5 comments about When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don't Get Along.

1. Simply put- the best parenting book ever. Every parent should read this at least once during their journey as a parent. Different chapters apply to different challenges we face with our children. I wish I had found this book sooner.



2. I only gave 3 stars because I have not completed the book. What I have read so far has been good. If the book was available in audio I would have finished it by now.



3. This book has healed the rift between me and my 22 year old daughter. Healed it. I can't thank you enough, Dr. Coleman.



4. Excellent information for parents on how to cope with a difficult family situation. Family estrangements are growing more prevalant today between parents and adult children and Dr. Coleman has been generous with his time by providing an excellent book, website for parents and bringing this problem to the attention of other professionals.



5. This book is such a comfort for parents of estranged children. Just knowing that you are not alone and that you are not a monster. Learning to get back in life and value yourself as a human being. Not being ashamed of what others think, but will never know.

5 comments about The Art of Forgiving.

1. For people who have been wronged and struggle with negative, consuming emotions, this title is the one to read. Smedes describes in great detail what it means to forgive, and that the benefit is not to the one forgiven, but to the one forgiving. His words here are like a long, cool drink of water to a soul parched from hatred, bitterness and animosity. There is great healing power in forgiveness, and Smedes harnesses that power in this book as few other authors have done.



2. This has to be the best book written on the subject. It makes you realize that forgivness is the only way to heal pain and hurt. You are not letting the other person off the hook, you are saying that you understand that they are only human and capable of error. The forgivness is on your part only, you do not even have to tell the person who hurt you that you forgive them, it cleanses your soul.



3. This book was given to me by a friend who knew I really enjoyed books of this nature. One line that I've always said to my friends is something this book expounds on in depth: Forgiveness isn't a gift you give to another person. It's something you do inside of yourself and for yourself. A very positive look on the subject of forgiveness, and learning to let go of revenge and embracing justice instead... I recommend it for anyone who is having issues with letting go of a wrong perceived or otherwise that they feel has been done to them.



4. The problem likely lies in your understanding of what forgiveness is... and what it is not. One thing it is not, is saying what happened was okay, that nothing happened that shouldn't have happened, that the person who generated the painful experience isn't responsible for their choices and behaviors. Forgiveness does not involve "forgetting"... it does involve clearly seeing what happened, the impact it has had on you, and taking the opportunity to make different decisons about the impact you will permit it to continue to have in the future.
   
   Lewis Smedes clarifies what forgiveness REALLY is. You have the right to choose to not forgive, to hold onto hatred. You have the right to continue to choose to be miserable. But if you want to be free, if want to move away from the pain once and for all, you must choose to forgive... and Lewis Smedes shows how to do that effectively. There is no magic here, other than the reality that you don't HAVE to stay stuck in anger and pain. It won't necessarily happen overnight... but it can happen if you are willing.



5. 
   Lewis Smedes is very helpful to those who have been deeply wounded yet believe in the words of Jesus who instructs His followers to forgive. The reader is freed from the notion that forgiveness is a set up for a repeated offense.

5 comments about Your Pregnancy Week By Week 5th Edition.

1. I've really liked having this book throughout my pregnancy. It's nice to have a chapter to read each week. I like how the book is very medically focused; I love learning about my baby's development. I've also found it reassuring to see that various things I'm experiencing are normal for that stage. And, my husband loves the "Dad tips"!



2. like my title says...useless and confusing. I borrowed this book from my local library before actually buying any books and I hated it. It was confusing. I got the 4th edition of "What to Expect" and loved it! Try it instead!



3. I was tempted by this books most obvious feature, that is, its week by week format. And indeed it gives valuable information on baby's growth, location of uterus at different stages of pregnancy and so on. However, it is generally the worst breed of old fashioned, highly medicalized and well... chauvinist pregnancy guides I thought no one published anymore.
   
   Instead of being reassuring and promoting a woman's trust in her pregnancy wisdom it pictures her body as being in an emergency condition, constantly on the verge of crisis and failure. It will give you unbelievable number of situations when, as a reaction to some innocent symptoms, instead of lying down to rest and to listen to your body's needs you should... yes, call your doctor to make sure! I am sure that any pregnancy where tips from this book are followed is awfully distressing and ob / gyns do hardly anything else than answer phonecalls from allarmed patients.
   
   The book gives very scarce information on natural remedies and approaches to pregnancy and it critisises home birth totally, without honestly discussing its benefits, challenges and when it may be advisable! It calles it dangerous! At the same time it dismisses any doubts about safety of ultrasound (on the ground that nothing suspicious was proved so far). It is clearly designed for women who want medicine to rule their pregnancies and births. And yet it puts "asking your mother about how you are carrying your baby" as a highly ranked method of determinng the sex - I just could not believe I was reading it!
   
