Pregnancy & Parenthood

From the author ofA Wedding in the Family, Annette Byford continues her examination of how mothers experience life changes in family contexts and how it impacts their sense of who they are. The book picks up the theme of family transitions and moves it to the wider focus of what happens to a family when children grow up and leave home, and the particular challenges this phase brings.Becoming a mother is not just a question of learning how to bring up a child - it brings a profound change of identity. The same happens years later, when children leave home and the job is, supposedly, done.The author draws on her own experiences, both personal and professional, to discuss how mothers negotiate this change. She includes material from interviews with mothers and looks at these experiences against the background of analytic psychotherapy and family therapy. Also included is an exploration of images and depictions of mothers-in-law, grandmothers etc in literature and media, along with several, illustrative short stories on the theme of mothers and their adult children. Throughout the book there are discussions about what constitutes a successful or unsuccessful transition.This title will appeal to readers, mainly mothers, who are over fifty and interested in psychological processes in families, who may well have read books on childcare when their children were young, but who find themselves unprepared for this stage of motherhood.

Even if children know their phonics and ABC's inside out and can read every book in their book bag, why is it still so difficult to get them to want to read and write? How do we begin to get our children excited about literacy? The answer might surprise you...let them play!Featuring 40 engaging play-based activities, this book makes literacy so fun that children won't notice they're also actively developing reading and writing skills. From blow painting words to making paper chain sentences, each activity can be done using household items and they are adaptable for children of any age and ability, making learning accessible for all. With charming black and white line illustrations to depict each activity, this is a great way to connect with children while helping to build their literacy skills at the same time.

If your child or teen recently told you they are transgender, non-binary or genderfluid, you're bound to have questions. You may wonder how best to support your child's transition and doubt whether you are making the right decisions.When her son came out as transgender, Tammy Plunkett had the same worries. In Beyond Pronouns, she shares her candid experiences learning to navigate her child's transition and provides clear and practical guidance to help you do the same. She deals with many frequently asked questions, including:- Is this a phase?- Why not wait until they're an adult?- How do I tell others my child is gender-diverse?- Where do we start a child's transition?Offering gentle guidance through the first 100 days and beyond, Tammy uniquely addresses the need for parents to be supported so they can best care for their child. You will find ways to face common fears, have important conversations with your child, be a good ally and much more, with age-appropriate approaches that aim for a happy and connected family.

Parenting isn't easy, and parenting a child with a Global Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability, or Autism can be challenging. However, a lot of parenting strategies are straightforward once you get your head around them. With the right knowledge, environment, interactions, responses and understanding, you can help reduce your child's anxiety, build their confidence, and help them develop learning and communication skills.Based on his work as a Clinical Psychologist working with children developing differently, Dr Joshua Muggleton provides a comprehensive, step-by-step parenting plan that will support you to embed good practice at home from day one. The book outlines how to provide the right environment for your child to learn and grow, how to model and encourage new skills, how to organise routines, and how to make these strategies work in family life. By getting things right for your child early on, you can help prevent emotional and behavioural challenges before they arise, and will be better able to understand and support your child when they do. These strategies are designed to work across all neurodevelopmental conditions, and take into account co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, meaning none of the advice in the book requires your child to have a specific diagnosis. It also includes downloadable examples of charts, how-to guides for creating visual resources tailored to your child's individual needs, and downloadable chapters on sleep and siblings.

One Last Cry!ESTRANGEMENT IS A DISCONNECTION IN COMMUNICATION. NO PHONE CALLS, NO RETURNED TEXT MESSAGES, NO VISITS, ONLY SILENCE! Adult child estrangement is generally both a physical and emotional experience. It leaves a parent feeling invisible to their children. The abandonment and the resulting shock causes a parent untold emotional and psychological anguish (and may even cause physical pain), lasting for days, weeks, months and sometimes years! As a former estranged adult child, the author provides insights, guidance, and actionable steps towards healing for parents suffering from adult child estrangement. Having overcome this painful experience, she sagaciously advises parents to seek healing through professional counseling and includes the items which helped facilitate her healing.If you are a parent suffering from this growing epidemic, it is time to stop suffering, move on with your life, and boldly declare "e;I'm not crying anymore. This is my One Last Cry!"e;

In this unabridged audiobook version of her heartwarming title, Elaine Halligan shares the true story of her son Sam, who by the age of seven had been excluded from three schools and was later labelled with a whole host of conditions ranging from autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) to pathological demand avoidance (PDA), before finally being diagnosed with dyslexia. He had become 'the Alphabet Kid'. His family never gave up on him, however Drawing lessons from Sam's transformational journey from difficult child to budding entrepreneur, Elaine has teamed up with parenting expert Melissa Hood to offer encouragement to parents who may be concerned about what the future might hold, and to demonstrate how with the right support and positive parenting skills their children can grow up to surprise and delight them. Interspersed throughout the narrative are the reflections and insights of parenting expert Melissa Hood, who illustrates the key concepts from Sam's story and shares practical positive parenting techniques to help parents better connect with their children. Also included are contributions from Sam himself providing an additional, uniquely rich perspective that will help deepen parents' understanding of their children's feelings and emotions. Run time: 353 minutes.

