3 comments about The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and BuildLifelong Resilience.

1. I had read this author's book "Learned Optimism" which was oriented to adults. The Optimistic Child gives an emphasis to the parent-child relationship instead which is a great addition to his prior work. I found it a little more technical in its writing than the adult version, but not too difficult to read. I highly recommend it for parents trying to help their children to be positive and optimistic in life.



2. This is the most helpful book I have ever read for helping your children cope with anxiety and pessimism. It provides you with tools and techniques for building a solid foundation of optimism. A psychiatrist recommended this to me, and I have since recommended it to friends.



3. Dr. Seligman has put much effort in the writing of this book. The materal, although aimed for parents, I found it very beneficial as a primary care pediatrician. I encounter depression among children almost daily. Dr Seligman helps me to understand the problem with great case discussion and practical strategies. Especially, the questionnaire used in his study was also included in the book and it was very useful. I enjoy reading the book and parents are please that I can offer help for them and their children.

5 comments about I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood.

1. I bought this book after hearing many friends say they loved it. But despite the claim on the cover that it's meant for both stay-at-home and working moms, as a working mom, I felt it didn't speak to me at all. I don't park my kids in front of the TV to have a regular 4:00 chat with a girlfriend. I don't worry about my loss of identity. I don't thrust my kids at my husband when he arrives home from work, because I am so sick of dealing with them. I have no criticism of any woman who does those things, because being a SAHM is hard, hard work. But there are very few examples in this book of similar things that working moms do, or the particular guilt triggers for us (seeing our kids for one waking hour per day, not making our own baby food, never being able to coordinate a fundraiser even if we wanted to). The title should be "I was a really good mom before I had kids and quit my job."
   
   There's also nothing new here -- many books have covered this same territory. (See "Mother Shock: Loving Every (Other) Minute of It" for a much more insightful treatment.) And the book is very negative -- it made me feel depressed rather than reassured.
   
   If there are moms out there who find this book helpful, more power to them. But I wouldn't recommend it to a working mom, particularly one who actually more or less likes her life the way it is.



2. this is another by the same authors...also realy cute, short and sweet! You can tell they have experienced motherhood!



3. I couldn't have come upon this book at a better time. Frustrated by the daily routine and feeling alone working and managing a household with 2 kids, this book provided me with reassurance that I was not the only mother feeling this way. I typically don't have time to read books for pleasure but I couldn't put this one down. I recommend it to any mom (working or not) who needs a break and to know that she is not alone. Excellent book.



4. SAHMs can relate to this book - it really points out all the little things you are expected to take care of typically as a stay at home mom (over and above the 6 mini meals a day and the associated cleaning of the floor, table, chairs, wall and hair and the 8 diaper changes a day including the 3 nasty ones, including the daily blowout that diaper manufacturers can't design diapers to contain...), and has lists where you can check off your unspoken responsibilities so you can realize that you aren't completely fatigued "for no reason" after "just watching the toddler" -
   
   the best part of all was that my husband read it too, and said "wow honey, I didn't really realize that you were doing all of that, I guess I should have - you do make my life easier by doing everything but bring in an income" - it brought a tear to my eye to hear that -
   
   I borrowed this book from the library, and now I'm going to buy a copy for each of my stay at home Mommy friends - well, just the ones that aren't trying to compete (their children) against my little guy...
   (little Harry just spoke his third language today and scaled Mt.Everest all before his daily 3 hour nap that he takes without a fight...)
   
   borrow it, read it, then buy it as a reference for daily affirmations...



5. "Motherhood is one of those things that's totally impossible to picture until it happens to you. You think it will be a certain way-you won't yell at your kids, you'll have infinite patience, you'll sit on the floor for hours reading to your kids, you'll divide the parenting duties fairly with your husband-and then boom, your baby arrives and your whole world turns upside down. I mean, I always pictured myself with kids, but I didn't expect to be barely keeping it together 99 percent of the time. The days just flow together, and I'm supposed to cherish it all?" (page 33,@2007 Chronicle Books, 1st edition)
   
   I have read a few mothering books that purport to give the real scoop on motherhood and most share a premise: the rigors of motherhood came as a surprise to modern women who enter the state unprepared. After a few harried months with their bouncy babies women begin to feel a wistfulness for their previous childless state. There is a kernel of truth here, but there are also some unexamined assumptions about the lives of modern mothers.
   