   I regret having bought it, primarilly because of my husband, who already started liking it for all the things he can learn about the development of the baby. And while I am immune to this book's scary stories, he may well get an idea that pregnancy is a hazardous adventure, which would be a real pity.



4. I own this book as well as What To Expect When You're Expecting. I like this book because it breaks it down into weeks versus the other is broken down more by the month. I believe both are helpful in their own way. This book gives you general details but What To Expect When You're Expecting is more practical because the question/answer format is very realistic for a new mom like me. I reference both books regularly. I say buy them both. You can always try to resell on Amazon after you're done with them!



5. this is a great book. i like that it tells you every week what to expect, what will change and how big the baby is. the illustrations are also very helpful. it helped me to really understand what was going on inside of me and how the baby was growing and changing every week. i buy this book for every friend expecting their first baby.

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

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. I've read many books about family estrangement and this book has by far been the most helpful for me. Mark's writing is inspiring, authentic, and very clear about what you can do and not do to heal the rift in your family. He also provides a great deal of reassurance that even if you can't heal the estrangement, you can still feel better, much better, if you do all the right things and you've done everything you can to repair the rift in the family. This is the only book on the subject that truly resonates with my own experience.

5 comments about Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split.

1. I picked up this book based on the title alone. I had once been drunk, divorced and covered in cat hair and trying desperately to make myself whole again. Now, many years later I find myself knitting furiously to fill the empty next. Not quite the same as being dumped by one's husband, but a similar feeling of loss and loneliness. In addition to knitting and latch hook and crocheting, I've started reading voraciously so I took myself to the bookstore to find a book to fill the void.
   
   I knew, instantly, from the title of this book, I had to read it and I was not disappointed. Any woman who has found herself clinging to an empty marriage, unwilling to accept that it's over only to be unceremoniously dumped will be able to relate to the sad but funny antics of the author. She takes you on her journey from shock and despair, to total depression to re-entry into the world as a whole person equipped with knitting needles. You'll both laugh and cry and remember your own journey to becoming whole as you read.
   
   The chapters are all very short, some only one or two pages long and cover a particular point in her journey - like the hair emergency a few days before divorce court or "cooking ADD". Her style of writing is very similar to Erma Bombeck who could also make you laugh at the irony of life. Whether you were dumped when "he" decided he was losing his creativity or you lost your spouse through death or you find yourself alone after the children have left the nest, this book is for you.



2. I thought this book was great. It's a quick read because you want to keep reading it. She is so open and honest about her life and quirks that you want to be friends with her. And she's funny. In addition to being a funny book, it is really good for someone to read if they are contemplating divorce but are on the fence about it. She gives very good coverage of the pros and cons as per her own experience.



3. I don't know how she did it but she channeled my life! So many of the same things happened. I can't write as houmrously, though. This lady is a stitch (pun intended)! Easily enjoyabe and quick read. My co-workers love to hear it on rides in the truck!



4. Strap yourself in and be prepared for a compelling true story ride that goes up and down, side to side, spirals this way and that and leaves you smiling in the end.
   The Crazy Aunt Purl thing in the title is misleading to the unitiated (me), that's just the name of Laurie Perry's blog/website (add a dot com), and obsessive knitters who've read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books shouldn't expect the knitting to be the star here, because it's not: it only makes an appearance around chapter 7 and is mentioned only a few times thereafter. Yes, there are knitting patterns (14), written in the same vein in the rest of the book-which makes a nice change if you're used to only normally written knitting patterns: These are in the back followed by a gallery-you have to see the picture of the cat wearing the hood of the devil baby blanket! There are scarves(5), hats(2), bags(3) and one each of a cat tunnel, pom-pom, flower, aforementioned blanket and shawl. My glitch with these is that they mostly come with a wine recommendation but not always gauge or yardage-extra homework for those who wish to substitute yarns.
   The knitting comes across more as a crutch, but this might be a good thing: one could give this book to non-knitters also going through a divorce or break-up, because that's what this book is really about, and how she, Laurie, survived the dark days of divorce and created a wonderful, sparkly new life (and with luck, the recipient of this book will be encouraged to knit too! So diabolical, it's brilliant! Get 'em when they're vulnerable-because knitting is, of course, healing and did I mention useful?)
   Although this is by a woman and probably marketed to women, there's no reason a man shouldn't look into it.
   The 44 chapters are bite-size, for that sense of accomplishment, and it feels like reading someone's really well-written diary or pages of a nice long letter, flashbacks to childhood and those real, often uncomfortable feelings we're too polite to say out loud, included.
   It's funny in places, smile-free in others and unwittingly kind of self-helping, mostly the third act.
   4 stars because I like it but don't swooningly love it (needs a pinch more knitting for my taste) but I'm happy to have it in my knitting book collection.
   Definitely worth a read if you're in the mood for comfy, cozy, light and ultimately feelgood (and/or are on a diabolical mission to convert the non-knitting...)



