101
Ways to be a Long Distance Dad by
George Newman. Written by a newspaper reporter, this book draws upon
his
experiences a divorced father and shares valuable ideas he discovered
for
improving the parent-child relationship across the miles. He talks
about
staying in touch through the use of the telephone as well as sending
letters
and photos through the mail, how to plan your vacations together, how
to
keep in touch with your youngster's growth and development by
contacting
teaching, coaches, and others, and how you can help with your child's
homework---from
a distance.
Published in 1981 (4th
printing
in 1989) by R & E Publishers (468 Auzerais Ave. Suite A, San Jose,
CA 95126, 408-977-0691), this 108-page book sold for $7.95 (trade).
365 Positive Strategies for
Single Parenting by
Susan B. Brown and Monica Simmons. This book will help you make single
parenting "the most happy and rewarding experience for you and your
children"
as you create a family with important values, strength and love. It
will
help you answer the many questions and handle the complicated issues of
single parenting with children of any age.
The nine chapters are
titled:
Developmental Differences, Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Elementary
School Children, Adolescents, Visitation, Abandonment, and Preparing
for
the Future. The authors begin each chapter with a pertinent story,
followed
by some introductory comments on the topic. They follow with a
discussion
of general parenting strategies with specific questions and answers to
help make you a more efficient parent.
From Peak Road (Macon, GA) in
1998,
this 209-page book sold for $16.00 (trade cover). Being A Single Parent by Andre Bustanoby.
This
book was written for single parents who want to do a better job of
parenting
and live happier and more successful lives, for their families and
friends
who need to understand them better, and for those who would minister to
their needs more effectively.
This book offers compassionate
understanding
of the concerns and the needs of single parent children. There are
chapters
on emotional well-being, guidance for children of specific ages,
custody
and visitation concerns, child-care for working mothers, and resources
for individuals and churches.
In addition, the final
chapter,
entitled, "What the Church Can Do to Help," offers some valuable
insights
for effective singles ministry. Also, the book contains a number of
appendices
that deal with mediation contracts, resources for self-help groups, and
resources for single parents.
This 297-page book was
released
in 1985 by Zondervan. It sold for $7.95 (trade). Bible Wisdom for Single Parents compiled
by Gary
Wilde. This book offers time-tested Scripture truths to give
encouragement,
comfort, strength, healing and love to single parents who often
struggle
with stress, discouragement, loneliness, etc.
From Chariot Family
Publishing,
this book was published in 1993 and sold for $5.99 (trade). By Myself But Not Alone by Barbara Owen.
This
book is really a prayer journal for divorced moms. It is a collection
of
prayer devotions of various women who have gone through the difficult
times
of separation and divorce. These 60 entries are the starting point for
developing your own journal to record the thoughts, struggles,
emotions,
and joys that inevitably go along with raising children on your own.
Some of the prayers deal
with
the following topics and issues: Alone, Child Care, Child Support,
Christmas,
Custody, Dating, Emotions, Faith, Guilt/Shame, Jealousy, Money, The
Other
Parent, Rules, Sergeant Mom, and Time. Each devotion is seeded with
scripture
and has a blank page for the reader's use in doing his/her own
journaling.
From Judson Press in 1994,
this
120-page book sold for $10.00 (trade). The Complete Financial Guide for Single
Parents
See below under The Financial Guide for the Single Parent.
Dear Lord, I Can't Do It All! by
Bobbie Reed.
This is a book filled with meditations written for single mothers by a
woman who was there herself. She speaks from the depths of her own
trials
and joys. The book offers hope, humor, and the realization that, in
God,
help is always there.
Her 53 meditations are
divided
into the following categories: Feelings, Special Days, My Ex and Other
People, The Kids, Challenges, Hope, and Joy. Each meditation concludes
with an appropriate scripture verse.
Published in 1991 by Concordia
(St.
Louis), this 95 page book sold for $6.95 (trade). Divorced Kids by Laurene Johnson and
Georglyn
Rosenfeld. The authors, both divorced mothers, wrote this book to show
positive steps parents can take to move themselves and their children
along
the road of recovery from divorce. Some of the questions they answer
are:
What is the best way to handle the situation when my ex comes to get
the
kids for the weekend?, How in the world do I establish consistent
discipline
when my efforts are constantly undermined every other weekend by my
ex?,
What about dating and remarriage?, What about grandparents?, How about
household chores?