   Assumption #1: Work in the public sphere is always fulfilling and great.
   When I read the above quote I wonder just how terrific was this woman's job. Some women have jobs that afford them a measure of autonomy and creativity, but many do not. Staying at home with children may afford some women more autonomy and freedom to manage their time and workspace as they choose. Additionally, like a small business owner who enjoys the hands-on approach, the mother can directly experience how her labors promote her family's well-being.
   
   Assumption #2: Staying home is a sacrifice in pay.
   If you have more than one child, full-time childcare may easily exceed your annual pay, so yes, a woman has to scrimp to stay home, but she would have had to be just as frugal had she worked. Whether a woman remains in paid employment or chooses to stay at home, she will be called to make some financial sacrifices for her children.
   
   Assumption #3: The pressures of motherhood are worse than the pressures of paid employment.
   Again, when I look at the above quote, I wonder if this woman had it magnificently together at work. For me, a typical work day was an overloaded one, and, during deadline crunch time, the same feeling of wading from one activity to the next overwhelmed me and wrested from me any real sense of accomplishment. That motherhood also has its hectic times is no surprise, nor is managing it much different than when I was working in the public sector.
   
   Assumption #4: Women go into motherhood with the unrealistic expectation that being a mommy is always lovey-lovey-joy-joy.
   I don't know about you, but a day didn't go by in our house that my mother did not yell. And since our extended family was so prolific it didn't take much exposure to conclude that babies were uncouth in their pooping, peeing and puking, and that the behavior of small children is naturally errant and wild unless reined in. Is it true that most first-time mothers have no experience of small children? As it is still primarily women who are providing childcare, there must often be some opportunities for young girls to babysit or observe children with their mothers. Nor do I believe that all women just forget how they were mothered. Did any of our mothers spend three hours of floortime with us?
   
   Assumption #5: That other women lie about motherhood, depicting it as more terrific than it actually is.
   I've been listening to women kvetch about their children my whole life; my mother and her friends over coffee, the women I work with, my friends, my aunties and great-aunties. They love a baby, but still will nod knowingly when another woman expresses her difficulties. Though we women are famous for our social support networks, is it universally true that when it comes to children we blow sunshine up each other's bottoms, and present a false face of perfection to each other?
   
   Assumption #6: The intelligence that moderates our behavior in the working world just flies away when we become mothers, robbing us of everything we know about time management, keeping our cool, dealing with difficult people, and perservering through difficult times.
   
   When the above assumptions permeate self-help and other literature aimed at new mothers, the underlying tone is that being a mother is a drag. I found much to be true in Ashworth and Nobile's discussions of modern maternity, such as the need for lowered expectations and balanced priorities. But, despite the second wave of feminism being approximately 40 years behind us, I have to conclude that there is something distinctly unfeminist about this helpless tone that pervades women's literature concerning mothering. Are we truly reinventing motherhood, or just continuing those old assumptions that women are not quite up to snuff? First we were derided for our desire to participate in the public sphere, and now we are potentially too ineffectual to successfully take part in an institution as old as humanity? Read with a grain of salt.

5 comments about The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate.

1. Haven't read this one yet but love the other books I've read by the author. She's a great help in understanding the dances we participate in with others and the outcomes from the way we dance.



2. My counselor suggested that I read this book and I am so glad she did! It is so easy to read, and it has so much helpful insight that I have read it twice and recommended it to many of my friends and family members.
   
   The Dance of Connection gives advice on how to set boundaries within your relationships so that you don't end up feeling used or resentful. It also is really clear about how to keep a relationship alive without completely distancing from it or abandoning it.
   
   This book is really easy to read. It includes lots of bullets for important points, stories of how people have dealt with their relationships, and kind-hearted advice about how to give yourself space and time to deal with the issues in your own relationships.



3. I identify with many of the examples. I feel supported by this. Dr Lerner uses a few examples from earlier books. The author offers her own experiences and feelings.....very effective for me. i'm in the process of establishing some of the suggested practices right now.....in my relationships.