5. Cute, funny, and A silky smooth ride.
   In the beginning, Charlie, her beloved husband, gave a single reason (his "creativity") and said he was leaving the marriage. And then, he did.
   So a thirty-something young professional finds herself alone, dumped, and devastated in Los Angelos. She goes crazy. After a while she learns to knit. She makes knitting into a hobby. And that's it.
   Of course the story isn't really about knitting - though it claims to be. And we find that our heroine is a survivor, after all. I won't steal - by quoting - the hilarious one liners and funny story episodes. Author Laurie Perry is quite comfortable with character development and, in matter of fact, manages her subtle story progress quite handily.
   I guarantee you will like this fast, short, and very funny read.

5 comments about How to Really Love Your Child (How to Really Love).

1. this is a book with old-fashioned values - discipline, politeness, etc.. modern parenting theory could use a look back to some of these values. i am as modern a woman as anyone - but to think through how unloving it is for me to let my kids do whatever they want was really good. we have to be parents, not just friends.
   however, in most traditional models (i.e. our grandparents generation) there was a cold distance between parents and children. this book also confronts that shortcomming - making it a well-balanced book.
   it's hard for me to get through or respect many parenting books - but i zoomed through this one and drank it all up! i recommend it to all of my friends with young children - even babies!



2. In an age of all kinds of self-help books, this one is simple and it SHINES. Written from a (subtle, non-infringing) Christian perspective, it is loaded with information about how anyone can immediately improve not only their relationships with their children (and therefore their child's well-being) but can also apply this information to all relationships. I think it would work wonders for teachers as well!
   
   You know when you hear truth because it's so simple, and makes so much sense, that you think, "Of course that's the way it is! Why didn't I figure that out myself??" That's the feeling this book has all the way through. An unforgettable message that could change the way you live!!



3. I think this is an excellent book because it steers away from the external performace-orientation of some Christian books. These books sometimes almost view raising a child like training a dog. The whole focus is on getting the child to do the right thing, to obey. This title also steers away from the other extreme forms of parenting--the child is a delicate, fragile piece of glass that must be coddled, never contradicted or criticized, given whatever he or she wants, and praised for each and every thing they do.
   
   Campbell moves to a more biblical focus. He shows that if you build a healthy love relationship, you can exercise appropriate discipline in love and children will actually appreciate it and come to view it as what it is--the most loving thing you could do for them.
   -Dennis McCallum, author Organic Disciplemaking: How to promote Christian leadership development through personal relationships, biblical discipleship, mentoring, and Christian community



4. Tons of books out there on child raising. I have been counseling military men and women for almost thirty years. Would that most, if not all, parents would sit down and read this. This would be a different world. Oh, and it also greatly helped me understanding how to make movement toward my children in love and not in anger and shame.



5. I have three children of my own, I was a school teacher, now I am a Pastor of Family Ministries and this is the first book I give expectant parents. I have read dozens of books on raising children, secular and Christian, this is the best. Let me explain.
   
   It is simple.
   Dr. Campbell does not get bogged down in the minutia of emotionally charged details. He doesn't preach about spanking, breast feeding, dating v. courting, negative and positive reinforcement, and the like. He tells you what is going on in a child's heart and allows you to determine the details.
   
   It is foundational.
   The principles he shares are so obvious that you are almost embarrassed that you didn't think of it. I found that not only did it help me be a better parent, it helped me deal with many of the issues that I had from my own childhood.
   
   It is easy to remember.
   I have read this book at least four times, but even after the first reading I could remember the major principles easily. They just make sense. The emotional tank; the difference between discipline and punishment; the fact that saying, "I love you," to your children does not make it real to them; these principles never leave you.
   
   It is flexible.
   These principles are not tied to one reading of Scripture or a single body of research. Also, they are adaptable to many different parenting styles.
   
   It is powerful.
   Every time I council a teenager, I ask them if they believe that their parents love them. They almost always say, "Not really. They only love me because I'm their kid. But they don't really love me." It astounds me because Dr. Campbell quotes teenagers in this book and they are almost verbatim what I consistently hear. The reason is that kids do not feel loved just because you put a roof over their heads and gave them the latest iPod. They need so much more. When the realization of the truths contained in this book hit many parents, they simply sob. They realize that they missed it and their children are paying the price.
   
   Most parents are doing their best and simply do not know. No matter what the circumstances, it is not too late. Our God is a God of miracles and he can move powerfully in our lives. Read this book, believe God for his grace, and learn how to really love your children.

