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Three Martini Playdate: An Essential Guide to Happy Parenting »

Book cover image of Three Martini Playdate: An Essential Guide to Happy Parenting by Christie S. Mellor

Authors: Christie S. Mellor, Christie Mellor
ISBN-13: 9780811840545, ISBN-10: 0811840549
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Date Published: December 2003
Edition: (Non-applicable)

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Author Biography: Christie S. Mellor

Christie Mellor is an actress, screenwriter, and parent of two darling angels. She lives in Los Angeles.

Book Synopsis

Parents were here first! How did the kids suddenly take control? Sure the world has changed from the days when children were supposed to be seen and not heard but things have gotten a little out of hand. What about some quality time for the grownups? Author Christie Mellor's hilarious, personal, refreshing, and actually quite useful advice delightfully rights the balance between parent and child. In dozens of short, wickedly funny chapters, she skewers today's parental absurdities and reminds us how to make child-rearing a kick. With recipes, helpful hints, and illustrations, this high-spirited book is the only book parents will really need and enjoy.

Table of Contents

Introduction: In Praise of Grown-up Time11
Saying No to Your Child: It's a Kick!16
The Childproof House: How to Know If You've Gone Too Far22
Bedtime: Is Five-thirty Too Early?29
The Child at a Social Event32
Screaming: Is It Necessary?39
Your Child's Life: Now Available on DVD!42
Diaper Bag or Steamer Trunk?46
When It Is Time to Leave49
Children's Birthday Parties: Not Just for Children!54
The Family at Table61
Child Labor: Not Just for the Third World!68
Avoiding the Detritus of Childhood74
Preschool: The Fast Track to Harvard78
The Three-Martini Playdate82
Mommy, I Want a Puppy!87
"Children's Music": Why?94
Are We There Yet? On the Road with Max and Maddy101
School Days, School Days108
Self-Esteem and Other Overrated Concepts113
Karate, Little League, and Ballet: Your Child's Eighty-Hour Work Week117
Steppin' Out with My Baby121
Television: Is Six Hours a Day Too Much?126
Your Cost-Effective Tomboy130
Don't, Like, Waste My Time133
The Amazing Hands-Off Daddy136
Epilogue: Why Do We Have Children?141
Helpful Hints!
Etiquette for First-Time Parents14
When You Are the Victim of Your Own Child20
Practical Childproofing28
On Getting out the Door53
On Having Your Cooking Appreciated66
Fiscal Planning and Your Tooth Fairy72
For Your Listening Pleasure98
Entertainment on the Road105
On Helping Your Youngster with School Projects112
Do-It-Yourself After-School Enrichment Program120
Recipes
Our Little Tot's First Martini Recipe37
Lemonade for Grown-ups57
Weenie Fondue (For a Crowd)58
Devilish Eggs60

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