Parenting

Apter, Terri. Altered Loves: Mothers and Daughters During Adolescence
Drawing on detailed interviews with mothers and daughters from Terri Apter’s research in Britain and America, and from recent psychological studies of family interaction, Altered Loves is a frank, moving, and insightful examination of this crucial time in a woman’s life. Apter shows that contrary to the classical view of adolescence as a stage in which daughters reject their mothers, adolescent daughters often remain strongly attached to them. The strife that characterizes this period is actually the result of trying to renegotiate a valued relationship.

Arnup, Katherine. Lesbian Parenting: Living with Pride and Prejudice.
The perfect primer for lesbian parents, and a helpful resource for their families and friends, this book includes a theoretical perspective as well as the personal experiences of lesbians and their children.

Carrera, Michael. Lessons for Lifeguards: Working with Teens When the Topic is Hope
This book centers on the belief that those of us entrusted with the privilege of access to vulnerable young people must provide for their care and guidance with renewed vigor and determination. Much of what is offered in the essays, reflections, and “urgings” are unorthodox and risky. What you will find in these pages is experienced, practical advice offered within a context of genuine care for teens.

Coffey, Bonnie Allmon. Dreams for Our Daughters
Girls – especially today – need dreams to thrive. As you go through your life, you may be unaware that you are helping shape the dreams of a young woman. Dreams for Our Daughters is a collection of dreams from women around the world to share with our collective daughters. Give the gift of dream to a girl in your life.

Cohen-Sandler PhD., Roni. Stressed-Out Girls: Helping Them Thrive in the Age of Pressure.
Many adolescent girls struggle with tremendous academic and social stress. Although it's common for them to bury their anguish, clinical psychologist Cohen-Sandler uncovers it in this treatise on the true feelings of 3,000 teenaged girls. Drawing on her clinical work, interviews and a wide-ranging survey, Cohen-Sandler identifies five types of worried girls and lays out strategies for helping them lessen anxiety, develop resiliency and build confidence. Among Cohen-Sandler's types are "adapting girls" who are challenged by transitions, "undervalued girls" who wrestle with "square peg" dilemmas, "insecure girls" who are desperate for acceptance, perfectionist girls who "burn too bright," and "distracted girls" whose minds wander.

Crawford, Susan Hoy. Beyond Dolls and Guns: 101 Ways to Help Children Avoid Gender Bias
This book offers parents and anyone concerned with the well-being of children with practical tips that can encourage gender equality and avoid harmful sex-role stereotyping in the daily lives of boys and girls.

Debold, E., Wilson, M., & Malave, I. Mother-Daughter Revolution
Essential reading for women of all ages, this compassionate and impassioned book looks at the astonishing phenomenon wherein young girls, initially so much more individual and self-assured than their male peers, find themselves subtly silenced--boxed in by the social standard of "good girl" behavior.
 
Dodson, S. The Mother-Daughter Book Club
Shireen Dodson was on vacation with her family when she decided she needed to find "a way to spend some special time" with her daughter. What she did was start a mother-daughter book club. In this sweet little book, Dodson offers practical advice about starting a similar club. The heart of the book, though, is in the insights she offers about the benefits--the chance to explore ideas and feelings, to discuss each other's lives, and to establish what Dodson calls a "bridge of sharing" that involves both mother and daughter listening to each other.
 
Dryfoos, Joy G. Safe Passage: Making It Through Adolescence in a Risky Society.
The transition from adolescence to adulthood represents an aspect of psychosocial development that has increasing importance not only for individuals but also for public policy makers. To the extent that adolescent development can be influenced by politics, Dryfoos, former director of the Alan Guttmacher Institute and author of Full-Service Schools, suggests that government programs are essential in facilitating the "safe passage" to socially constructive adulthoods for American adolescents at risk for antisocial forms of behavior.
 
Friday, Nancy. My Mother, My Self.
Through candid self-disclosure and hundreds of interviews, Friday investigates a generational legacy and reveals the conflicting feelings of anger, hate, and love the daughter’s hold for their mothers and why they so often become that mother themselves.
 
Ford, Judy and Anna Chase. Wonderful Ways to be a Stepparent
You arrive on the scene, full of hope and promise for creating a harmonious blended family, only to discover that stepparenting is probably the hardest role you’ll ever have. But it doesn’t have to be all stress, hard work, and hurt feelings. In their practical and supporting book, Judy Ford and Anna Chase offer a helping hand and show how to transform a seemingly untenable arrangement into a relationship filled with love.
 