5 comments about Parenting a Bipolar Child: What to Do & Why.

1. This is an informative overview. The personal stories can be a bit disheartening but it is a worthwhile read.



2. The book provides thorough and accessible coverage of a complex condition. You're not going to study medical books but you do need to be informed and you don't need to be talked down to.
   If you have a child who at times appears to be incredibly lazy, irritable, difficult and impulsive, then maybe you have a regular teenager - or maybe things are too far gone for "normal". Maybe you have a sick child.
   Most parents of bipolar kids have waited for their child to "just snap out of it" and plenty of medical professional give similarly lame advice. Bipolar disorder is serious. You need good information and you need it right away. If you are looking to come up to speed quickly then get this book.



3. As the parent of a child with bipolar, I have collected many books on the subject since my teenage son was diagnosed five years ago. PARENTING A BIPOLAR CHILD now holds a prominent place by my bedside. It is clear, concise and compassionate. It helps me to navigate through the difficult times and reminds me of the basic ways I can help my child succeed. I have given a copy to our pediatrician. I want to give it to all his teachers.



4. Having read nearly everything in this genre, I found this book discardable. It pales in comparison to, among others, "The Bipolar Child" by Demitri and Janice Papolos, "A Sourcebook for Families Coping With Mental Illness" by M.R. Berren, and the work of Kay Redfield Jamison.



5. I have been parenting bipolar children for 25 years. My youngest is now 5. I wish this book had been available when I was raising my oldest. There are many good books on BP in children (and I have most of them), but if I could only have one, this would be the one. The section on the importance of sleep habits was worth the price of the book all by itself.

5 comments about Fine Motor Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents And Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome).

1. The substantially revised and updated second edition of Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide For Parents And Professionals by pediatric occupational therapist Maryanne Bruni offers a thoroughly "user friendly" study detailing particular tactics and effective strategies for training the motor skills of children with Down Syndrome. Introducing readers to invaluable tips on determining when a child is ready for preprinting and printing activities, strategies for encouraging self-help skills for independent living, research on how children with Down Syndrome learn, expanded suggestions for useful toys, activities, equipment, and grandparent lists, useful information for computer use, and more, Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome enables a thorough grasp of greatly helpful and very practical information for a more educated approach to aiding children with Down syndrome. For its concise and essential comprehension of dire information, Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome is very strongly recommended for all teachers, parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers and counselors for children with Down Syndrome.



2. This book offers so much help for parents, grandparents, teachers, anyone working with children who have down Syndrome. It gives so much help, ideas, insights... well, the list just goes on.



3. This is a great book for anyone working with or parenting children with down syndrome (and fascinating for anyone with children). It covers development based on stages rather than ages, so the focus can be on the child and not on a outwardly determined norm for development.



4. I would recommend buying this book since it includes many practical strategies with working with children with low cognitive functioning. We, as teachers, need practical ideas based by "best practice" research that we can implement immediately after reading a book. This is a book by a seasoned special education teacher and I recommend it highly.



5. This book details all aspects of the child with down syndrome. I think this is a must have book for parents, and an equally important book for the professional working with a child diagnosed with down syndrome.

5 comments about Position of the Day: Sex Every Day in Every Way (Naughty, Naughty).

1. Those critical of this nifty little book are missing the point: it's super-fun. Fun positions. Fun names given to positions. Fun ideas that can be modified for your abilities and, ahem, preferences. It's handy size makes it easily concealable in the nightstand, and it's not too naughty to give as a gift. Enjoy!



2. I would not recommend this to anybody. About 30 percent of the postions are repeat at least once, there are some that are repeated three or four times, just under a different name. This book also doesn't have any information about the positions. I would recommend "Daily Sex: 365 Positions and Activities for a Year of Great Sex!" by Jane Seddon.



3. Well, in general I was looking for useful tips, not positions that require me to be a female He-Man, holding myself up with one arm and what not ... Maybe they're great, but I'm scrawny and weak so I'll have to hit the gym to fully put this book to good use.



4. Book would have been an exciting add. Unfortunately pics were cartoonish and positions were not described adequetly.



5. This book is full of ridiculous and funny positions...a lot of which seem impossible. None the less, it's great for entertainment or even inspiration. A lot of the postions seem to repeat with only their name being the difference. Good for a laugh.

1 comments about Sex Machine: A Man's Guide to What Really Pleases a Woman in Bed.

1. The gist is this: How to please your woman so she will, inevitablly, please you. And this book shows you how. It's got some great advice, much better than others I've read in the past. It is also written in an easy to read manner and all the tips come off as something a guy can actually do to bring his lover to orgasm. I found it to be the best I've read, thus so far.