Some of their 23 chapter
titles
are: How Divorce Affects Children, Mourning the Loss, Visitation,
Common
Visitation Mistakes, Guidelines for Visitation, Holidays, Between
Visits,
Communicating with a Hostile Ex-Spouse, Communicating with Hostile
Children,
Does Divorce Mean Discipline Problems, Making Discipline More
Effective,
Protecting and Nurturing Your Child's Self-Esteem, Teaching Children to
become Self-Sufficient, Enlisting the Support of Others, The Extended
Family,
Teachers: Friends or Foes?, A Child's Perception of Dating, His, Hers,
and Ours...The Stepfamily, and Forgiveness: The Ultimate Healer.
Published by Thomas Nelson
in
1990, this 224 page book sold for $8.95 (trade).
Every Other Weekend by
Kenneth F. Parker and Van
Jones. This book is for divorced men who want to try to maintain
quality
relationships with their children but must now squeeze their fathering
into an every-other-weekend frame. The book helps confront your pain
and
loss, understand your children's feelings, and accept your changed role
in their lives.
From Thomas Nelson Publishers in
1993,
this 242-page book sold for $10.99 (trade) Fathers Without Partners by Kristine M.
Rosenthal
and Harry F. Keshet. Rosenthal, who teaches sociology at Brandeis
University,
and Keshet, clinical director of the Divorce Resource and Meditation
Center
in Cambridge, talked to 129 fathers who had been separated or divorced
for more than a year and who were actively involved in taking care of
their
children. Their study examines the nature of the father-child bond,
especially
after divorce. Their work describes the daily lives of fathers with
custody
and joint custody, and men who visit their children. The authors show
that
divorce need not mean an inevitable distancing of a father and his
children.
Of special significance to
sociologists,
counselors, therapists, lawyers and policy makers and any divorcing
parent
is the discussion of the conditions necessary for divorced fathers to
have
a positive and significant impact on their children's development. Both
authors have been single parents and offer good advice as well as
sympathetic
observations.
Published in December 1980
by
Rowman & Littlefield. This book sold for $15.95. The Financial Guide for the Single Parent
by
Larry
Burkett. This book discusses some of the more common problems facing
single
parents today and offers some insights into how they overcame their
desperate
situations. It also includes basic budget guidelines, practical advice
for stretching the dollar, Biblical answers to alimony and child
support,
tips on financial aid for education, and details about wills and
insurance.
Some of the 10 chapter titles
include,
The Unexpected Divorce, The Never Married Parent, Custodial Fathers,
Losing
a Spouse, Child Support, Facing the Job Market, and Housing, Cars and
Kids.
The 235-page edition was published
in 1997 by Moody Press and sold for $11.99. (The former title was The
Complete Financial Guide for Single Parents, published in 1990 by
Victor
Books). The new edition includes single dads and never-married single
parents.
The companion workbook of 105 pages sold for
$11.99. It is a step-by-step
budgeting
guide with ideas to stretch the dollars for each expense category.
Financial
Relief for Single Parents by
Brenda Armstrong. This book offers hope for those single parents
facing financial hardship by showing them how to achieve financial
freedom. It gives lots of tools to help you manage your financial
resources. It includes valuable information on how to set up a
spending plan, gain money-stretching ideas, and learn biblical
principles of money management. It deals with virtually every aspect
of our financial lives: taxes, giving, debt reduction, insurance,
investments, entertainment, home decorating, clothing, and tithing.
Some of the nine chapter titles
include: Necessities; Walls, Wheels & What's to Eat; Lightening
Up; Walking on Thin Ice; and Reflecting God's Image. The book also
includes some valuable worksheets to help outline the person's spending
plan and debt reduction as well as several pages for the kids to use
in developing their own budget based on their income (allowances,
earnings, etc.) and expenses.
From Moody Publishers (Chicago) in
2007, this 183-page book sold for $13.99 (trade cover).
The Fresh Start Single Parenting
Workbook by
Thomas Whiteman. Whether you are a custodial parent or a long-distance
mom or dad, this book will help you and your children adjust to the
changes
and challenges that come with family breakup. It tells you how to
identify
and overcome past family dysfunctions, work through grief and move on
to
a healthy new life-style, build strong, caring relationships, create an
atmosphere of trust and open communication in your home, handle
feelings
of failure and isolation, and cope with time and financial pressures.
The
nine chapters are titled, The Plight of the Single Parent, Looking
Back,
Are We a Dysfunctional Family?, Breaking the Cycle, The Overburdened
Parent,
The Overburdened Child, Just for Dads, From Dating to Remarriage, and
Remarried...with
Children.