Glennon, Will. 200 Ways to Raise a Girl's Self Esteem. An Indispensable Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Concerned Caregivers.
Studies show that young girls often develop faster than their male counterparts, grasping concepts such as math and sports just as easily -- until they reach early adolescence. Then, girls quickly fall behind boys, victims to society's confusing dictates of what being female means. According to parenting expert Will Glennon, reinforcing a young girl's self-esteem through carefully considered "boosters" is the key to helping girls hold their own in the world. This guide helps parents and teachers understand the subtle difference between "boosters" and "busters." For example, complimenting a young woman on her appearance may give her the idea that she is valued only for her looks. In 200 Ways to Raise a Girl's Self-Esteem, readers will find ways to impart a strong sense of self-worth to girls in everyday situations.
 
Gordon, Don Ph.D. Parenting Wisely: Program Workbook.
Parenting Wisely was developed at Ohio University as an alternative or complement to existing family interventions. The developer used his knowledge of the Functional Family Therapy model and experience with program dissemination to create a program that would reduce or eliminate many of the barriers that keep at-risk families from receiving good family interventions.
 
Hamkins, SuEllen And Renee Schultz. The Mother-Daughter Project: How Mothers and Daughters Can Band Together, Beat the Odds and Thrive Through Adolescence.
At once simple and revolutionary, this book details the success of the Mother-Daughter Project’s groundbreaking model, providing the reader with a road map for strengthening her bond with her own daughter, and providing strategies for staying close through adolescence and beyond.
 
Jelloun, Tahar Ben. Racism Explained to My Daughter
Racism Explained to My Daughter is a unique and compelling dialogue in which award-winning author Tahar Ben Jelloun explains difficult concepts from ghettos and genocide to slavery and anti-Semitism in language we can all understand.
 
Kelly, Joe. Dads and Daughters: How to Inspire, Understand and Support Your Daughter When She’s Growing Up So Fast
Joe Kelly defines the landscape for fathers and daughters in the treacherous domain of America today. He also offers the testimony of other travelers, a map and a first aid kit to help families make it to safety. This book is an essential aid for the fathers of adolescent girls.
 
Kelly, Joe. The Dads and Daughters Togetherness Guide. 54 Fun Activities to Help Build a Great Relationship.
Fathers know that doing things with their daughters is important. Shared activities build trust and self-esteem, show how much dads care, and allow everyone to cut loose and have fun. But even fathers who can beat the generation and gender gaps that make them feel awkward can’t always dream up cool places to go or mutually enjoyable things to do. Like the coach of their favorite team, dads need a game plan, and that’s exactly what Joe Kelly provides in Dads & Daughters Togetherness Guide.
 
Leo, Pam. Connection Parenting: Parenting Through Connection Instead of Coercion, Through Love Instead of Fear
This book provides some very practical advice and explains emotional needs in a way that seems simple and to the point. Other parenting books only give the theory or ideas but do not give you the real life examples and applications. This book succinctly and compassionately addresses children's emotions and how best to handle them, the difference between punishment and discipline; teaching children respect and how to build self-esteem; how your parents affect how you parent; how to understand yourself and your children better; and as a result, how to create a more harmonious and joy-filled home environment.

 Lutz, Ericka. The Complete Idiots Guide to Stepparenting.
You're no idiot, of course. You know how to push a toddler on a swing, the recipe for the gooey chocolate chip cookies, and even how to get teens to confide in you. Your own kids think you're hip, too (although they'd never admit to it). But when it comes to figuring out how not to come across as the wicked stepparent, you feel like you need a magical potion. Don't reach for the garlic yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Stepparenting gives you sanity-saving advice for dealing with the stepfamily, getting to know your stepchildren, and feeling confident in your role.

Madison, Amber. Talking Sex with your Kids: Keeping Them Safe and You Sane-By Knowing what they're really thinking.
Bridging the teen world and that of parents, Madison is in a prime position to both empathize with parents and understand current teen culture. Given alarming study results about teen pregnancy rates and the inefficacy of abstinence-only programs, this title should be mandatory reading for all parents. Madison’s style is factual and candid but respects the awkwardness of the subject and has just enough humor. Her statistics and references are reliable, up-to-date, and in context. Covering myths, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and issues unique to boys and girls, this is an all-around excellent title.

Mothers Acting Up. Yes: Mothers Acting Up in 2008.
2008 handbook and calendar.

Odean, Kathleen. Great Books for Girls: More Than 600 Books to Inspire Today's Girls and Tomorrow's Women
A unique guide for parents and teachers contains more than six hundred annotated listings of a variety of books for girls, from toddlers to adolescents, which feature female protagonists who solve problems and shape their own destiny.

Pruett, Kyle D. M.D. Fatherneed: Why Father Care is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child
Successful fathering does not come at the expense of the mother/child bond; in fact, it depends on a mother’s encouragement. Through true stories of actual families Fatherneed reveals the infinite varieties of fathering that result when a dedicated father and a supportive mother work together. With wit, authority, and compassion, Dr. Pruett shows how to be sure that your child gets what only a father can provide.

