INTRODUCTION

PART I: THE NEW SHAPE OF PARENTHOOD

1. GROWING PAINS FOR GROWN UPS
2. A FEW TRIALS AND TRAVAILS OF THE FIRST YEARS
3. THE NEW SHAPE OF FATHERHOOD: OPPORTUNITY IN A QUIET REVOLUTION
4. IF YOU’RE GOING THRU FERTILITY TREATMENT
5. IF YOU’RE EXPECTING TWINS OR MULTIPLES
6. ISSUES FOR THE OLDER PARENT
7. LIVING OUR CHILDREN’S LIVES VS FOLDING THEM INTO OURS
8. BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PARENTS, A PEER GROUP, A SAFETY NET
9. PARENTING PERSPECTIVES: MANAGING BEHAVIORS vs DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS vs EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS vs DEVELOPMENTAL PHASES
10. LESSONS IN HUMILITY, FORGIVENESS, AND RECONNECTING
11. PATIENCE, PATIENCE, AND MORE FREAKIN’ PATIENCE!
12. FEELINGS OF ANGER
13. MOM IS PART OF THE FAMILY AND HER NEEDS COUNT TOO
14. OUSIDE CRITISISM AND FEELINGS OF INCOMPETANCY
15. LIVING IN A WORLD OF UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
16. PERINATAL MOOD DISORDERS

PART II: THE HIDDEN FORCES SHAPING MODERN PARENTHOOD

17. INTRO TO CHANGES OF THE LAST 100 YEARS
18. FEAR BASED CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND PARENTING
19. CONCERTED CULTIVATION VS ACCOMPLISHMENT OF NATURAL GROWTH
20. THE PATHLESS JOURNEY
21. MULTI AGED PLAY GROUPS

PART III:  THE NITTY GRITTY OF PARENTING

22. COMMON ISSUES THAT COME UP IN THE EARLIEST YEARS OF PARENTING

1. STAYING SANE IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WITH TWINS
2. WHAT ONE BABY DOES, THE OTHER BABY DOES
3. AVERTING DIAPER DISASTERS
4. SOOTHING FUSSY INFANTS
5. REFLUX
6. BREAST FEEDING VS BOTTLE FEEDING
7. TANDEM BOTTLE FEEDING AND THE DOUBLE JUGGLE
8. 8. SLEEPING BABIES
9. MONITORING BABIES OR PEEK-A-BOO! I SEE YOU!
10. HIRING HELPERS: WHEN DAILY LIFE ISN’T WORKING
11. FINDING NANNIES
12. HOW TO GET OUT SOLO WITH TWINS i.e. “CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS”
13. DOUBLE STROLLERS
14. TEACHING BABIES TO ENJOY STROLLER TIME
15. DIAPER BOXES, PLASTIC CUPS, AND SCOTCH TAPE
16. SAFETY, CHILD-PROOFING, EMERGENCY KITS
17. GROWTH CHARTS, HEALTH ISSUES, TALKING TO DOCTORS

23. ISSUES OF THE LATER EARLY YEARS OF PARENTING

1. KID TIME OUTS…NO, MOMMY TIME OUTS…YES!
2. TODDLER DEFIANCE A.K.A. WILD BEASTIES!
3. 6 MONTH BEHAVIORAL OCCILATIONS
4. BATH-TIME CONFLICTS
5. CLIMBING OUT OF CRIBS
6. TANTRUMS OR BIG FEELINGS
7. AGGRESSION
8. POTTY TRAINING
9. MORE ON POTTY TRAINING: CONSTIPATION AND ENCOPRESIS-THE SECRET SHAME
10. SEPERATION ANXIETY
11. AVOID PATHOLOGIZING YOUR KIDS BEHAVIOR
12. PRE-SCHOOL AND DAY-CARE ISSUES
13. DEVELOPMENTAL VARIATIONS
14. READING ANXIETY
15. KINDERGARTEN READINESS
16. REAL KINDERGARTEN READINESS
17. SEPERATING TWINS IN SCHOOL OR NOT: EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY TWINS
18. NIGHT TIME FEARS AND BED HOPPING KANGAROOS
19. PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT BIG KID BEDS
20. TALKING ABOUT DEATH WITH YOUNG KIDS

24. “ADVANCED” PARENTING SKILLS, TIPS, AND INSIGHTS

1. GIVING THE BEASTIES MORE CONTROL, MORE CHORES, MORE RESPONSIBILITIES
2. ALLOWING MORE TIME
3. NORMAN ROCKWELL OR REALITY TV?
4. BEING SILLY, KEEPING IT POSITIVE
5. ENJOYING YOUR CHILD’S SENSE OF HUMOR
6. PARENTING A KID WHOSE PERSONALITY DOES NOT RESONATE WITH YOURS
7. 7. SASS, SNARK, AND MONOSYLABLES…LONG BEFORE THE TEENS1
8. RELATIVES
9. CHANNELING ANCESTORS
10. BREAKING THE ICE WITH VISITORS
11. ORGANIZING TOYS, TEACHING CLEAN UP
12. LIVING IN A DISASTER ZONE
13. TOO MUCH STUFF
14. PARENTING MICHELANGELO
15. BUYING CLOTHES FOR NEWBIES
16. OWNING VS SHARING TOYS AND THE STRANGE POWER OF KITCHEN TIMERS
17. USING REWARDS WITH TWINS
18. DOLPHIN TRAINING
19. FEEDING KIDS AND INFANTS, FAMILY MEALS
20. AIR TRAVEL WITH TWINS OR 2 UNDER 2
21. BIRTHDAY PARTIES
22. LEARNING TO SWIM
23. PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM DROWNING: PARENTAL SKILLS
24. CAR SEATS AND CAR SAFETY
25. FEAR OF TOXINS, EVALUATING RISKS

PART IV:  THE BIG PICTURE

25. IT TAKES A FAMILY

1. THE VALUE OF FAMILY
2. WORDS FOR THE WORKING PARENT
3. LET SPOUSE DO IT THEIR WAY
4. MAKING IT WORK FOR PARENTS
5. GIVING THANKS

26. THE MORAL OF THE STORY OR WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE TRYING TO DO HERE?

1. PARENTING GOALS: MY TWO CENTS WORTH
2. KIDS ARE LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES…
3. PRACTICE COMPASSION IN EVERYDAY LIFE