enjoyed and appreciated the assignments. We learned more about each other - and our marriage grew much stronger.
   I highly recommend this for married couples - and especially every woman who wants to 'WALK OUT'.
   
   The book is easy to read - layed out in simple-down to earth chapters!! The book may cost $5.00 but the result is priceless.



5. I am 51 years old, recently divorced after a 3 yr separation, with 2 young adult children (21 & 18), and certainly would like to have read this book years ago. 'Though divorced, I absolutely did not want a divorce, never believed in divorce; but had no idea whatsoever how 'not' to go there. Two years ago when I'd realized how things had gotten, I told my then husband that I'd do whatever it took to keep our marriage, within reason of course; but after having been 'out there,' he decided that a life of no responsibilites, a'care-free' and frivolous life was what he wanted. Our 'children' at the time were 14 & 17 'he' decided he wanted the break, and he'd said that the kids would be okay, knowing full well that this was their ultimate fear - DIVORCE. However, since that time, I'd been reading everything, listening to Christian counseling programs and had learned much, but this book ULTIMATELY made me see for the very first time ever what 'my' mistakes were. Honestly, even at my age I had no idea how very ignorant I was! Now I understand some of the things that 'though they were 'small' so to speak, they were huge to him. We have had to have contact on account of our 18 yr. developing lung cancer, which we were told was there from birth, but is only now revealing itself. (Neither of us were smokers, for the record). I thought that this would unite us, but apparently not; still, I am so very happy that I've discovered this book, and besides, who knows what God has in store for each us? I'm passing it along to my friends. I do think for people that truly want to stay married, this book can't help but have a monumental impact! It truly is a treasure!

5 comments about The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays & Everydays.

1. I love this book! I found it at the library, and now I have to buy my own copy. It's got a variety of ideas for everyone- for example, for Winter Holidays- traditions for a Solstice Celebration, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa. And ideas for all ages from toddler/preschool age to graduation. And, most importantly, it explains why rituals are important in building a strong family- what the elements of a successful family tradtion are, and how you can create your own.



2. This book of new family traditions is so reader-friendly and so comfortable to pick up and browse that I can hardly get my copy out of the hands of my co-workers...The presentation and style are perfect for the topic and the information presented is easy to digest and creative enough to encourage our own ideas on the topic. This book is ideal for new parents but even us older parents of teenagers. This should be on the bookshelf of every one who cares about family or has one and wants to celebrate that special and loving relationship!



3. Meg Cox's latest book is a winner! Culling from interviews with families nationwide and from her own astute observations, Cox shows us how rituals can strengthen our family bonds, can help to ground us (especially helpful in such uncertain times as these have been) and can provide us with meaningful memories. Just as rituals add pizazz to daily life, Cox's book brings a fresh and vigorous perspective to the body of literature on the subject of tradition. Brimming with stories and tips, wit and wisdom as well as colorful illustrations, this book is tantamount to the Whole Earth Catalog of rituals. A creative way to teach good values.



4. This book is filled with so many wonderful ideas it's actually uplifting to read. And as you do, you get the feeling that no matter how busy your life is, there's a family ritual that's just right for you. If you want to discover simple, practical things you can do to enhance the texture of your relationships with your children, this is the book to buy. Meg Cox's creativity, vision, and committment to families ring through on every page.



5. This is the perfect book for a new family or the perfect and a very unique gift for baby showers and weddings. Traditions are so important in molding our family identities. The author knows that its more than just the 10 big holidays - Meg Cox encourages all of us to celebrate Everyday by adding traditions and rituals to our lives!

5 comments about Why Hasn't He Called?.

1. This book is phenomenal as a guide for dating and lots of fun! Guys need it for insight on how a beautiful, intelligent woman thinks and acts in today's dating world. Girls need it to see how to tame a player. Everyone needs it because it is such an entertaining read. This book is a must!



2. This is a wonderful book. I was very leery of the whole TV show, Match in Manhattan, when I heard a woman say she had to have a man with a networth of 8 million dollars! I thought it would be just another reality TV show. Imagine my surprise when I caught an afternoon of it and realized what kind of show it was.
   
   Matt's firm policy of not canceling a date via text and how he handled that situation impressed me. The book caught my eye and after reading a third of it in the store I decided to purchase it.
   
   I came home & read it in one afternoon. It has excellent insight into the male mind, full of humor, and great tips. I'm not sure that I could be a BOND GIRL but it sounds like fun!!! And I'm looking at my bedroom in a whole new light.... it's not a love shack yet. LOL
   
   A male friend told me that he ended things with a girl after seeing her self-help books. I just laughed and told him what Matt suggest. It's a good read.



3. This is a very insightful book filled with much-needed advice and great tips for single ladies. I highly recommend it to any woman who's ever let the question "Why hasn't he called?" cross her mind for even a split second. It's a great book, and worth every penny. Enjoy!



4. Great book that gives women the insight that is needed to know how to find Mr. Right...and where! Well written and fantastic!!! Can't wait for "Man-Made"!!!