Shaffer, Susan Morris & Gordon, Linda Perlman Why Girls Talk And What They’re Really Saying: A Parent’s Survival Guide To Connecting With Your Teen
As most parents will attest, raising teen girls can be a roller-coaster ride of high drama and low moments. And because they can often tend to be talkative, parents may assume that their daughters are good at communicating their real feelings. In reality, it is often difficult to sort through their chatter to truly understand the messages these girls are trying to send. Even though she may not say it, your daughter needs your understanding and support now more than ever. It’s crucial to keep the lines of communication open and maintain positive emotional connections. This book shows you how, providing the tools you need.

Smith, Lucinda Irwin. Growing Up Female: New Challenges, New Choices.
Examines the choices teenage girls have to face in today's world concerning goal setting, dating, health, careers, and marriage.

Stabiner, Karen. My Girl: Adventures with a Teen in Training.
Girls turn into monsters as soon as they reach puberty-or so many mothers have warned Stabiner (All Girls). But in this charming memoir, the author argues that such doomsday predictions are not necessarily true. The mother of a relatively well-adjusted pre-teen, Stabiner describes her relationship with 11-year-old Sarah to show that mothers and daughters can live together peacefully.

Steyer, James P. The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media's Effect on Our Children.
There's a stranger in your house. Every day your children are bombarded by images of sex, commercialism, and violence -- right in your own home. Kids spend more time each week with media than they do with their parents or teachers, and they learn about the adult world -- through the influence of TV, the movies, music, computer games, and the Internet -- long before they're ready.
 
Thompson PhD., Michael et al. Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children.
Child therapists Thompson (coauthor of bestseller Raising Cain) and Cohen (Playful Parenting) have teamed up with Washington Post columnist and children's writer Grace (all three are parents) to describe the social lives of kids and the appropriate roles of parents, teachers and school administrators. They explore the stages of children's development, from parent-bonded to quasi-asocial toddler, the learning-the-rules phase in elementary school and adolescent and romantic bonding. Each phase may bring some negative experiences including some outright cruelty that can be hard on both parents and children, but sometimes necessary for learning about the world.

Thompson PhD., Michael. Mom They're Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems.
Childhood angst tends to torment parents as well as children and can erupt into the tragedy of school shootings. These books address such problems from fairly dissimilar perspectives. Psychologists Thompson (coauthor, Raising Cain) and Cohen (Playful Parenting) collaborate with journalist/ author Grace on a sensitive and straightforward advice manual that focuses on 40 key questions regarding the social life of children. Conversational and upbeat in tone, the book is divided into three sections designed to help readers distinguish "normal" social pain from more lasting trauma. The text covers friendship skills, tattletales, racial bigotry, bullying, and personal hygiene and also suggests techniques for building positive leadership and conflict-resolution skills.
 
Walsh PhD., David. No: Why Kids-Of All Ages-Need to Hear it and Ways Parents Can Say it.
Join the movement to say Yes to No. An unprecedented coalition of parents and educators across Minnesota have adopted No as a statewide read. Although saying No to your child is obviously important, many parents still have a hard time following through -- even when they know they should -- especially when other parents and the culture around them are being permissive. Now, successful psychologist, best-selling author, and nationally known parenting expert Dr. David Walsh provides you with an arsenal of tactics, explanations, and examples for using No the right way with your kids.

Ward, Janie. The Skin We're In: Teaching Our Children To Be Emotionally Strong, Socially Smart, Spiritually Connected
Shepherding children through the demanding years of adolescence can be a struggle for any parent. But black parents must also help their children confront the psychological fallout of racism. With this in mind, Dr. Janie Ward, who spent fifteen years researching the moral and psychological development of African-American boys and girls, offers parents a comprehensive four-step program -- Name it, Read it, Oppose it, Replace it -- that provides strategies for healthy resistance to negative social influences and complacency in children throughout the formative years.

Williams, Joan. Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It
In this book, Joan Williams outlines a new vision of workplaces focused on the needs of families and, in divorce cases, recognition of the value of family work. Williams introduces a new ‘reconstructive feminism’ that places class, race, and gender conflicts among women at center stage. Her solution is an inclusive, family-friendly feminism that supports both mothers and fathers as caregivers and as workers.

Wiseman, Rosalind. Queen Bees and Wannabes
Wiseman offers parents a guide to navigating the adolescent landscape. Acting as a liaison between "Girl World" and "Planet Parent," Wiseman helps parents understand their daughters' friendships, the power of cliques and the roles of girls within them (including Queen Bee, Sidekick, Torn Bystander, Messenger and Target). She outlines parenting styles (from "The Lock-Her-in-a-Closet Parent" to "The Loving-Hard-Ass Parent") and offers tips on talking to teens ("Don't use the slang your daughter uses").