'The lives of women are inextricably linked to the well-being of children. If they are not educated, if they are not healthy, if they are not empowered, the children are the ones who suffer.' (UNICEF report, 2006) The study this book is based upon was of a pioneering facilitating programme enabling low-income mothers with little to no outside support to attend college or university. The women's stories are told in their own words and are used to explore the importance of education as a way to improve their and their children's lives. The book begins with an engaging Foreword from Rosemary H. Balsam, FRCPsych (London), MRCP (Edinburgh), Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale Medical School. Followed by the author's introduction, the book is then split into three parts. Part I sets the background of the study itself and of Western societal attitudes towards single mothers over the centuries. Mary Kay O'Neil also investigates common maternal tasks, the effect of parental and relational experiences, the life impact of becoming a mother, and the various influences on the decision mother alone. Part II considers the characteristics basic to effective mothering: resilience, autonomy, and caring. In the light of the author's interest in women's development, Part III explores the psychodynamic understanding of mothers alone without resources, and outlines society's role in providing the opportunity for them to become successful mothers. The parts are followed by an Afterword to summarise what was learned through the women's generous openness and to suggest societal improvements for increased opportunity. The book closes with two Appendices. The first tells the story of O'Neil's mother, who also mothered alone. The second delivers the research findings of the study for those interested in learning more. This clearly written book underlines the UNICEF statement above and does much to engage with the debate on support for those most vulnerable members of society.

This book brings critical, scholarly attention to the systematic positioning and subjective experiences of mothers involved in child protection processes in "e; risk"e; -based child protection systems (Parton, Thorpe and Wattam; Connolley; Swift and Callahan). While mothers are typically the primary focus of child protection prevention and investigations (Azzopardi et al.; Fallon et al.; Swift and Callahan), their gendered experiences, challenges and triumphs are seldom given space in the academic literature, practice and/or public spaces to be seen or heard. Chapters in this volume build on existing literature to illustrate the structural positioning and/or lived experiences of mothers who come into contact with child protection for a variety of reasons: substance (ab)use, positive HIV status, child injury, fetal alcohol syndrome, colonial assessment methodologies, young age, incarceration, childbirth, and intimate partner violence. This book offers three unique contributions to existing literature on mothering in child protection. First, it creates space for mothers involved in child protection to have their voices heard. Second, it acknowledges the centrality of mothers' subjective experience in keeping children safe. Finally, it challenges dominant, often dehumanizing narratives of mothers in involved in child protection through providing a more nuanced understanding of their lives. Ultimately this anthology calls for a fundamental rethinking of how mothers involved in child protection proceedings are conceptualized in child protection research, policy and practice. It is recommended that mothers voices must be central to humanely reforming child protection systems.

You'll Be a Wonderful Dad is your practical and emotional guide on fatherhood in the lead up and months following the birth of a baby.Once a letter to a dear friend and quickly passed on from dad to dad, Ailsa Wild's warm and encouraging words of precious love and excitement have expanded into a beautiful hardback book to be shared on the parenting journey.You'll Be a Wonderful Dad is a kind and important guide on how dads can be proactive in supporting their partners and family through the lead up to birth and new parenting: from practising emotional labour and sharing the mental load to embracing play and connection. Complete with illustrations from Bernard Caleo, this is a must-read and perfect gift for new or expecting fathers.Since writing her original letter, Ailsa has heard from countless families sharing what her words have taught them. Becoming a father is a time of love and learning, when sexism and gender roles can be frustratingly reinforced. But dads belong right in the middle of their families, experiences all the joy and messiness. It's going to be wonderful. You're going to be wonderful.