Published in 1993 by Thomas Nelson
Publishers, this 249-page book sold for $14.99 (trade). From One Single Mother to Another by
Sandra P. Aldrich. Subtitled Advice and Encouragement from Someone
Who's Been There, the author shares what it takes to survive as a
single mother today. With heartfelt and genuine words, she shares her
experiences and answers many of the questions that single parents ask.
Her practical and spiritually uplifting message is simple: Single mom,
you and your children do have bright tomorrows.
Some of the 13 chapter titles include: So, How Do We
Handle Loneliness; Battling the Bills and Winning the War; We Love our
Kin, But We'll Raise Our Kids; Counting Wrinkles, Celebrating Joys,
Anticipating Life; and New Adventures Are Ours to Grab, Let's Be Ready
for Them?
Form Regal Books/Gospel Light (Venture, CA) in 1991,
this 192-page books sold for $12.99 (trade cover). How to Live With a Single Parent by Sara
Gilbert.
The author, drawing upon her own and hundreds of young people's
experiences
as well as experts' opinions, helps to break the silence on both sides
of the fence. This book is a straightforward, highly readable guide
that
offers sound, practical advice on how to anticipate and resolve the
rough
spots of single-parent family life.
The chapter topics include:
adjustments to single-parent life, other people's opinions, phony fears
and real worries, dating children and their dating parents, what
happens
when parents take new partners (and their children), and what the
experts
say about single-parent kids.
Published in 1982 by
Lothrop,
Lee & Shepard Books (NY), the book sold for $6.50 (trade). Just One of Me by Dandi Kaley Knorr. This
publication
is, as the subtitle suggests, a book of the "confessions of a
less-than-perfect
single parent." The author shares some of her secrets about how to
avoid
superparent burnout, distinguishing the greats from the not-so-greats
about
you and your kids, and whether or not you should be first or last on
your
priority list. She also discusses remarriage, child-support and
visitation.
She shares how you can handle your kids and their emotions.
Some of the 19 chapter
titles
are: Superparent Syndrome, The Single-Parent Trap, Child-sized
Greatness,
Kids Aren't Perfect, Are We Having Fun Yet?, and Raising Okay Kids.
Each
chapter concludes with a set of questions and things to think about.
The
author also includes a listing of resource organizations for single
parents.
This 196 page book was
published
in 1989 by Harold Shaw Publishers and sold for $7.95 (trade).
Making Up the Difference: Help
for Single Parents with Teenagers by George Alan Rekers and Judson
J. Swihart. This book is an excellent tool that concentrates on helping
the single parent of teenagers. The authors, both professional
counselors,
write pragmatically and preventively. Their wise counsel can lead the
single
parent to a pathway of healing, redemption, and understanding that can
prevent further hurt, disappointment, and brokenness.
Some of the chapter titles
include:
Peer Pressures, Understanding Body Changes, Understanding a Teenager's
Mood Swings, Mastering Male and Female Roles, and Free Love or Married
Love.
This 147 page book is a 1984
release from Baker Book House and sold for $6.95 (pb).
Meditations for Single Moms
by Susanne Coalson
Donoghue. The author, herself a single parent, has written 30 sets of
meditations
and poems that are all associated with being a single parent and
designed
to present encouragement and trust in God. Her themes include:
challenge,
stress, suffering, grief, joy, hope, and fulfillment.
Some of the titles of these 30
meditations
include: To a Young Mother, Bedtime Prayers, Perfect Day, Great
Expectations,
Labor of Love, The Eden Tree, Harvest Time, and The Back Side of the
Wave.
From Herald Press in 1997, this
91-page
book sold for $7.99 (soft cover) Never a Day Off by Elizabeth Hilbun
Rigdon. This
pocket-size booklet of 59 pages is aptly subtitled, "Surviving Single
Parenthood."
In it the author offers help and encouragement to the various types of
single parents: the major custody parent, the weekend parent, widows
and
widowers, the deserted parent, and the alienated parent. Her challenge
is to put the past behind and seek a new image of oneself through God.
The book also deals with being alone, financial crunches, and building
new relationships.
From Beacon Hill Press in
1990,
this booklet sold for $1.95 (trade). Our Family Got a Stepparent by Carolyn E.
Phillips.
This is a book for children who are involved in a stepfamily
relationship.
The book will make some of the happenings that occur in a stepfamily
easier
to talk about and, therefore, easier to deal with.
Each of the 16 chapters deal
with a separate subject or concern--real or imagined--to children of
stepfamilies.
Some of the titles are: But You Don't Even Know My Mom!, More New
Relatives!,
What a Christmas!, But What Do I Call Him?, Can I Really Trust You?,
I'm
Gonna Try. There is a concluding chapter written for the parents which
discusses some of the special issues and relationships involved in
stepfamily
situations.
