I have read SO many parenting books and this one rates up in the top 3, along with Parenting with Love and Logic and Raising Your Spirited Child. This book isn't just for parents of defiant/aggressive kids but for all parents. It is comprehensive, but simple to read without alot of redundancy to wade through. The author doesn't have any elaborate, complicated plans for you to follow, just practical, realistic but excellent parenting advice. If you are ready to follow his guidelines, you are ready to have a closer and healthier relationship with your child.

This book is good for beginners, but I've already tried EVERYTHING Dr. Condrell said before ever buying this book (WITHOUT reading it in a book, or magazine, or getting advice from my pediatrician), and it STILL doesn't work! I guess maybe I have an extra stubborn 3 year old, but nothing in his book is news to me. Was a waste of my money!

This book has a lot of good information in it about how to deal with bratty behavior both at the toddler and the teen level. I didn't agree with everything in the book and I thought some of the proposed punishments were a bit harsh, like if a kid does not clean his room, he is grounded to his room after school and if not finished cleaning by dinner time does not get to eat with the family. I also could have done without the sarcasm, such as the list on "How to Have a Troubled Family". But there is a lot of good advice in the book. I especially liked "behavior that is rewarded will be repeated" and the analogy that dolphins in a show don't do the tricks because they were screamed at or spanked, they do it because they were rewarded when they got it right.

The greatest part about this book is how easy it is to read and how directly applicable it is. No long-winded stuffy professors. This book shows you exactaly what to do, and not do, and tells it with humor. An easy read that will make you feel much more sane!

I am sorry that I am not using this space to review this book. I have read it and would recommend it to any parent with children. I would also tell anyone who has the opportunity to see Kenneth Wooden speak take the time and go. He is wonderful to listen to and has a lot of valuable information.

I am writting because I have a close friend who has two children that have been abused by their father. She can't find any reading material on this topic. If anyone knows of a good book please let me know so I can pass the information on to her.

Thank-you very much.

trgconstruction@voyager.net

The author does an excellent job in presenting the information needed to protect our children. We are presenting a child safety fair, and this book will be used as a door prize to those attending. Some of the information is frightening, to think that such monsters can exist in our society is unsettling. (Read the section concerning pedophile groups, you will understand!) It's time to make a stand against those that would corrupt our kids. This is a great place to start learning how. Read it & live it! Your kids just might be at stake! Thank you.

it was a great book to read. very enjoyable

Thoughts Of A Boy Growing Up was written by Kenneth Nelson to be a surprise Christmas gift for his seven grandchildren. Nelson shares the story of his life including attending a mountain school, learning about birds and animals as a child, what it was like for him when his family moved to town, being a dairyman, attending Ray Union School, his brother leaving, and a great deal more. These are stories told with the simple candor of someone reflecting on their life experiences to the benefit and entertainment of others, so that they can get a sense of the people and events of a time now gone, but which served to create the man that yesteryear boy would grow up to be. Highly recommended.

"Who tucks you in at night?" a little boy wonders as he plays with his new pals, a band of orphan snow children. In this story about the importance of family, a small boy worries about the welfare of his new friends, the snow children.
The lighthearted rhyming text of this book gives it a feel of fun and warmth. Children will enjoy listening to the melodic rhythm of the words as the book is read aloud. The illustrations are truly beautiful paintings done by Kirk on canvas. The texture of the canvas is clearly visible, giving depth to the illustrations. The pictures do support the text in that they use vibrant, exciting colors to enhance the mood of playfulness. The reader can also readily identify the expressions of each of the characters in the story, allowing him/her to capture the true feeling of the story. This is a great family read, one to really snuggle up to during the long days of winter!

The book opens with Jacob, a small boy, and his dairy farmer parents, making a snow child in a field. The snowman comes to life to join a wandering band of other parent-less snow children. Later Jacob joins the children for a rollicking game of snowball. But Jacob notices that there's no one to take care of the snow children. "Jacob frowns, you lost your glove. You tore your hat it isn't right. You need someone to care for you. Who tucks you in at night?"

When the snow children wake a sleeping bear, there are some tense moments as the bear chases Jacob up a tree. However, Jacob's parents arrive, chase off the bear and rescue him. The next day Jacob returns and builds snow parents for his friends.

My 21-month-old daughter really enjoys this book. The rhymes are engaging, "Whoosh! Blows the winter wind, 'Caw!' laughs the crow. Crunch! go the little boots on fresh-fallen snow." And while she seems to be a bit anxious when Jacob's being chased by the bear, she's very interested when his parents rescue him.

I love Daniel Kirk's illustrations and they are of the same style as other books of his we own, "Hush Little Alien" and "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo". However, my husband doesn't like his style. It's hard to describe, but the illustrations seem to be slightly darker than most of our other children's books. On our first read through, when "the child of snow comes to life to join a wandering band", my husband's reaction was, "Creepy." But I remember he had a similar reaction to a clown in "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo", so I think it's Kirk's illustrations more than the story. As I said, I love them, but to each his own.