Children diagnosed with developmental delays have specific medical needs that are often underserved. It is very important for each child to receive appropriate interventions in a timely manner, both environmental and pharmacological. Dr. Khadija Khan relies on her twenty plus years of experience as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to provide simple guidance and practical resources that helps parents to navigate the complex process of diagnosis and interventions. Dr. Khan provides her insight into various aspects of atypical development and the comorbid emotional and behavioral challenges which are commonly associated with developmental delays. As a Child Psychiatrist she believes in a multidisciplinary approach to maximize the learning potential of each child. She has provided parents with a simple background of medical, neurological and genetic conditions that often surrounds the delays. Parents will feel empowered to learn about the early screening, assessments, pertinent workups and therapeutic interventions. Included are case examples and list of resources. In this handbook for parents of children with special needs, a child Psychiatrist shares her clinical wisdom and step by step understanding of working through the system of care. This book will bring hope and joy for the dedicated parents and caretakers in all areas of discipline working with these children.

Walk a mile in the shoes of a sickle cell warrior, who hoped to fulfill her calling in this world through thick and thin. No matter the pain and the scars she fought to blend in like all the normal human beings.Almost everything she did was through 'survival mode'; at work, at home, in school and with the community. You will discover how this bloodborne disease knocks her down and even makes her vulnerable numerous times and then, unexpectedly - she encounters a brush with death.Through her focus, courage, gratitude nature and zealous attitude was she able to accomplish so much successfully.

This book is a precursor to fatherhood and how fathers can develop a deep love for their newborn children. It exemplifies a father's vision for his children's lives and how those children can become whatever they pursue to be in life with their father's help.

Take a tropical adventure with a boy named Jamarion who saves his parents Beef Patty business with the help of his parrot Repeat.

"e;Pray This Way"e; is a fun rhythmic way to talk about prayer with children. This book gives parents the opportunity to incorporate prayer in children's daily life.

Mel Walker passed away on December 2, 2021. This book contains his final thoughts, lessons, and answers to some of the most important questions related to youth ministry. His goal was to leave as many resources as possible for those seeking to reach the next generation for Christ. If you have questions about youth ministry, it's likely that this book has answers!

During a bus ride with a group of fellow college students, Jenny Booth Potter came to a life-changing realization.whatdoing nothing is no longer an optionvowWith candor and humility, Jenny shares her very imperfect but relentless journey of growing in awareness of racism, of reckoning with her own white privilege, and of learning how to be an antiracism advocate alongside her young family. If you're anything like Jenny was on that bus-overwhelmed by the enormity of racism and compelled to do something, but uncertain if you can actually make any difference-then this book is for you. Join Jenny and see for yourself what everyday antiracism looks like.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lion in the Living Room comes a fascinating and provocative exploration of the biology of motherhood that ';is witty, reassuring, and takes motherhood out of the footnotes and places it front and centerwhere it belongs' (Louann Brizendine, MD, New York Times bestselling author). Everyone knows how babies are made, but scientists are only just beginning to understand the making of a mother. Mom Genes reveals the hard science behind our tenderest maternal impulses, tackling questions such as why mothers are destined to mimic their own moms (or not), how maternal aggression makes females the world's most formidable creatures, and how a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic can make or break a mom. Weaving the latest research with Abigail Tucker's personal experiences, Mom Genes ';is an eye-opening tour through the biology and psychology of a role that is at once utterly ordinary and wondrously strange' (Annie Murphy Paul, author of Origins).

Fence: /fens/ + Bat: /bat/ = Fencebat: /fens-bat/ A game invented during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 by two young children creatively fending off boredom, of which the object appears to be sticking a foam bat through the lats of a backyard fence as comically as possible. Take a glimpse into author and journalist Jim Schneider's life at the beginning of 2020 as his family's daily routine turned upside down through the new reality of lockdowns, shutdowns, and closures. Fencebat: A Big Kid's Guide to Parenting, Personal Growth, and Play reveals how Jim grappled with everything by blogging and chronicling his life. Every day. For 450 days. Jim didn't hold back. He wrote about the trials and tribulations of making unholy choices between safety and sanity, grocery hoarding, and managing the balance of being a parent and a professional in a confined space. Jim shares his family's journey following his son being identi-fied as autistic and seeking support for him at a time when everything was on hold. Through humor, thoughtful perspective, and heartfelt stories, Jim opens the door for reflection and gratitude in the realm of parenting and personal growth. If there's one thing that Jim shares with the world, it's that time is precious when it comes to parenting. As you build those special memories with your children, Jim's recollection is a time capsule of discovery, development, and never forgetting the importance of play.