This 110-page book was
published
in 1981 by Regal Books. Parent Alone by Suzanne Stewart. This is
the story
of a woman's heartbreaks and hardships (after being told by her husband
to take the three children and move out after eight years of marriage)
and how her faith helped her to cope.
From Word Books in 1978,
this
174-page book sold for $6.95 (trade). Parenting After Divorce by Philip M Stahl,
Ph.D.
As the subitle to this second edition says, this book is about,
"Resolving Conflicts and Meeting Your Children's Needs." This revised
edition features ideas from the latest research, more inforamtion on
long-distance parenting, dealing with the courts, and working with a
difficult co-parent. It is packed with real-work examples and offers a
realistic perspective on
divorce
and its effects on children. It offers practical help for divorcing
parents,
custody evaluators, family court counselors, marriage and family
therapists
and others interested in the best interests of the children.
Some of the 12 chapter titles are:
It's Time for a Truce, Your Child is Not a Percentage, Talking to Your
Children, Children Aren't Property, Parenting Responsibility On Your
Own,
Taking Care of Yourself, Resolving Parent Conflicts, Dealing with
Special
Problems, Dealing with the Courts and Children's Thoughts and Feelings.
Originally published in 2000, the
second edition was released in 2007. Both editions were published by
Impact
Publishers
(Atascadero, CA). The second edition has 194-pages and sold for $17.95
(trade).
Parenting Alone by Jane Porter. This little
discussion
guide of 48 pages helps single parents to become more at ease and break
free of paralyzing anxieties. It will also help them find a secure
foundation
for their lives and a godly perspective for their parenting. These
studies
will bring the single parent to the discovery that they aren't alone at
all, that God is with them each step of the way.
The eight study chapters,
all
containing scripture references, are entitled: ALONE--Does It Have to
Mean
Loneliness?, HELP--Is There Any Available?, WORRY--Will We Make It?,
OPPORTUNITY--What
Do You See?, VICTIM--Look at What's Happening to Me!, FORGIVENESS--Who
Will Benefit?, BAD CHOICES--Can I Overcome?, and, HOPE--Can Life Ever
Be
Better? Each chapter is really a set of study and discussion questions
designed to last about 30 minutes. Leader's Notes are at the end of the
booklet.
Published in 1992 by Harold
Shaw Publishers, this book sold for $3.50 (trade).
Parenting on Your Own by
Lynda Hunter, Ed.D. In
this book the author, a single parent herself, combines her own
personal
insights with those of hundreds of other single parents across the
country
to offer this comprehensive handbook for single parents. This guide not
only supplies help for your greatest struggles (money issues, barren
social
life, overload) but gives new hope and encouagement.
The 31 chapters are divided into
the
following six categories (and includes these topics): What Route Brings
You Here (divorce, widowhood, never married), What Legalities are
Involved
(issues such as custody, visitation, child support), How Do You Feel?
(emotions
such as grief, anger, forgiveness, etc.), Who's Riding Along? (chapters
on the various age levels of children),What Roadblocks Do You Face?
(discipline,
self-esteem, preparing the kids), and What Are You Learning? (skills
such
as setting goals, finding balance, dealing with conflict, managing
money,
developing safe relationships, and getting remarried).
From Zondervan in 1997, this
328-page
book sold for $14.77 (trade). Parenting Solo: How to Enjoy Life and Raise
Good Kids by
Emil J. Authelet. The author first helps parents understand their need
for healing, then he helps them sort through the problems that
constantly
beset single parents. He shares ways parents can overcome the barriers
that keeps them from growing and their children from enjoying a
fulfilling
life.
Some of the 19 chapter titles are:
Self-Discovery Needs, Why Go It Alone?, Sharing the Journey, Changing
Directions,
Taking Your Single-Parent Inventory, Growing Your Family, Handling
Problems
From Divorce and... From Loss by Death, The Triple-A Family, and
Completing
the Journey.
From Here's Life Publishers
in 1989, this 238 page book sold for $7.95. (trade) Parents Without Partners Sourcebook by
Stephen
L. Atlas. This book covers almost every subject that a parent without a
partner will want to know about. They will enjoy reading about
single-parent
finances, how to improve communications between parents, and learning
to
enjoy being single. They will benefit from the comments made by
teenagers
growing up in single-parent families and they'll get advice on working
with the schools, the church, and on forming new relationships.
This 192 page book has 18
chapters
plus a resource appendix for parents and their children. The book also
contains a fine bibliography of publications relating to single
parenting.