4. This author, Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., was recommended to me by a friend. She thought it might help me in my sturggle to resolve a marital issue I have been having. This book did, indeed, offer valuable insights into how families interact and interconnect, from ancestral beginnings that influence us up through the generations. It helped me realize that many of my patterns of interacting with the men in my life could be traced back to my father, his father, and possibly further (if that information could be found). Unfortunately, my father passed away at age 81, two years ago this month. After reading this book I had a long conversation with my mother (now 81 and very healthy and active) about how she and her father and mother interacted as she was growing up. Though my issues turned out to be connected much more closely to my father's side of the family, it was wonderful to hear stories about my mother's life. If I had planned ahead, I definitely would have had a tape recorder ready because we will probably never be able to duplicate what was shared, that day, in the sunshine, in my lovely backyard garden, with both of us just pleasantly swinging on my swing! I HIGHLY recommend this book...even if you're not struggling with interpersonal issues (but who in the world doesn't from time to time?!). Another heavily underlined resource!!!



5. Dr. Harriet Lerner's book, the Dance of Connection, refocused me on the importance of good communication. As a certified group psychotherapist and psychotherapist I think this well thought out book offers interesting examples and engaging stories to illustrate how we as people can relate more effectively when communicating with others whether family, friend or business connection. I found Dr. Lerner's words personally validating when checking on my own communication skills where I have done a good job and where to let it alone when I am trying too hard.
   
   I recommend this wonderful book to my clients as well as Dr. Lerner's other well written books that I have read: The Dance of Intimacy, The Dance of Anger and The Dance of Deception.
   
   Mary Jane Hurley Brant, Author of When Every Day Matters

5 comments about When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Approach to Guy/Girl Relationships.

1. Eric and Leslie have such a way of writing great truth about love and relationships taken directly from the Bible with humor and comen sence that makes it understandable and desirable for my generation to want to pursue. I loved this book just like all thier other books because it encouraged me that I wasn't alone in waiting for God to write my love story. It showcases the fact that God alone is the one who can make anything work. Life, love, work, singleness, everything! A great book all the way around!!



2. I searched on Amazon and read reviews in order to find a book on dating as a Christian that I felt would speak to me where I am- trying to date in a godly manner, not being sure that the person i'm dating is 'the one', and wanting to be drawn closer to God through the process. This book was a great find and I immediately wanted to reread it, get the advice to sink in and re-do the action steps that are included at the end of each chapter. I love how easy the read is while the content is rich and transforming. As I finished the book i left with a greater drive to turn my relationship over to the Lord and trust Him with however He would have it go, while seeking to serve my boyfriend as a sister in Christ who desires for his relationship with the Lord to grow also. I found that the best way to do this was by pushing myself closer to the Lord.
   
   I know this makes it sound like a weight-loss program, but within a few weeks what I applied from this book as well as some fasting and more praying has led to a much more godly and God-driven relationship. I praise God for the instrument the Ludy's words have been in my love-life and I pray you would experience that blessing also.



3. k so, i'm not done with the book yet, I still need to read the last part, but I mean.
   
   The Ludy's have covered everything I was expecting them to cover about relationships, or probably what I was lookin for. They have even mentioned stuff I didn't expect AT ALL to be mentioned in a guy/girl relationships book. It's THAT good. And those, are good and necessary things for a healthy relationship to happen. The book's purposes is to draw you close to God, and put in you this desire to do things God's way, and not your way, which I find AMAZING. And I actually am experiencing that desire now, as a result of reading through it.
   
   And this is so like, not me, but I cried once or twice reading this.
   
   I had a couple questions while I was reading, and a few pages later, they were answered clearly, and biblically.
   
   I agree with basically everything they have said here. But that's probably just me.
   
   if I could give this book 6 stars or more, I would. Period.



4. Very good book; I recommend it to all teens and/or college aged persons seeking after God's own heart. I even passed this book on to one of my dear friends. Granted, I didn't agree with everything in the book, but it still was very well-written.. I read it this past summer, and it was just what I needed to hear. I felt empowered, encouraged, and uplifted. Even though I am not looking for a relationship at this point in time with my walk with God, I feel better about singleness, though others around me may not support my decision. Has a lot of good thought-provoking ideas, topics, and opinions that really make one think about that aspect of a relationship and one's journey towards that life-long commitment that so many desire. It gives personal examples so that you can relate to the authors and see their hardships, their journey, their struggles. People say I will get married, but only God knows. If I do get married (and only because God has it in his plans,) I cannot wait to see the unfolding/unveiling of how God has written my love story. He already has for each of us, it is just a matter of time until He reveals it to us.



