Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
PART I: THE NEW SHAPE OF PARENTHOOD
- GROWING PAINS FOR GROWN UPS
- A FEW TRIALS AND TRAVAILS OF THE FIRST YEARS
- THE NEW SHAPE OF FATHERHOOD: OPPORTUNITY IN A QUIET REVOLUTION
- IF YOU’RE GOING THRU FERTILITY TREATMENT
- IF YOU’RE EXPECTING TWINS OR MULTIPLES
- ISSUES FOR THE OLDER PARENT
- LIVING OUR CHILDREN’S LIVES VS FOLDING THEM INTO OURS
- BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PARENTS, A PEER GROUP, A SAFETY NET
- PARENTING PERSPECTIVES: MANAGING BEHAVIORS vs DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS vs EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS vs DEVELOPMENTAL PHASES
- LESSONS IN HUMILITY, FORGIVENESS, AND RECONNECTING
- PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND MORE FREAKIN’ PATIENCE!
- FEELINGS OF ANGER
- MOM IS PART OF THE FAMILY AND HER NEEDS COUNT TOO
- OUSIDE CRITISISM AND FEELINGS OF INCOMPETANCY
- LIVING IN A WORLD OF UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
- PERINATAL MOOD DISORDERS
PART II: THE HIDDEN FORCES SHAPING MODERN PARENTHOOD
- INTRO TO CHANGES OF THE LAST 100 YEARS
- FEAR BASED CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND PARENTING
- CONCERTED CULTIVATION VS ACCOMPLISHMENT OF NATURAL GROWTH
- THE PATHLESS JOURNEY
- MULTI AGED PLAY GROUPS
PART III: THE NITTY GRITTY OF PARENTING
22. COMMON ISSUES THAT COME UP IN THE EARLIEST YEARS OF PARENTING
- STAYING SANE IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WITH TWINS
- WHAT ONE BABY DOES, THE OTHER BABY DOES
- AVERTING DIAPER DISASTERS
- SOOTHING FUSSY INFANTS
- REFLUX
- BREAST FEEDING VS BOTTLE FEEDING
- TANDEM BOTTLE FEEDING AND THE DOUBLE JUGGLE
- 8. SLEEPING BABIES
- MONITORING BABIES OR PEEK-A-BOO! I SEE YOU!
- HIRING HELPERS: WHEN DAILY LIFE ISN’T WORKING
- FINDING NANNIES
- HOW TO GET OUT SOLO WITH TWINS i.e. “CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS”
- DOUBLE STROLLERS
- TEACHING BABIES TO ENJOY STROLLER TIME
- DIAPER BOXES, PLASTIC CUPS, AND SCOTCH TAPE
- SAFETY, CHILD-PROOFING, EMERGENCY KITS
- GROWTH CHARTS, HEALTH ISSUES, TALKING TO DOCTORS
23. ISSUES OF THE LATER EARLY YEARS OF PARENTING
- KID TIME OUTS…NO, MOMMY TIME OUTS…YES!
- TODDLER DEFIANCE A.K.A. WILD BEASTIES!
- 6 MONTH BEHAVIORAL OCCILATIONS
- BATH-TIME CONFLICTS
- CLIMBING OUT OF CRIBS
- TANTRUMS OR BIG FEELINGS
- AGGRESSION
- POTTY TRAINING
- MORE ON POTTY TRAINING: CONSTIPATION AND ENCOPRESIS-THE SECRET SHAME
- SEPERATION ANXIETY
- AVOID PATHOLOGIZING YOUR KIDS BEHAVIOR
- PRE-SCHOOL AND DAY-CARE ISSUES
- DEVELOPMENTAL VARIATIONS
- READING ANXIETY
- KINDERGARTEN READINESS
- REAL KINDERGARTEN READINESS
- SEPERATING TWINS IN SCHOOL OR NOT: EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY TWINS
- NIGHT TIME FEARS AND BED HOPPING KANGAROOS
- PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT BIG KID BEDS
- TALKING ABOUT DEATH WITH YOUNG KIDS
24. “ADVANCED” PARENTING SKILLS, TIPS, AND INSIGHTS
- GIVING THE BEASTIES MORE CONTROL, MORE CHORES, MORE RESPONSIBILITIES
- ALLOWING MORE TIME
- NORMAN ROCKWELL OR REALITY TV?
- BEING SILLY, KEEPING IT POSITIVE
- ENJOYING YOUR CHILD’S SENSE OF HUMOR
- PARENTING A KID WHOSE PERSONALITY DOES NOT RESONATE WITH YOURS
- 7. SASS, SNARK, AND MONOSYLABLES…LONG BEFORE THE TEENS1
- RELATIVES
- CHANNELING ANCESTORS
- BREAKING THE ICE WITH VISITORS
- ORGANIZING TOYS, TEACHING CLEAN UP
- LIVING IN A DISASTER ZONE
- TOO MUCH STUFF
- PARENTING MICHELANGELO
- BUYING CLOTHES FOR NEWBIES
- OWNING VS SHARING TOYS AND THE STRANGE POWER OF KITCHEN TIMERS
- USING REWARDS WITH TWINS
- DOLPHIN TRAINING
- FEEDING KIDS AND INFANTS, FAMILY MEALS
- AIR TRAVEL WITH TWINS OR 2 UNDER 2
- BIRTHDAY PARTIES
- LEARNING TO SWIM
- PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM DROWNING: PARENTAL SKILLS
- CAR SEATS AND CAR SAFETY
- FEAR OF TOXINS, EVALUATING RISKS
PART IV: THE BIG PICTURE
25. IT TAKES A FAMILY
- THE VALUE OF FAMILY
- WORDS FOR THE WORKING PARENT
- LET SPOUSE DO IT THEIR WAY
- MAKING IT WORK FOR PARENTS
- GIVING THANKS
26. THE MORAL OF THE STORY OR WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE TRYING TO DO HERE?
- PARENTING GOALS: MY TWO CENTS WORTH
- KIDS ARE LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES…
- PRACTICE COMPASSION IN EVERYDAY LIFE