Published in 1984 by Running
Press, the book sold for $8.95 (pb). Pregnant and Alone by Henrietta
VanDerMolen. In
short, this is a book on how we can help an unwed friend. The author
offers
information and insight into how you can help your friend and shares
stories
of the more than thirty young women who have stayed in her home during
crisis pregnancy situations. Her commitment to the protection of unborn
children has drawn her into a unique ministry of providing
encouragement
and a loving home to young women in crisis pregnancy.
The chapter titles include:
Telling Parents (and other significant people), the Unwed Father, Facts
about Abortion, To Parent or Not to Parent, All About Adoption, A
Better
Way, and Where Do You Go From Here?
Published by Shaw in 1989,
this
127 page book sold for $6.95 (trade). Pregnant and Single by Linda Roggow and
Carolyn
Owens. This book offers excellent guidelines for the decisions that
must
be made by every pregnant single woman. The authors, a mother and a
social
worker, frankly discuss the heavy issues of pregnancy, adoption, single
parenting and marriage. They help women weight the options and their
own
motives so they can make the best decisions for themselves and the
baby.
The tough choices are set in the context of faith in a loving God.
Some of the 14 chapter titles include:
Don't
Panic! Who Can I Turn to? What are My Options? How Do I Make Good
Decisions?
What About Him? Grandparents Have Feelings, Too, and Faith Helps. The
book
also includes a number of appendices including a Prayer of Blessing, a
Statement to the Church Family, and a listing of Pregnancy Care Centers
in Canada and the USA.
Originally published in 1990, this
160-page revised edition was published by Harold Press (Scottsdale, PA)
in 1998. It sold for for $8.99 (trade). The Ready-Made Family by Andre Bustanoby.
The
subtitle aptly describes the book: How to be a Stepparent and Survive.
The author, a marriage and family counselor, wants to dispel the myths
that say that stepfamilies usually aren't and can't be happy; and that
they can't function like natural families. This book seeks to adapt to
stepfamilies as many of the biblical and psychological principles of
natural
parenthood as possible. The author helps to sort out the complex
emotions
that the various members bring into a new household and to deal
constructively
with the conflicting forces that cross the threshold of the home.
One of the eleven chapters
deal
with The Stepparent Test which helps assess one's status as a
stepparent
and opens discussion between stepparents and natural parents. Some of
the
other chapters are entitled: Stepfamilies Are Different, Guilt: The
Great
Spoiler, We First, Characteristics of a Helpful Stepparent, The
Stepmother,
What to expect of a Stepfather...and a Stepchild, The Rest of the Cost
and How to Handle Them, and Evaluating Your Stepfamily System.
This 144-page book was
published
by Zondervan in 1982 and sold for $6.95 (trade). Rest Stops for Single Moms
by Susan Titus Osborn and Lucille Moses. This little devotional book
invites
all single moms to experience the rest and refreshment that only Jesus
can give in helping you raise your family alone. It provides
inspiration
to help you cope with your situations, face your issues, and experience
victory in your lives.
Some of the 12 chapter
titles
are: New Beginnings, Looking at Ourselves, Coping with Windy Days, Joy
Blooming, Picking Flowers or Weeds, The Price of Freedom, Harvest Time,
Setting Boundaries, Growing in Strength, and Celebration of Love.
Published in 2000 by
Broadman
& Holman (Nashville), this 175-page book sold for $14.99 (hard).
Sharing Parenthood After Divorce by Ciji
Ware.
Ware believes that all children have a right to both parents as
parents.
In this book she explains why joint custody is the only sane and humane
solution for divorcing families: it is the only solution that
guarantees
a lasting and realistic relationship between parent and child.
This book is a guide that
takes
the reader, step-by-step, from the warning signals of possible divorce
that every family should be aware of to managing the day-to-day details
of child care in two separate households. There is information on how
to
talk to a former spouse, a lawyer, or a judge, plus advice that takes
into
consideration the ages of the children and the emotional and financial
status of the parents, and answers to the questions of geography and
convenience
that may influence final agreement. Ware has included checklists,
possible
scenarios, and samples of shared custody agreements that are now
working
for families all over the country.
Published in 1982 by The
Viking
Press, the book sold for $14.95 (hard).
Single Moments by Lynda
Hunter. This book is a
collection of 52 weekly thoughts to uplift, inspire and help single
parents
on their way. The author, herself a single parent, offers personal
stories
and biblical truths in each devotional to bring the reader closer to
God.