5. Why Hasn't He Called? If you are looking for an advice book with GREAT advice, this is it!!!
   Why Hasn't He Called? was recommended to me by a friend and I am so happy that I read it. Great advice, fun and easy to read and a must have for your self-help shelve! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

1 comments about Marriage and Family: The Quest for Intimacy.

1. Classic sociologic treatise on mariage, familly, and the quest for intimacy! Easy, enjoyable reading, but written by a social scientist and, therefore based on empirical studies not "Chopra-like" love peptalks. Discusses the legitamacy of common American beliefs on the basis of what social science reveals.
   Used in the past as social science text for marriage and family-type sourses!

5 comments about Taking Space: How to Use Separation to Explore the Future of Your Relationship.

1. This book gives you the framework to building a stronger relationship and at the same time can give you a more positive outlook on everyday life. If your relationship has come to an emotional stand-still, reading this book can help you re-establish a means of communication and cement a more positive foundation for interaction.
   I've purchased nine copies of the book and shared them with friends and family members, and have received only positive responses. Even those that think that they have a perfect relationship, there is still much to learn from simply reading this book.



2. this is a great book that offers a new and important way of looking at
   the issues that arise in any significant partner relationship. it is wonderful not only as a self-help book but also for mental health professionals doing couples work. It is easy to read and packed full of good ideas within the context of "taking space."



3. This book has really helped me! If you or someone you know is struggling in their relationship buy them this book. The concept of taking a "time out" to be with yourself and improve yourself so that you can be a better person in your relationship is priceless advice. All of those folks in that danger zone of divorce or separation need the suggestions given in this book. The many exercises and examples that are offered by Buchicchio are things anyone can do to work on their conflict and create peace with their significant other. I highly recommend this book!!



4. This is an excellent aid to any marriage, whether in crisis or not. Even happy couples can benefit from new insight and ideas to improve their relationship and monitor its health. I strongly encourage everyone to at least read the first few chapters of the book, as they apply to the relationship. Types of separation (physical or psychological) are discussed later.



5. This book is helping me understand where I and my husband are in our emotional states, as well as what is missing from the plans for our separation that is making it harder for both of us to move forward. I wish I had gotten it months ago!
   
   Using case studies and easy to follow language (not heavy psychological talk) it has practical tools and exercises to follow. I was the 'left spouse' and this book (along with counseling) has helped me to understand what I am needing and feeling to turn a jumbled time into some real personal growth.
   
   If you think you need space, are headed for divorce, or want change in your relationship, please read this! It may spare you and your spouse months of conflict and grief.

5 comments about I Can't Wait to Meet My Daddy.

1. This book is just plain bad. What a total waste of money. Very dumb. My husband found it very dumb too. There are too many other very cute daddy books out there. Don't waste your money on this one!!!



2. I bought this book as a shower gift for my husband. It is so sweet! And, it helps to include Daddy in all the baby festivities.



3. I bought this book to give to my husband the night of my baby shower so he wouldn't feel so left out of the gift receiving business. He liked it, but I was crying my eyes out reading it to him! Gotta love those pregnancy hormones! I also read it with my 5 and 3 year old stepsons, asking them what types of fun things they do with daddy that their new little brother will like doing with him, too. All in all, the book was a little feminine considering it's for a daddy, but very, very sentimental and sweet.



4. I bought this book for our son as he awaits his first child. Wish the books were a pair...one for the mommy and one for the daddy, but since there wasn't a "mommy" one, I sewed our daughter-in-law a maternity top.
   
   He loved the book. In fact our son immediately e-mailed his dad for some fatherly advice about games, hobby activities, etc.
   
   The book is sweet, heart-warming, and beautifully illustrated. My only concern was that I felt there could have been a little more focus about the father-daughter relationship...it seemed sort of "son" targeted to me.
   
   Still, it's a beautiful gift for the father-to-be.



5. Such a beautiful story. I absolutely love the illustration! I shed lots of hormonally induced tears the first time I read it. Daddy-to-be liked it too.

5 comments about Sex Secrets of an American Geisha: How to Attract, Satisfy, and Keep Your Man (Positively Sexual).

1. While I felt that I didn't learn as much about geishas as I expected, Py's book has a certain charm to it that makes it worth recommending. Drawing upon personal experience, she relays ideas for keeping your man happy. Not a work for feminists, it is a work well done despite Py's lack of training in this area and her failure to mention any academic resources.



2. I read this book and it definitely changed my outlook. Far from being PC, this book is honest, direct, and on-target. Hats off to Py for sharing from her journey and personal experiences so openly! She has made the journey to a meaningful relationship easier for women to navigate. A must-read for any woman seeking a fulfilling, meaningful relationship.



3. I am about half way through the book. I took a pause mid-way so a friend could read it. She fell so in love with it, that she returned mine and bought her own to highlight and reference. I like it so far. There is information in there I already knew, but the book's author drives the message and importance home. Written from her story, this is a "friendlier" read than most books on the subject.