CAN PARENTS CREATE AND FOSTER PASSIONIN THEIR CHILDREN? Ask Jackie Gouché, the author of RAISING KINGS, who inherited the gift of music from her grandmother and mother, and she has passed the gift down to the fourth generation, her sons. Jackie and her husband, Ronald, overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges, including addiction, incarceration, and seven years as a single mom, while raising her kings. The gift of music became her strength, and she used that strength to nurture and develop that same gift in her three kings.These three young, Grammy-nominated artists are taking the music industry by storm. Readers will discover that RAISING KINGS is not a how-to book on parenting but simply the story of Jackie Gouché's experience in Raising Kings. DAVION FARRIS - R&B Artist, Producer, Songwriter & EngineerD SMOKE (Daniel Anthony Farris) - Musician, Rapper, Producer & Songwriter; 2019 Winner of the Rhythm & Flow, A Netflix Rap CompetitionSiR DARRYL FARRIS - R&B Artist, Producer, Songwriter & Engineer

A Catholic Postpartum is the best book for mothers to read in order to prepare for their postpartum time. This book is packed full of ideas on how to get through the postpartum phase everything from breastfeeding, nutrition to postpartum depression and more. Rebozo bone closing ceremony and Churching of Women has been added to this newest edition. There is a chapter on how to get your postpartum plan started as well. We go over SMART Mother model as well. This book is open to any Christian mother who would like a little more spirituality in her postpartum.

"e;If every parent receiving a diagnosis of autism for their child could read this book, it would avoid so much misunderstanding and unhappiness."e; - Dr Clare LawrenceA diagnosis - or a suspected diagnosis - of autism in a child can be overwhelming for a parent, especially if you know nothing, or very little, about either of them.Dr Luke Beardon is a well-known expert in the field, and this book is an accessible, easy-to-read introduction for those encountering autism for the first time. Gently and honestly, it guides you through the issues you might encounter, busting the myths around autism, and explaining what the diagnosis means for your child, for you, and for your wider family. It looks at sensory profiles, helps you handle your child's anxiety, tackles education, and answers a variety of frequently asked questions.Other topics covered by this sensitive and empowering book include how to have conversations with your child (the 'autistic voice'), how to manage your child's education and - importantly - the undeniable strengths of autism.As an introduction to - and a celebration of - the intriguing, beguiling, frustrating and remarkable world of autism, this book will help you understand your child's unique value and importance in the world.

Life is chaotic, parenting is hard and many of us know that what we're currently doing just isn't working for anyone. Most of the time we just end up feeling like we're doing a sh*t job.But it doesn't have to be that way. Social worker, parent coach and mum Carla Naumburg presents her own experience of self-compassion to show how this simple evidence-based practice can transform the way you parent. From navigating difficult emotions and dealing with everyday stresses, You Are Not a Sh*tty Parent shows how a bit of self-compassion can lead to a more engaged style of parenting, better relationships with your kids and a lot more joy.Carla's engaging, funny and authentic voice will help you see that there is no such thing as a sh*t parent.

Experiencing a parent or guardian with cancer is extremely difficult for children and adolescents with healthcare professionals and cancer support centres often lacking the specialised knowledge needed to also support these individuals. This practical guide provides a comprehensive and current understanding of the impact of parental cancer on children, young people and families. It offers a longitudinal account of the impact of cancer through the different stages of the illness and explores the impact of culture and international contexts on how families experience parental cancer. The book also crucially focuses on how to support children, young people and families by examining existing interventions. Important chapters on death and bereavement, and on self-care for practitioners also supplement the book. A valuable handbook for healthcare practitioners from a range of specialities working with patients and families affected by cancer, including clinical psychology, counselling, nursing, oncology, palliative care and social work.

Have fun, create, learn, and help the planet with the young kids in your life through 50 colorful, enriching activities made from stuff you already have.With Recycle and Play, learn how to transform cardboard, bubble wrap, lids, containers, egg cartons, and other things that might otherwise be headed to a landfill into hours of engaging play at home. The fun, process-oriented projects invite children to be creative, explore senses, develop skills, and discover how things work, all while reinforcing the importance of reducing waste as part of a sustainable lifestyle.In this book, you'll find tips on how to extend play and learning for each project as well as helpful hints to engage your kids to come up with fun additions and extensions of their own.While each of the projects includes clear step-by-step instructions and materials lists, you should feel free to adjust to your child's interests and the materials you have on hand.Organized by the type of material used, the zero-waste projects include:Car Garage and Ramp made from toilet paper tubes and cardboard (Learning Skills: Fine motor skills, creative play, and color recognition)Mess-Free Bubble Wrap Painting (Learning Skills: Art, sensory exploration, creative skills, color recognition)Busy Board Lid Activity (Learning Skills: Fine motor skills, cognitive skills)Alligator Letter Feed made from egg cartons (Learning Skills: Letter recognition, fine motor skills)Milk Carton School Bus with family photos (Learning Skills: Social development, cognitive skills)Matching Memory Game made from wipe lids (Learning Skills: Cognitive skills, fine motor skills, memory, object recognition) Bond with your child, help them learn through play, and instill a lifelong respect for the environment with Recycle and Play.