Some of her chapter titles are:
Singularly
Significant, God's Army, Encouragement for the Down Times, Capture the
Teachable Moments, Strengthening the Lines of Defense, A Foolproof
Battle
Plan, When the Bottom Drops Out, The Teen Thing and Seasons of Change.
From Focus on the Family in 1997,
this 298-page book sold for $10.99 (trade cover). Single Mom, Single Dads by David R.
Miller.
This
book addresses the problems parents face as single guardians of the
family
tree. The book covers the practical concerns of preparing children for
a divorce, facing the challenges of a one-parent home, the age
different
characteristics of how children respond to the emotional trauma of a
family
break-up, etc. It offers realistic, Christ-centered hope and help.
Some of the 14 chapter
titles
include: Accepting the Challenge, As "D" Day Approaches, Long-Term
Adjustment,
Step-family Readjustment, and Future Family.
From Accent Books in 1990,
this
175-page book sold for $6.95 (trade). Single Mothers Raising Sons by Bobbie
Reed. In
this book the author, a single parent herself, responds to the problems
she faced as well as those voiced by other single mothers,
psychologists,
pastors, and divorce and custody attorneys. She gives practical,
reassuring
guidance on discipline, sexuality, custody battles, instilling values,
and offers encouragement for the single mother. This 191 page book
contains
a helpful resource section in the back along with scripture helps and
discussion
questions for single parent groups.
Published in 1988 by Thomas
Nelson Publishers, the book sold for $6.95 (trade). Single Parent Family is the name of the
new monthly
magazine created in 1994 by Focus on the Family. It's purpose is to
help
single parents tackle the challenges of being a single parent. The
subscribtion
rates are $12/yr. For more information write Single Parent Family
Magazine,
Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995 or call 1-800-A-Family.
Single Parenting: A Wilderness Journey by
Robert
G. Barnes, Jr. This book offers practical answers to many of the
important
questions asked by those who suddenly become a single parent. Such
questions
as: Why me?, How do you learn to love again?, and all the other
questions
concerning how to raise children alone.
The author provides biblical
insight and common-sense understanding of such vital topics as:
Communication,
Finances, Discipline, Visitation, Self-esteem, Sex Education,
Value-building,
and Remarriage. He points the way to personal and family healings.
Published in 1984, this 199
page book sold for $5.95 (pb) by Tyndale House. Single Parenting with Dick and Jane by
Dick Stafford
and Jane Hannah. This book offers a unique perspective on single
parent,
having been co-written by a custodial single mother and a custodial
single
father with a combined 40 years experience as single parents. The book
begins by helping you assess your personal situation and deal with
loss.
The book discusses the value of healthy self-esteem for you and your
child
and suggests ways to develop a new life-style and new relationships. It
also offers practical guidance in areas of communication, discipline,
and
decision making, based on your child's state of development.
The seven chapter titles are
After the Storm, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, A Gift that Keeps on
Giving,
Batteries Not Included, Did You Hear Me?, Someday You'll Have Children
of Your Own, and Dear Dr. Hannah, a chapter dealing with questions from
single parents. The book concludes with a Single-Parent Workshop
Facilitator's
Guide which provides valuable tips on what the leader can do to make
such
a workshop successful.
From Family Touch Press
(div.
of Broadman Books) in 1993, this 153-page book sold for $4.95 (trade)
Single Parent's Survival Guide by Robert
G. Barnes.
This 88-page publication is one of the many Pocket Guides published by
Tyndale House. This one deals with single parents and offers guidelines
for dealing with various issues, some unique to single parents, such as
communication, sexuality, discipline, beliefs, money management, and
survival
tips for blended families.
Published in 1987, this
little
pocket guide sold for $1.95 (pb). Single with Children by Caryl Waller
Krueger.
This book offers many "how-to" suggestions for coping with the various
adjustments and responsibilities of being "single with children." It is
filled with case studies and practical ideas for successfully raising
children
without the aid of a spouse.
This 176-page book was
published
in 1993 by Abingdon Press and sold for $7.95 (trade). Smart Parenting
During and
After
Divorce by Peter J Favaro,
Ph.D. Written by a psychologist who is often used as a
court-appointed expert, custody evaluator and mediator, this book
offers lots of helpful information, strategies, and resources on some
52 different topics such as visitation, communication, conflict
resolution, anger management, scheduling of holidays and visitation,
decision making, the effects of divorce on children at different
ages, the influence of a parent's social life on children,
negotiating under both good and bad circumstances, and much more. The
book also includes over a hundred tips or "takeaways"of
advice to help you and your child enjoy each other and the time you
spend together a lot more. Some
of the 10 major divisions of the book are: Smart Parenting During and
After Divorce, The Common Threads of Conflict, The Art of Avoiding
War, Seek Neutral Input to Solve Problems, How to Negotiate with a
Jerk, and How to Keep Your Cool.
