Authors: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger, Raymond Aaron
ISBN-13: 9781558747470, ISBN-10: 1558747478
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Health Communications, Incorporated
Date Published: September 2000
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Motivational speaker Jack Canfield is the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. With over 65 books to his credit, Canfield has taken the inspirational advice he delivered in his speeches and forged one of the most popular book series in print.
Certain to appeal to all parents-whether they are expecting or raising their first new addition, in-the-trenches veterans or empty-nesters- this delightful Chicken Soup book offers a collection of inspiring and entertaining stories that relate to the triumphs, tribulations, challenges and joys of raising a family. Chapters include: The Joys of Parenting; A Mother's Love; A Father's Love; Special Connections; Special Moments; Insights and Lessons; Overcoming Obstacles; Surviving Loss; Across The Generations; and Letting Go.
With contributions from celebrity and "ordinary" parents alike, each story speaks to the range of emotions and experiences of all types of parents-single parents, foster parents, parents of adopted children, or part of a two-parent family with biological children. By sharing the personal experiences of others, this book will offer inspiration and advice to parents going through a difficult time; provide reassurance to those who worry that they're not living up to the Supermom or Superdad ideal; and share a wealth of experiences that show why being a parent is such a worthwhile and rewarding vocation.
This book is a must-read for any parent or parent-to-be!
Acknowledgments | xiii | |
Introduction | xvii | |
Share with Us | xix | |
1. | The Joys of Parenting | |
The Pickle Jar | 2 | |
Geraniums of Love | 6 | |
The Tooth Fairy | 8 | |
The Good Stuff | 10 | |
Let's Go Fly a Kite | 14 | |
My Second Birth | 17 | |
The Photograph Album | 22 | |
The Spinner Plate | 26 | |
Coffee Milk and Oreos | 28 | |
Daddy | 32 | |
Comic-Book Solomon | 33 | |
Driving Me Crazy | 35 | |
I'm Okay | 39 | |
2. | A Mother's Love | |
On Becoming a Stepmother | 42 | |
The Other Mother | 46 | |
Daddy's Hair Is Red: The Best of Bits & Pieces | 48 | |
I Live with an Alien | 49 | |
A Time for Love | 52 | |
When He Sleeps | 55 | |
Defining Love | 58 | |
Housewife's Prayer | 61 | |
My Wife Doesn't "Work" | 64 | |
The Gift of Life | 67 | |
A Mother's Love Revealed | 71 | |
Cyberstepmother | 77 | |
3. | A Father's Love | |
My Ray of Hope | 82 | |
Hidden Green Words | 86 | |
Hey Son, I Love You, Too | 90 | |
My Dad Henry | 93 | |
It Takes a Special Man to Fill a Stepfather's Shoes | 97 | |
The Toaster | 100 | |
A Letter to the IRS | 104 | |
Advice from the Groom's Dad | 109 | |
4. | Special Connections | |
Against All Odds | 114 | |
A Hundred and One Atlantic Nights | 118 | |
From the Heart | 125 | |
The Navy's Baby | 128 | |
Embassy of Hope | 135 | |
What Odds? | 138 | |
The Bungee That Binds | 143 | |
Joey Comes Home | 148 | |
5. | Special Moments | |
Something to Make Me Happy | 154 | |
A Father's Day Phone Call | 157 | |
Monsters Under the Bed | 162 | |
The Special Olympics | 164 | |
Keeping the Magic | 165 | |
Love of a Child | 166 | |
Self-Esteem at Five | 168 | |
The Window | 169 | |
"You're Having a Baby!" | 175 | |
Welcome, Levi! | 177 | |
There Is So Much to Learn | 180 | |
6. | Insights and Lessons | |
True Generosity | 188 | |
Maya's Smile | 191 | |
I'm Not Your Slave | 194 | |
The Millionaire | 198 | |
Teen Wisdom | 199 | |
What Parents Say/What Parents Actually Mean | 201 | |
The Naked Patient | 203 | |
Man Plans and God Laughs | 206 | |
Message from a Guardian Angel | 210 | |
Daddy's Day | 213 | |
I believe in Angels | 216 | |
7. | Overcoming Obstacles | |
The Light at the End of the Tunnel | 222 | |
My Son, My Grandson | 227 | |
Tough Love Wins the Day | 231 | |
A Voice for Elizabeth | 236 | |
My Daughter's Smile | 241 | |
A Heart in the Shadows | 247 | |
8. | Surviving Loss | |
Erin's Legacy of Love | 254 | |
My Message | 260 | |
Forgiveness | 264 | |
Held in Our Hearts Forever | 267 | |
A Dolphin Wish Fulfilled | 271 | |
I Miss You Most at Christmas | 275 | |
The Day My Daughter Died | 280 | |
Cori's Beads | 283 | |
Rachel's Gift | 287 | |
9. | Letting Go | |
Watching Me Go | 295 | |
The Video of Life | 298 | |
The Parting | 300 | |
Dancing in the Street | 302 | |
The End of Childhood | 303 | |
A Gift from Brandon | 307 | |
Words That Bind | 310 | |
Mapping Life's Journey on the Refrigerator Door | 315 | |
10. | Across the Generations | |
Bedtime Stories Across the Miles | 321 | |
Miriam's Umbrella | 323 | |
Grandma Meyer's Gift | 326 | |
From Mother to Daughter to Mother | 330 | |
More Chicken Soup? | 337 | |
Supporting Parents and Children of the World | 338 | |
Who Is Jack Canfield? | 342 | |
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? | 343 | |
Who Is Kimberly Kirberger? | 344 | |
Who Is Raymond Aaron? | 345 | |
Contributors | 346 | |
Permissions (continued) | 359 |