My Sister Is an Only Child


Book Description

"As the events shaping our lives give rise to character, so too do they shape and influence what become our passions and interests. In "My Sister is an Only Child" the author chronicles snapshots of his life and heritage that have informed his passion for engaging in and developing small group ministry within the broader context of the evangelical Christian experience. Always revealing, often humorous, the twelve chapters, a number that is not random but symbolic, each illustrate from true life narratives a dozen guiding principles for the small group leader. Mr. Patterson draws from a wide variety of personal sources and familial background to develop a delightful series of autobiographical reveals, each set in its historical context. Each chapter stands alone and is supplemented by a complimentary appendix providing a biblical perspective, complete with scripture references, of the guiding principle illustrated in the sketch. It is the authors intent and hope that small group leaders, coordinators and participants alike will benefit from this modest, happy tome. While not a DYI end all treatise on the subject, anyone desiring to enhance the small group experience will find fresh perspectives from this fairly easy read. Alliteration abounds and the reader may be well advised to keep a dictionary close by as the vocabulary should provide some aid to the avid scrabble enthusiast." Because kids of all ages matter to God,




An Only Child and Her Sister


Book Description

AN ONLY CHILD AND HER SISTER is a compelling true life story. Two sisters born to the same parents but treated so differently; one ended up pregnant and married at thirteen. The other didn't fare so well.Casey and her little sister, Christine, started off with what looked like a good beginning. But looks can be deceiving. Their mother, Eve Whitney, a stunning Hollywood beauty, didn't much care for children. Unfortunately, she had two. Their father, Eddie Maxwell, was a successful songwriter and gag man; he was a brilliant, handsome, hugely charismatic man, but he had a secret drug habit that sent him careening between warm and loving parent one day, to hair-trigger monster the next. If Casey got only sporadic moments of love and caring, Chris got nothing. Neither Eddie nor Eve ever had a kind thought for their youngest child. And so the sisters were forced to find their own paths through this horrific excuse of a childhood, each making choices that pulled them farther and farther apart when the one thing they needed was each other.Told without an ounce of self-pity or bitterness, this story is unique as well as universal. The scenes of pain and incredible neglect live side by side with amazing moments of humor, courage, and triumph.




The Case for the Only Child


Book Description

Although parenting approaches change, attitudes about only children remain stuck in the past. The negative stereotypes—lonely, selfish, bossy, spoiled, socially maladjusted—make parents think their child will be at a disadvantage when compared to those who grow up with siblings. The Case for the Only Child debunks the myths, taking into account the many chang­es the nuclear family has experienced in the face of two-family incomes, women who have children later, and the economic reality of raising children in our modern world. Combining often-surprising findings with real-life stories, compassionate in­sight, and thought-provoking questions, Dr. Susan Newman provides a guide to help you decide for yourself how to best plan your family and raise a single child. -Provides fascinating facts and statistics to show the reasons for the rapid risein the number of singletons -Explores pressure from friends, relatives, and strangers to have a second child . . . and how to deal with it -Demystifies the realities of raising and being an only child with personal stories and current research -Explores the highly debated question: Does a child need a sibling?




My Only Child: A Completely Gripping and Emotional Page-turner


Book Description

There he is, my baby boy. His eyes are closed, his tiny rosebud mouth is pursed in sleep. My eyes well up as I catch a whiff of his newborn skin and I swallow back a wave of emotion. I should feel happy, I should feel grateful, but all I can think about is everything I just lost... It's a miracle when Katherine's baby boy is born healthy. But his twin sister doesn't survive, and when Katherine is told she can't have any more children the loss is almost too much for her to bear. Katherine always saw herself having a big family: she remembers how the loneliness of being an only child used to overwhelm her, and she is desperate to adopt a sibling for her son. But her husband Davis won't agree. He worries that Katherine will struggle when the new baby arrives. What if growing their family only adds to the grief she feels over losing her little girl? What if this breaks their marriage apart? And Katherine is forced to make a choice. Give up the second child she has always dreamed of or risk losing the family she already has? An unforgettable and heart-wrenching page-turner about fighting for those we love. Readers of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Kate Hewitt will remember this story forever. What readers are saying about Sam Vickery: 'Wow! This book blew me away... Will make you think and break your heart in equal measure and is a breathtakingly beautifully written story of a mother's love. I will be looking out for more from this author.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This one pulls you in and tugs at your heart. Make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand. A tear-jerker for sure.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow! Such a brilliant read! A devastatingly frank, honest depiction of the power and intensity of a mother's love and belief and the lengths she will go to to protect her child!... I really didn't want to put it down and read it in one glorious sitting!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This book is so heart rending!!... Beautifully written... It draws you in right from the first page and I couldn't stop myself from turning the pages to reach the end.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A stunningly heartfelt novel, written so beautifully. I read it in one go and felt a whole rollercoaster of emotions.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars




Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids


Book Description

A groundbreaking guide to raising responsible, capable, happy kids Based on the latest research on brain development and extensive clinical experience with parents, Dr. Laura Markham’s approach is as simple as it is effective. Her message: Fostering emotional connection with your child creates real and lasting change. When you have that vital connection, you don’t need to threaten, nag, plead, bribe—or even punish. This remarkable guide will help parents better understand their own emotions—and get them in check—so they can parent with healthy limits, empathy, and clear communication to raise a self-disciplined child. Step-by-step examples give solutions and kid-tested phrasing for parents of toddlers right through the elementary years. If you’re tired of power struggles, tantrums, and searching for the right “consequence,” look no further. You’re about to discover the practical tools you need to transform your parenting in a positive, proven way.




One and Only


Book Description

The author discusses the pros and cons of being an only child.




Parenting an Only Child


Book Description

By a child-care authority and mother of an only child, this useful, knowledgeable book provides sound advice on creating an enriching environment that's stimulating and enjoyable for only children and their parents alike.




Modern Loss


Book Description

Inspired by the website that the New York Times hailed as "redefining mourning," this book is a fresh and irreverent examination into navigating grief and resilience in the age of social media, offering comfort and community for coping with the mess of loss through candid original essays from a variety of voices, accompanied by gorgeous two-color illustrations and wry infographics. At a time when we mourn public figures and national tragedies with hashtags, where intimate posts about loss go viral and we receive automated birthday reminders for dead friends, it’s clear we are navigating new terrain without a road map. Let’s face it: most of us have always had a difficult time talking about death and sharing our grief. We’re awkward and uncertain; we avoid, ignore, or even deny feelings of sadness; we offer platitudes; we send sympathy bouquets whittled out of fruit. Enter Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner, who can help us do better. Each having lost parents as young adults, they co-founded Modern Loss, responding to a need to change the dialogue around the messy experience of grief. Now, in this wise and often funny book, they offer the insights of the Modern Loss community to help us cry, laugh, grieve, identify, and—above all—empathize. Soffer and Birkner, along with forty guest contributors including Lucy Kalanithi, singer Amanda Palmer, and CNN’s Brian Stelter, reveal their own stories on a wide range of topics including triggers, sex, secrets, and inheritance. Accompanied by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and witty "how to" cartoons, each contribution provides a unique perspective on loss as well as a remarkable life-affirming message. Brutally honest and inspiring, Modern Loss invites us to talk intimately and humorously about grief, helping us confront the humanity (and mortality) we all share. Beginners welcome.




My Sister


Book Description

A powerful memoir by two sisters about transitioning, family, and the path to self-realization. When Orange Is the New Black and Diary of a Future President star Selenis Leyva was young, her hardworking parents brought a new foster child into their warm, loving family in the Bronx. Selenis was immediately smitten; she doted on the baby, who in turn looked up to Selenis and followed her everywhere. The little boy became part of the family. But later, the siblings realized that the child was struggling with their identity. As Marizol transitioned and fought to define herself, Selenis and the family wanted to help, but didn't always have the language to describe what Marizol was going through or the knowledge to help her thrive. In My Sister, Selenis and Marizol narrate, in alternating chapters, their shared journey, challenges, and triumphs. They write honestly about the issues of violence, abuse, and discrimination that transgender people and women of color--and especially trans women of color--experience daily. And they are open about the messiness and confusion of fully realizing oneself and being properly affirmed by others, even those who love you. Profoundly moving and instructive, My Sister offers insight into the lives of two siblings learning to be their authentic selves. Ultimately, theirs is a story of hope, one that will resonate with and affirm those in the process of transitioning, watching a loved one transition, and anyone taking control of their gender or sexual identities.




Maybe One


Book Description

From the groundbreaking, bestselling author of The End of Nature, a controversial and provocative book arguing that to help the planet we should begin to voluntarily limit our numbers. Bill McKibben's books and essays on our environment -- physical and spiritual -- have shaped and spurred debate since The End of Nature was published in 1989. Then, he sounded one of the earliest alarms about global warming; the decade of science since has proved his prescience. Now, in Maybe One, he takes on the most controversial of environmental problems -- population. We live in a unique and dangerous time, he asserts, when the planet's limits are being tested and voluntary reductions in American childbearing could make a crucial difference. The father of a single child himself, McKibben maintains that bringing one, and no more than one, child into this world will hurt neither your family nor our nation -- indeed, it can be an optimistic step toward the future. Maybe One is not just an environmental argument but a highly personal and philosophical one. McKibben cites new and extensive research about the developmental strengths of only children; he finds that single kids are not spoiled, weird, selfish, or asocial, but pretty much the same as everyone else. McKibben recognizes that the transition to a stable population size won't be easy or pain-free but ultimately is inevitable. Maybe One provides the basis for provocative, powerful thought and discussion that will influence our thinking for decades to come.