From
McGraw Hill (NY, NY) in 2009, this 229-page book sells for $16.95
(trade cover). Solo Parenting: Raising Strong and Happy
Families by Diane Chambers. This book gives you more than
just
good advice on a variety of pertinent subjects related to single
parenting.
It also gives you a road map to follow through the maze of single
parenthood,
with checkpoints along the way to make sure you're on the right track.
It helps single parents not only to meet the needs of their children
but
their own as well.
The nine chapter titles are: Overcoming
Fear, Reframing, Turning Negative Energy into Positive Steps, Learning
New Skills, Living a Good Life on One Income, Taking Care of You,
Guiding
Your Child with Effective Discipline, Ensuring Your Child's Future
Welfare,
Giving Your Child the Best Chance for Success. The appendix also
includes
a number of helpful worksheets for recording your thoughts and a list
of
other helpful resources on single parenting.
Published in 1997 by Fairview Press
(Minneapolis),
this 207-page book sold for $12.95 (trade). Stepfamilies: A Cooperative
Responsibility
by Fredrick Capaldi and Barbara McRae. Written by two family therapists
who specialize in working with stepfamilies, their aim was to fill a
void
in the needs of single parents considering remarriage and in the needs
of blended families. The purpose of the book is to assist step-parents
and step-children in gaining a better understanding of those problems
that
beleaguer them, and to guide them toward a successful resolution.
Published in 1979 by New
Viewpoints/Vision
Books (div. of Franklin Watts). Price known. Stepfamilies: A Guide to Working with
Stepparents
and Stepchildren by E. B. Visher and J. S. Visher. This book covers
the unique adjustment and stress problems of the tremendous number of
adults
and children in stepfamilies. It covers family characteristics;
problems
of each parent; individual, group, and family therapy, the
professional's
role; internal and external pressures; treatment strategies for
children;
family therapy.
A 1979 publication by
Brunner/Mazel,
this 280-page book sold for $15.00 (trade). Stepfamilies--Living in Christian Harmony
by Bobbie
Reed. This book, realistic and yet sensitive, is based on dozens of
interviews
with stepfamilies and professionals who work with stepfamilies. Reed,
who
also is the author of SINGLE ON SUNDAY, divided the content of the book
into three sections: Understanding Steprelationships, Demystifying the
Roles, and Facing the Challenges.
In her introduction Reed
says,
"Contrary to glowing expectations and bright hopes, the everyday
realities
are often harsh. And yet stepfamilies can be successful if each member
recognizes that the relationships are fragile and need to be handled
with
prayer."
From Concordia Publishing
House
in 1980, this 143-page book sold for $5.95 (pb). Still
Going It Alone: Mothering with
Faith and Finesse When the Children Have Grown by Michele Howe.
Through stories and practical advice, the author shares insights how
women can adjust to the empty nest, how to impart goal-setting to
your young children, how to help them make wise relationship and
marriage decisions, how to deal with career and financial issues, how
to embrace grandparenting and car for your own aging parents and
finally how to find the gift of inner rest in these turbulent times.
Some of the 12 chapter titles include
Gathering Strength for the Last Hurrah, Nagivating New Relational
Territories, Assessing Career and Educational Options, Welcoming the
Next Generation, Pondering Remarriage, and Discovering Joy and
Contentment Despite the Unknown. Each chapter contains some action
steps, an appropriate prayer and a Thought for the Day based on the
chapter theme.
From Hendrickson Publishers (Peabody,
MA) in 2009, this 126-page book sold for $12.95 (trade cover). Strengthening Your Stepfamily
by Elizabeth Einstein and Linda
Albert, Ph.D. Whether you are considering marriage where one of you has
children or are
presently in a stepfamily situation, This workbook will help you
understand both the problems and the
potential of your stepfamily. In it <>you can
learn to
build a healthy family life
by
making your stepfamily strengths work for you. The book provides a
“trail
map” for successful families, prepared by expert authors with decades
of
experience as stepfamily counselors and consultants. You’ll find help
for
almost any challenge ranging from overcoming unrealistic expectations,
debunking myths, decision making, building effective communication,
establishing sound discipline, handling stepsibling rivalry and working
with
non-custodial parents. Some of the 16 chapter titles
include: Clearing the Path to
Stepfamily Success, Recreating Roles and Relationships, Overcoming
Stepfamily
Obstacles, Stepfamilies and Discipline, and The Heart of Your
Stepfamily. The
book has a number of charts, cartoon illustrations, Questions for
Review, and
Points to Ponder. From Impact Publishers (Atascadero,
CA) in 2005, this 261-page
workbook
sold
for $17.95 (trade cover). Successful Single Parenting by Antoinette
Bosco.