5. The good: They give a general map of how to act as a single person, and overall, it's pretty decent. A lot of this is not new, but hey, not a bad idea. Here's their general plan:
   
   * First, give over control of all of your life (especially romantic) to God
   * Spend time getting to know God, and have it be on a regular basis
   * Keep you heart whole and remain physically pure for your spouse...do nothing that might cause them pain or discomfort
   * Prepare yourself for your future spouse, including writing or doing things for him/her
   * Be content in your singleness, develop your talents, and build your relationship with God while awaiting your spouse
   * Practice being Christ-like with your family, which will serve as preparation for your marriage
   * Get people on your team to discern God's will for your love life, starting with your parents
   
   The bad:
   
   The Ludys' tend to be rather irritating in their writing. For instance, they talk about all this time that they spent waiting for the future spouse and abstaining from having sex, and they're like 17 and 20, respectively. Hardly encouraging for those people who make it past college and are still waiting.
   
   Also, as other commenters have posted, some of their language reeks of saccharine (and I have a high tolerance for the stuff). The Princess of Purity and Pearl of Purity...yuck!
   
   Also, they take a rather juvenile position on the kinds of activities they'd want their spouse to have done prior to meeting them. Oh no, a guy put his arm around my future wife and is talking sweet to her! I'm now enraged and jealous over this guy! And obviously, anything beyond this is even worse. Extraordinarily unrealistic.
   
   Its good points got it two stars, but its irritating and immature ideas is what kept its rating to rise above it. If you're looking for a book dealing with sexual purity/abstinence issues, I'd recommend Lewis Smedes' Sex for Christians which was a far more mature, nuanced, and thoughtful book.

5 comments about Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship.

1. I thought this book was very helpful and informative. It made me feel less alone, though it brought up a lot of emotions. I have a borderline mother and I myself was hospitalized for it. After 6 years of therapy and three hospitalizations I felt I had completely found my way out and gotten better. Though I had done a lot of work I realized when reading this book how much more work I can and should do. It also helps me understand and sympathize with my mother and her intense personality much better. Or at least it's starting to. I highly recommend it.



2. This book was very informative. It describes four profiles of borderline mothers and how their behaviors can impact their children. It provides suggestions for how children can deal with their mothers and try to have the best possible relationship and stay healthy.



3. I had read everything I could on borderline personality disorder to try and understand my daughter-in-law. It wasn't until I read Dr. Lawson's book that I truly understood the depth of this disorder. She describes BPD as the mother relates to her children. I thought the book too expensive and almost didn't buy it, but if you read anything at all you should read this one. It should be required reading before ever getting married and certainly anyone trying to help their kids through the borderline crisis.



4. very helpful and easy to read. I liked how they categorized different types of borderline traits (waif, witch, etc.). It was also nice that the author pointed out that a person who has BPD doesn't necessarily fit into a specific category- they can have different traits from various categories. It also gives a perspective on how it effects children raised by mothers diagnosed with BPD.



5. My bro, sis and I have all read this book. Our childhood was like growing up in a psyche ward--except that one of the patients was the warden. I'm 42 years old and I have 2 recurring nightmares--one of which is that I am forced to live with my parents again. I spend the whole time trying to escape from them (literally). Mum's beyond help, but this book has helped us siblings greatly as we try to sort thru the fallout of it all (and try to salvage a relationship with our father). This book also deals with the guys who marry these women.
   
   If you're going to buy only one book on BP disorders in mums, this is it.

5 comments about What a Difference a Daddy Makes: The Indelible Imprint a Dad Leaves on His Daughter's Life.

1. My husband read this book and it has changed how he interacts with our girls. WONDERFUL!! I then gave it to my dad. He LOVES it; he said it is changing his life, how he is looking at things and wants to make things different. He called me after he read the firt chapter and said he had no idea; that he LOVES the book. It is changing our relationship even now...



2. This book was recommended to me by my brother-in-law who has 4 daughters. I just have one. Most of the chapters were relevant to my situation although it really focuses on the teen and young adult situations the author had experienced. It did open my eyes to other areas of my daughter's life I must pay attention to. The last chapter(Epilogue) was hard to read. I really got emotional about it. It really made me think about the future of my daughter and how to stay involved in it throughout adulthood. I highly recommend it.



3. Dr Leman uses his real life family situations to illustrate the positive benefits a father has on his daughters. This book is an easy read. Dr Leman has a good sense of humor which makes it hard to put down. Lots of good suggestions and tips for dads of all ages!