This children's story is wonderful for a family to read together and is sure to be a favorite for any child. The story focuses on the importance of family and caring in a most endearing way. Everyone needs someone to look out after them is a theme that has been used before but Daniel Kirk has found a new way to express an old sentiment. The illustrations are vibratant and full, though the story could stand on it's own. This is a seasonal book that will be fun to read any time of the year!!!

It is a blessing that we live in an age where the subject of gender identity disorder can be discussed in such an intelligent and scholarly manner. It is a blessing because there are many individuals who suffer from said disorder and often go untreated. Those who are unhappy and seeking enlightenment on the topic of gender identity would benefit tremendously from this work, which offers a glimpse of hope in the form of the unbiased compassion of authors Zucker and Bradley. This is not, I repeat not a work to be feared and distrusted. It is a book of hope for many.

This is an excellent sourcebook which makes a valiant attempt to present the related issues in a fair manner. For those of us who encounter GID persons in our work, this piece of scholarship offers some guideposts in an ethically, dilemma-ridden, area of clinical practice. These authors thrust themselves into the thick of it and lay out the facts behind each argument they present. I learned a tremendous amount from reading this book. I disagree with the prior writer who stated that the authors advocate ways of reducing the likelihood of homosexuality as in the opening chapter they cite Freud's admonition to theorists who would only look at homosexuality as the only [] oreintation in need of examination. The tone of the authors reflects their belief that being heterosexual is easier in this culture and that parents usually want what is going to make their childrens' lives easier. This book does not simply accept homophobic hateful "scholarship" as truth, but attempts to maximize the readers access to different ways of understanding the subject topic.

Written by two world-renowned authorities on childhood gender conflicts, this book is a well-researched reference for counselors, teachers, therapists and other trained professionals whose clients include homosexual adolescents and pre-homosexual children. Though somewhat technical, Zucker and Bradley's work is also recommended to parents and guardians whose children are struggling with gender-related difficulties. The authors provide case studies, a thoughtful discussion of ethical issues, and an exhaustive compilation of clinical and empirical research data.
This book thoroughly investigates why some children, as early as age 2, become unhappy with their biological genders and begin to identify with the opposite sex. If left untreated, these children almost always become gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual in later life. Zucker and Bradley suggest a different outcome is possible when appropriate mental health services are provided at an early age. When children are instilled with self-esteem that includes acceptance of their genetic identities, gender conflicts tend to dissipate, the likelihood of future homosexuality diminishes, and the child's overall well-being is enhanced.
Informative and well written, this book deals with a sensitive subject in a fair, balanced, scientifically objective and politically neutral manner. I recommend it to anyone whose policies and choices affect children in general and gender dysphoric children in particular.

I.Q. and SAT tests are supposed to measure 10 to 15% of one's ability only. The Dunns proposed a broader understanding of "giftedness", not as a label, but as a measure of accomplishments. If we identify the child's learning styles and be sensitive to the varying needs of different developmental stages, all children can become more gifted. Though this book was written almost 10 years ago, I'm glad that it is still available. It is a simple, very readable and practical book--an excellent introduction to the Dunn's basic ideas. A useful questionnaire is included for identifying the child's learning style.

I am a pediatrician, so I have a professional vestment in parenting books in addition to raising my own children. Children feel more secure when they know the limits of acceptable behavior. This book tells you how to stop arguing or lecturing and instead establish clear rules with consequences. This is a popular theme in many of the current parenting books such as the "Love and Logic" books by Jim and Charles Fay. Family Rules is very well organized, easy to read, and gives many practical examples. I believe this book is out of print but I'm hoping this review will revive an interest in it.

This book would have been better if it had been called "If You're a Dad, Stay Out of Court If You Can."

With the increase in divorce and changes in way men want to be spend time with their kids as fathers, it's predictable that the number of custody cases will also rise. But little has changed in terms of gender bias. The mother still typically gets the kids, especially if they are young. After my ex took our daughter out of state when our daughter was two and remarried (her third husband), she thought I should disappear and made visitations increasingly difficult. After five years of this, I went to court thinking I could get better visitations, and, at the least, peace of mind by having he the agreement redone. Although I don't regret going to court because my ex was forced to abide by a clearer agreement, I ended up paying more in child support even though my ex made twice what I did at the time, about 15k to my attorney, and had LESS time with my daughter. (I have a Ph.D., a full time job as a prof, no criminal record, no substance abuse, etc., and I had joint custody when my ex left the state. Even though my ex taught one class a semester as a prof, she had our daughter in full time daycare, and even though she described her new husband as "abusive" both to her and to our daughter, the shrink didn't care.) In my state, the court appoints a "guardian ad litem," a shrink who reports to the court. His or her decision is basically final. You can't take hoim to court and examine him. What happens in cases of conflict, I learned later, is that the shrink always shortens the visitations. So if you are not the custodial parent and a man, the deck is really stacked against you. Thus, I would say that if you can manage to negotiate with your ex out of court, by all means do so. Go to court ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. I had a very good attorney. But there was no way I could win. Moreover, the shrink made a new recommendation each year for the whole coming year, so that cost another 500 each year. The good thing is that it was all worth it in terms of the visitations being made more exact. (In our initial agreement, only th enumber of vistations was agreed to, not their length or their dates.) As my daughter has gotten older, she has begun to see for herself just how how unreasonable my ex is (I decided it was best to let her figure things out for herself rather than comment on them to her). I remarried happily when my daughter was eight, and my wife and I have a two year old son, who my daughter loves. So things have worked out, especially for my daughter and me, but also for her and my new wife, and for my wife and me, because we don't have to communicate with my ex (except about pick ups and drop-offs).