Originally published under the title A PARENT ALONE, Bosco writes out
of
her own personal experiences as a single parent. This book can provide
help for the single parent as well as understanding to friends and
family.
Some of the chapter titles
are:
The Transition Trauma, The "Good News--Bad News" Scale, Authority,
Overcoming
Powerlessness, Creating Trust Between Parent and Child, Wholeness,
Plugging
Into Community, Sex, and Dealing with Your Energy Crisis.
From Twenty-Third
Publications
in 1979, this 143-page book sold for $3.95 (pb). Successful Single Parenting by Gary
Richmond.
This book has practically everything a single parent needs to know to
live
and thrive while raising healthy confident children. It provides some
good
answers to such tough questions as: How to explain the absence of the
other
parent, How to handle visitation rights, delinquent child support
payments,
your ex's remarriage, and How to balance your needs and the needs of
your
children without guilt. It also provides some practical advice on
setting
financial priorities, disciplining the children, and developing an
emotional
support system.
Some of the 12 chapter
titles
are: Going It Alone, Extra Baggage, When There's No One Else, Staying
Tuned-In,
Ready to Move On, The Winner's Heart, and Some Difficult Questions.
Published by Harvest House
in
1990, this 234-page book sold for $6.95 (trade).
Turbulent Teens of Panicking
Parents by Jeenie
Gordon. This book, written by a single parent, teaches that good
parenting
can be learned. The author gives practical guidelines for getting teens
to listen and respond, setting boundaries and making them stick,
learning
the crucial difference between punishment and discipline, avoiding
rescuing
and instead instilling responsibility, and confronting harsh realities
such as drugs, sex, and date rape.
Some of the 13 chapters include:
Listen
Up, Kid--I'm Talking, Corralling Those Suckers, But You're Still My
Baby,
Exploring Your Parenting Style, The Little Red Schoolhouse, The Big "S"
Word--Sex, Suicide--the Only Way Out?, Keeping Your Teen's
Self-Confidence
out of the Toilet, Letting Go Just Ain't Easy, and Follow the Leader.
From Revell in 1997, this 190-page
book sold for $10.99 (trade cover). What You Should Know About LIVING WITH ONE
PARENT
by William L. Coleman. In this book, written for children ages 8-12,
the
author responds to the various fears and questions of young people who
live with only one parent. He offers help in overcoming problems and
suggests
that with God's help, a single-parent family can be a happy and loving
one.
This book contains 46
"chapterettes"
(short chapters of one to two pages each). Some of the titles are: Each
Family is Different, You Got a Dirty Deal, You Can't Parent Your
Parent,
The Courage of a Single Parent, Single Fathers, Absent Parents,
Never-married
Mothers,Tell God About It, Your Parent-Friend, Home Alone, Too Old for
Baby Sitters, Growing Up Fast, and Is Your Parent Dating?
From Augsburg in 1993, this
96-page book sold for $5.99 (trade). Willing to Try Again: Steps Toward Blending a
Family
by Dick Dunn. The author, a single adult and stepfamilies minister,
reports
that the U. S. Census Bureau predicts that by the turn of the century,
stepfamilies will be the most common form of family life in the United
States. Further, that one-third of all the children born in the 1980's
will be part of a stepfamily situation before they graduate from high
school.
Dunn points out that subsequent marriages are much different and more
difficult
than first marriages. He says that some families "blend" easily while
others
never "blend" at all. This book was written to help those couples who
realize
that they need help before they get married in order to achieve a
successful
"blended" marriage.
The ten chapter titles are
Children
and Stepfamilies, Challenges of Stepparenting, Being a Biological
Parent
in a Stepfamily, Outside Relationships That Affect Stepfamilies,
Helpful
Stepfamily Tools, and A Matter of Faith. The remaining four chapters
constitute
a supplement for persons preparing for remarriage. The chapter titles
in
this section are When Is a Person Ready to Marry Again, Critical Issues
to Discuss, Prenuptial Agreements and Wills, and The Wedding. Each
chapter
of the book concludes with several discussion questions based on that
chapter.
Published in 1993 by Judson
Press, this 106-page book sold for $10.00 (trade).