4. I've read other books by Dr. Leman, and this book I bought for my husband and I ended up reading it, too. He's a great author who really tells it like it is and in this book demonstrates how much of an imprint a daddy makes on his daughter's life. I highly recommend it.



5. I read this book 8 years ago when we found out we were going to have a daughter. Now with two daughters, what I learned in this book continues to give me guidance as I raise my girls. I think it is so helpful, that I buy a copy for any friends or family who find out they are having a baby girl. The author is a Christian and makes reference to Biblical principles, but it's not too overpowering for non-Christians and the principles are good no matter your religion.

5 comments about Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy.

1. I keep purchasing these small books full of great information for my daughter, whose little girl is 2 1/2. It is a comfort to my daughter to find confirmation of her intuition and observations about the developement of her child. The suggestions bring, good results, and the whole book makes three generations of us happier. This booklet may be insufficient by itself to raise a well adjusted child, but it contains the essentials. Makes a useful gift as a stocking filler for a parent to be, a little birthday gift etc.



2. I ordered this book after seeing it in an article about behavior of three year olds. I was somewhat disappointed that it was written in 1985. Wanted something more up to date.



3. I love this series of books. They are a bit dated in pictures, etc. But the advice is good, and the authors are extremely reputable. They know their stuff. The advice is as good today as it was when they were first written. I love how they are a fast, easy, read.



4. Worthless. Completely outdated and condescending. I was hoping for some practical insight into my relationship with my three year old and instead I was advised that I should leave her with a teenage babysitter as much as possible. The 80s were a good decade for music but apparently not for parenting advice. I thought $11.00 was a value; this book wouldn't be a value at $1.00.



5. I recommend these books (Your ONE Year Old, Your TWO Year Old, Your THREE Year Old, Your FOUR Year Old, Your FIVE Year Old, Your SIX Year Old, Your SEVEN Year Old, Your EIGHT Year Old, Your NINE Year Old, Your TEN-to-FOURTEEN Year Old. These books were writtten by Louise Bates Ames, PhD, Fances L. Ilg, MD and Sidney M. Baker MD of the Gesell Institute of Human Development. They are NOT a "how to" book for parents -- but rather provide a perspective of life from the child's various ages. I found the books to be of such value that I purchase the entire series for new parents. Somehow I forgot to purchase these books for my niece when she started her family. She expressed some concerns about her seven year old son's behavior (that I knew from experience to be that typical of seven year olds). I purchased the books from the series that will help my niece from here on. She LOVES them! I have a feeling she will use them and pass them along to other parents. My original set are part of my permanent library. I highly recommend these books for your permanent library as well!

5 comments about The Language of Sex: Experiencing the Beauty of Sexual Intimacy.

1. I bought this book for my wife and I to read in bed and to discuss. We were both very disappointed that the stories did not seem at all genuine. Its a rehashing of things said many times-nothing new here and even the things that are said are done very tritely. The only aspect we liked was the pillow talk section that leads to discussion but this was very short. We gave up on the book after several chapters-didn't make it to the end. The only reason I give it two stars is that it may help some people that have problems so i don't want to fully discourage purchases. My marriage is very good and I don't recommend the book for marriages that are good. We went to reading books by John Eldredge regarding our relationships with God and discussing our relationships with God and with each other. We found that much more useful.
   By the way, if you are looking to improve your sex life, this book says that first you need intimacy in your relationship. I agree with that. If you need help in finding intimacy, respect and honor then maybe you can benefit from this book. That is what this book is about. I think the title is misleading on purpose. It is NOT about experiencing the beauty of sexual intimacy, its more about learning intimacy, respect and honor in your relationship that should lead to a better sex life.



2. I love this book! At first I wasn't sure I wanted my husband to read it (he doesn't need any ecouragement here), but it really validated what I need as a woman. I think some husbands take the scripture about the husband and wives bodies not being there own as a scriptural excuse for being selfish. I think Ted and Gary do a great job communicating what women need. It was a great way to discuss a topic that is sometimes really hard. I also loved all their stories, I found it a really easy read-I think this would make a great Father's Day gift!



3. What a great book! In our early years of marriage, we read a lot about the differences between men and women. We felt like we had very open communication about sex. But after 12 years of marriage and 3 kids later, it's easy to fall into a rut. This book has reminded us of the importance of sexual intimacy and has us talking about it again. It's relevant and has been a great discussion starter. We love the summaries and pillow talk questions at the end of each chapter. Thank you Ted C. & Dr. Smalley for sharing your stories and for making what can be an uncomfortable topic, easy to discuss.