In some ways, the court system is a terrible racket. The courts pass the buck to the shrinks, and the shrinks pass the buck right back to the court. Everyone claims to be acting in the "best interest of the child," but that is just empty rhetoric. So stay out of court, if you can. Present yourself as calm and reasonable if you do go to court, and do not correspond by email with your ex. Also, make sure you research the shrinks. Some of them are very conservative about visitations, others are much more reasonable. And use that "best interest of the child" rhetoric too. Never talk about your own needs. They don't count. Somehow, the idea that a child would benefit from having her father be financially stable and emotionally happy is not an idea that shrinks or the courts care apparently about. Don't talk much about yourself unless asked. Don't talk about your ex, and don't express any anger aout her. Do talk about how much you love your daughter. Cry. Get very emotional about ho wmuch you miss her, how you ar concerned about her. And if you do to court, get an agreement that spells everything out in advance--exact dates, etc, for as long in advance as you can. That cuts down on any need to interact with ex. And of course, never talk to your kids about any conflict over the visitations, even if your ex is, and don't talk to them about your ex either, even if she is the ex from hell. Shield them from the conflict as much as you can.

Although I cannot speak for all non-custodial parents (Typically fathers), I can say that when I discovered this book during the winter of 1998, I felt that the author was almost speaking directly to me. Mr. Leving uderstands that our courts and our court-appointed visitation and custody mediators are profoundly gender biased. Prior to reading Fathers's Rights (How very few there are!), I had attended father-support groups for three years, and I had heard some real horror stories, especially concerning problems with denial of visitation. Mr. Leving acknowledges the fact that most mothers do not consider the fathers' visitation right as important-they view these rights as gifts or privileges for them to bestow at their wim. For the many fathers who have had to fight with the tenacity of a pit bull, this book speaks to them. It is further intersting to note that while our society continually decries the absence of fathers, it fails to acknowledge just how difficult it is for fathers to be granted even a modicum of visitation rights, and how equally apathetic judges are when it comes to enforcing them. Indeed, a father who stands on his rights stands on quicksand. It is my belief that if the mothers do not want the fathers in the childrens lives, than the mothers should not have chldren with the fathers. Instead, most mothers enforce the double standard. Unfortunately, Mr. Leving has no advice for the fathers who are poor and must represent themselves as Pro Se litigents. My answer was to go to the local law library and photocopy the statutes on Visitation and Child Support. I then read How To Reprensent Yourself In Court, published by Nolo Press. The modern father needs to become involved with Father Support Groups, and learn all he can about the few legal rights he has. Reading the statutes on visitation is not all that complex. It is also helpful when you do need an attorney that you know the rules of the game. Mr. Leving's book was, for me, a great place to start.

The author of the book, Jeffery Leving, is a well-known divorce lawyer in the Chicago-area, solely because of his commercials shown between Jenny Jones-esque talk shows. Because of the shady credibility that I associate with these lawyers, I wasn't sure what to expect from Leving's book. I can only really say one thing about this book - WOW! Not only is Leving a great writer, but I believe his advice will be truly valuable. (My husband will be fighting his ex-wife for custody in the coming months.) His advice includes what to look for when choosing a lawyer, ways to deal with the "ex", how to respond to interviews by court officials and "experts", and helping your child(ren) through the whole ordeal. I must have highlighted half of the book while reading it! Finally, although Leving makes note of the gender bias in the domestic court system, he does not focus on the issue. That is, where other books whine excessively about the bias problem, Father's Rights addresses gender bias in the courts but then moves on to bigger and more important issues. This is definitely a must-read for any father who sees a custody battle in his future.

Both beautiful and innocent, she becomes the object of quest of Black Magicians. Under the cloak of protection of a White Magic Order her safety at first seems assured. But those places where black and white become gray innocent mistakes begin to happen.

Attempts are made by the White Order to hide her. And when all seems to be within the protection of the Magical Order it becomes apparent there is an informant within the deepest and most sacred chambers of their ritualistic practices.

It becomes apparent the clash against evil and good both lose sight and meaning of the madden as she becomes an object of desire on both sides. White begins to crumble, as direction of the quest is unknown. It seems even one of the most highest adversary of Light becomes an alloy when his concept of the quest is shattered.

In the end there seems to be little difference between White and Black. It was as if some higher force created the quest between Darkness and Light for its own amusement. But amusement and desire are two essential ingredients, which bring two opposites back together for this supprize ending.