4. I enjoyed this book a lot. It's almost perfect, but I have a couple disagreements. The author teaches her "younger sister" to be very obedient and agreeable with her "Good Man", while this is true, I want to encourage women to be careful with that in order not to become a "doormat". Men get bored with too obedient women, even having all the sex they want with her. Men need a little bit of adrenaline in relationship that woman need to provide. For example, the author tells her story about how she didn't pay enough attention to her husband since she started writing her book and her husband eventually said "I want my wife back, I miss her." Author says it was a mistake to ignore her husband like that and it almost caused her marriage. Almost doesn't count. If she did lose her husband because of that then she could have said she made a mistake. They actually became closer (she said) after he complained. The author told us this story so we don't make such a mistake, where I think that exactly this "mistake" made them closer because her husband had a chance to experience this adrenaline of losing his wife, he realized that he missed her while she wasn't around, it was a great chance for them to actually understand that they love each other. Women need to do that sometimes in relationship and it's not manipulation, it's just a reminder what it's like to be ignored, not loved or substituted. I was always there for my significant other and he is a "good man" according by the book, but in a while something became wrong, he got bored, the more I tried, the more bored he became. I started buying all these relationship books including Sex Secrets of an American Geisha. I got so obsessed with reading those books that I didn't even notice how I started paying less and less attention to my "Good Man" (just like that "mistake" that the author was telling about). Guess what, it wasn't a mistake, again, it was a reminder what it was like without me. My "Good Man" came to me, first time in a long time, to ask for attention, he said he missed me and he said he realized he was taking me for granted! So, it's good to give them this space sometimes. This book is good for you to learn how to be a great lover, but to be a great lover is not enough for good relationship. This book doesn't cover enough about how to be independent as a person and how to be able to keep this adrenaline running. The author says that you need to have girlfriends and hobbies' to keep yourself busy, but it's not enough. I think what's missing is that women needs to know how to be interesting even when lying on a couch at home just watching TV. I don't believe a woman has to occupy herself with girlfriends and hobbies just to be interesting for her man. What about when she is just resting after work, or watching a movie? Even then she needs to give space to her man and do it just because she wants to, not because she is so obedient to please her man. Then a man will be interested. I advise to read "Why men marry Bitches" to be able to be both obedient and independent. Neither book is good by itself alone. You don't want to be too obedient or too bitchy. It's good to have read many different books to be interesting and open-minded (well, duh). You will be able to know the medium.
   Thank You. Good Luck



5. I found this book to be a very enjoyable and fun read. The author is humorous, sincere, and though-provoking. I disagreed with her on a few points but I was never bored. I also found her discussion of her early life to be very touching. At one point, I was a bit unnerved. Imagine yourself sitting down with your older sister for a nice cozy chat where she tells you about men and dating. Then imagine yourself sitting there while she graphically describes her own sex life and how she regularly achieves female ejaculation with her husband. I deducted a star because she seems to imply that sex is the only requirement to keep a man. 3.5 stars

5 comments about Healing From Family Rifts : Ten Steps to Finding Peace After Being Cut Off From a Family Member.

1. Most family estrangement books and "experts" insist that blood relatives must reconcile at any cost, and blame must always be shared: you may be blameless or a victim, but you must make concessions until peace is made. But that peace is often temporary, since only you, not other members, are forced to change. Challenging this "blood-above-all" sentiment is one of our last taboos. Besides discussing the usual healing methods, this book covers, in an accepting and understanding way, what to do when reconciliation isn't possible. There is no judgment present, only a deep acceptance of those rifts that are ultimately unmendable and sympathetic support for those suffering grief because of them. It offers ways to survive permanent rifts, such as choosing & creating your own new family. (Unfortunately, the family members who buy & read these books are usually NOT the ones who most need to read them: those "externalizers" always blaming others and usually causing the rifts.)



2. What drew me to this book was the fact the author is a psychologist and has been through this experience himself. He can totally relate. The advice is sound and I now sleep better at night and am at peace with myself regarding current rifts in my family. I have recommended this book to others. There is some very good advice here.



3. This is by far the best book I have read on this subject. He takes a practical approach to the problem but also offers solutions if the rift cannot be mended. The book helped me enormously during one of the most painful experiences of my life. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with family dysfunction.



4. The experience of being cut off by one's family is extremely painful. Mark Sichel captures that experience well and helps the reader mitigate the shock and initial pain of that experience. However, the means for resolving the situation is lacking, not because it should be resolved easily, but because of the dichotomous thinking the author uses to explain the problem--the roles family members play as "injustice collectors" and "people pleasers". These roles are cast as solid and entrenched: one is "either-or". Sichel also states that those who read the book are likely to be "people pleasers", which makes me a people pleaser--a good guy. However, I'm left wondering if the roles are as rigid as Sichel makes them--can an "injustice collector" also be a "people pleaser"? How can we best deal with family rifts without re-casting each other into these roles? Family rifts seem much more complex than the author recognizes.



5. This book is helpful to those of us in similar estranged family situations, especially since it's a topic most are reluctant to talk about. Knowing others are dealing with the same issues was helpful.