4. This book is an awesome book!!! I read it in two days while out camping and found it to be so full of great info. Would recommend all people married and unarried to read this book and glean the nuggets from it.



5. The Language of Sex--A FirstLook Feature
   From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
   
   Is sex keeping your relationship alive? Or better yet, is your relationship keeping your sex life alive?
   
   Dr. Gary Smalley and Pastor Ted Cunningham have just published The Language of Sex: Experiencing the Beauty of Sexual Intimacy. Written from a Christian perspective, this is Dr. Smalley's first book on the topic of sex. Long held as a taboo topic within the church, today's Christians are beginning to open up about their sex lives, its problems, and solutions. Dr. Smalley believes that sex is largely undiscussed because it is a private often uncomfortable subject, similar to talking about one's own funeral. However, to properly honor and protect the sexual relationship, he states that it must be discussed. The Bible, he writes "provides more instruction and guidance for how to make a baby than for how to take care of one! God has given us sex as a gift and it's one to be thoroughly treasured, celebrated and enjoyed."1070759-1506393-thumbnail.jpg
   
   After being in relationship ministry for 45 years, Dr. Smalley has traced most sexual issues in marriage back to relationship problems. Each marriage has a formula for great sex, beginning with honor, developing into security, leading to intimacy, and finalizing with sex. "The best sex of your life starts in your heart, not in your head or between your legs." Sex is the result of building upon a secure loving relationship. "Sexual problems are indicative of greater issues."
   
   Think about your relationship with your spouse. Do you:
   
   Consider your husband/wife to be extremely important?
   
   Value your spouse's thoughts?
   
   Have you kept your commitment to the relationship since your marriage? Sexually? Emotionally?
   
   Do you speak derisively about your spouse when he/she is present? When absent?
   
   Unresolved conflicts about work, money, friends, etc..lead to a lack of security and intimacy in marriage. Dr. Smalley believes that security must be nurtured within the relationship.
   
   Dr. Smalley's Top Tips on Growing Security Within Marriage:
   
   Guard your spouse's heart: Don't go to bed angry at each other. Commit to this, if possible, at the beginning of your marriage. You'll never need to sleep on the couch or leave the home.
   
   Create boundaries: Form a union between you and your spouse, that cannot be separated by anything or anyone. This includes old girlfriends, addictions, and parents.
   
   Don't use sex as a weapon or a reward: Do you have a headache tonight? Once in awhile, that's ok. Every time your spouse wants to have sex? That's a no-no. Do not attempt to control your marriage or spouse with sex. Sex is for both the husband's and wife's mutual enjoyment.
   
   Commit sexually to your spouse for life: Keep sex completely within the bounds of your marriage: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
   
   Enjoy make-up sex by practicing the five-minute rule: Take a five-minute break after an argument. Listen more, speak less, anger slowly.
   
   Today it's easy to just dump the marriage when difficulties arise, looking elsewhere for happiness. But relationships rarely improve with a change of partners. Instead, both men and women should spend a little more time investing in an awareness of their spouses' needs, desires, and uniqueness. Your spouse is the person you chose to love, honor, and commit to. The Language of Sex, a must read for every marriage, will certainly help couples resolve issues, leading to greater intimacy within the marriage.
   
   BackStory: Gary Smalley, best-selling author of The Language of Love (Angel Award Winner), The Blessing and The Two Sides of Love (Gold Medallion Award Winners), is president and founder of the Smalley Relationship Center. His books have sold over six million copies.
   
   Ted Cunningham is the pastor of Woodland Hills community Church in Branson, Missouri, which received a Purpose Driven Church Health Award in 2006. Ted is a speaker with the Smalley Relationship Center.
   
   5 Stars

5 comments about Grandfather Remembers: Memories for My Grandchild.

1. This was a great Christmas gift for my grandpa, and it was delivered well in advance. Thank you!



2. This was published in the 1980s and it has a dated look and feel to it. I returned it.



3. I looked at several grandparent memories books at a bookstore. I thought this one was the most modern and had the best remembrances that I want my child to know about her grandparents.



4. I am at the age where so many of my friends are having their first grandchild, and I want to do something special for them. This book is it!