Still a Mum is a wholehearted book on grief and losing a baby that provides wisdom and support through careful insight, helping you feel less alone.What no parent wants to face: Meagan Donaldson was 23 weeks pregnant when tests confirmed that her unborn baby had a rare condition. Told the prognosis for their daughter was poor, they made a heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to their little girl. Soon after, Violet Grace was born. Still, but perfect.However, her short life left a big impact on her parents-and a network of strangers across the world as her story and the wisdom gained from the experience was shared and a successful fundraiser was created in her honour.Written whilst on maternity leave-with no baby and planning her daughter's memorial instead of a baby shower-and in the preceding year, the author offers healing awareness through a fractured heart which helps readers understand pregnancy loss and grief.Still a Mum is a story about loss, life and love and finding joy again after heartbreak. Shining a spotlight on the stigma that still exists around pregnancy loss, not just for the parents but for other family members as well.You'll uncover true support and finding strength through pain and experiencing parenthood through a unique lens.

A modern motherhood book to connect you back to yourselfAs we enter into motherhood, we are often given a filtered version of what motherhood will be like with a silent list of expectations on how to be a "e;good"e; mother. This outdated story is what sets us on a course where we place pressure on ourselves to be it all and do it all. Ultimately, we lose ourselves.Worldwide, we have mothers who are surviving instead of thriving. Depleted, unfulfilled and longing to find the woman they have lost since becoming a mother. Now, women are calling from within their souls to find their own version of motherhood that feels good and is free from judgement, guilt and self-sacrifice.Conscious Motherhood is not just every woman's invitation to change the story of motherhood, it also encourages you to journey into yourself, to heal your heart and welcome balance between yourself and mother.This modern motherhood book will help you find balance and peace of mind through embracing all the experiences of motherhood - both the beautiful and madness. It will guide you to welcoming more understanding and acceptance of the imperfect beauty of motherhood.Get ready to re-love yourself, trust your intuition and create dreams alongside an enriched experience of motherhood. This is your homecoming to the woman you were always meant to be.

An intimate and inspiring memoir of my journey of sadness, utter despair, sheer determination and triumph to become a mother after eleven rounds of In Vitro Fertilisation.I fought so hard for so many years treading down the infertility road. Throughout the obstacles and setbacks of which there were many, the flame inside me to meet my child never burnt out. I just knew I needed to be a mum. I often cried into my pillow at night, hoping IVF would work. After all, it was all I had. I tried to remain calm in case I was the reason it wasn't working. Yet I was so mentally and physically exhausted. I convinced myself to rest and while I did, I quietly dug deep for strength to get through the hard moments that kept sneaking up on me. When I'd given my all, it still wasn't working. I wondered how anyone could possibly understand my torment. I felt like I was in another country and couldn't speak the language. I got down and very upset and felt so incredibly alone. The repeated crawl back up was so very painful and difficult and left me feeling I was holding on by my fingertips. Prior to my dad passing away unexpectedly at round five of IVF, each time it failed, he would say, "e;No Maher ever gives up."e; Mum guided me by advising me to take it one day at a time. I trusted my parent's belief in me, but I felt helpless, and I did not know how to change the outcome apart from turning up to what was expected of me next. I then paced myself minute by minute, to get through the everlasting emotional storm.When I was struggling to wait for the next step and had exhausted all my options on planet earth, I turned to the sky. I wished the universe would align the stars and I politely asked to be graced with my Miracle from Mahers. I somehow got up at round eight, with a renewed determination and made it to the victory round. i While IVF can create a pregnancy with many successful deliveries, IVF does not guarantee a baby, a full term delivery or a live birth. My decision to undertake IVF was never guaranteed to result in a living baby for me, and while this possibility absolutely rattled me, it was a risk I was prepared to take. I knew very well, once IVF worked for me, that the outcome I wanted, which was a living healthy baby, was not promised and this made me incredibly nervous for the duration of my entire pregnancy. Miscarriage, stillborn, premature birth and infant loss have brought many tears to four special women in my life. With my deepest admiration and gratitude, I have permission to share their stories. My saving grace was optimism and hoping science would result in the fairy tale that IVF can be, because I could not see the finish line. I now feel determined to help and inspire others so their flame of hope might also continue to burn.