5. I ordered two copies of this along with one copy of Grandma's Special Memories: A Keepsake Record Book. Despite being listed as in stock, this book is not available. Amazon ended up canceling this part of my order, thus costing me my free super-shipper saving. I ended up returning the Grandma book (unfortunately at my own expense) because I couldn't find a Grandpa book to coordinate with it.
   
   I just ordered Memories for My Grandchild, and got a message today that the other items in my order are shipping separately because this book isn't available yet! I sure hope this book isn't "in stock" like this book!
   
   My grandma filled out Grandmother Remembers a Written Heirloom for My Grandchild for me. When she died suddenly, it became an asset for planning her funeral as well as for coping with her loss. I set the book out at the dinner following her funeral and our friends and family really enjoyed reading through it and looking at all of the pictures she added. It is one of my most prized possessions now!

5 comments about Calling in "The One": 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life.

1. this book is fantastic. i bought it at the suggestion of the bodhi tree bookstore sale person who said it was the most popular relationship book in the store. orignially i bought it for a friend who had asked me to recommend a book about relationships. but as i paged through it at home i realize i wanted to buy it for myself, too. i am single and i do want to meet 'the one'- but i am not at the place where i'd buy a book about finding him. but this book is not really about finding the one as it is about becoming that which you seek to find. if you are looking for love you need to be love- and you need to love yourself fully and completely. if you are looking for security you need to find security in yourself first rather than look for someone who can make you feel secure. if you are looking for trust you need to trust yourself first before you can trust anyone else. it's all very basic psychological stuff- but even the most psychologically savy can learn a thing or two from this book. especially when it's your blind spots that are causing you to not be open to love. even freud couldn't see his own blind spots.
   
   this book does take a commitment though. the 1 star reviewer who said it was too demanding and too psychologically hard to bear was right in a sense. but the point of the book is to show you that the reason you haven't met mister or miss right isn't because you just don't have any luck- it's because there are blocks in your psyche that are deep issues that need to be dealt with in order for you to be fully open to love. that is not easy work. in our fast-food/short-cut culture where people are learning speed reading so they can get through a book in 10 minutes- this book could feel like getting stuck behind grandpa driving in the fast lane. but there is a point to the intensity of the lessons and the necessity of a commitment to doing the lessons each day for 7 weeks.
   
   it is inevitable that those who read this book are going to perceive it in their own way as a result of experiences in their own lives. so someone who hates it has their whole history backing them up for hating it. i would say check it out and see for yourself. of all the relationship books out there- this is the one that makes you take the most responsibility for yourself and requires you to truly know yourself. in my opinion that is the only way one can find 'the one' and be able to create a healthy, lasting relationship with him or her. you may meet 'the one' before you truly know yourself- but those relationships are typically the ones that don't last and end in divorce. relationships are not easy. they take work. if you want to do the work in order to reap the rewards- read this book.
   
   (as a side note- i have recommended this book to 6 people now and they each had their own reactions to it. they all have had resistance come up in some form or another to doing the lessons or committing to the reading each day. some were not ready for the work- others were. it's all about where you are at right now in this moment. also- this book is written for women- but i would recommend it for men, too. incidentally i recommended it to my ex and he and i are doing the lessons together. the author recommends you get a friend to support you on your journey and highly recommend it as well.)



2. I intially picked this book up as a guide to bring love into my life but got so much more. The exercises, which are necessary for the success of the book, are enormously empowering, healing, comforting, inspiring, revealing, and fun. This is the only dating/self-discovery book that I have found that has the reader feeling like they are actually participating in changing/(bringing love) into their life and seeing/feeling immediate results. It differs from many other well written books in that although others are well written; they lack the specific tools for the reader to feel like they can actually control their lives. I could not wait to read this book every day. Life changing!



3. This is an amazing book that not only tells you of the magic of creating the love of your life, but also shows you how to manifest it as well. With concrete exercises and examples, with stories that illustrate them, and with spiritual and inspirational wisdom to help you along the way, this is book that will help make your dreams of love and partnership come true.
   
   Michael Z, Author, The Wisdom of the Rooms A Year of Weekly Reflections



4. I have been using this book for over a week and I am really enjoying the exercises and journaling! I find this book to be incredibly eye opening and inspiring! I am getting alot out of this,it is worth every penny! I feel it is increasing my confidence and helping me to make better relationship choices! We all have unhealthy patterns or "types" we need to break away from and this book is helping me to put everything in clearer perspective!



5. When you were broken heart, it's worth reading and get peppy to get new love!