Family Resources Books

I am an HR Manager and this book has become my new bible. Packed with excellent information and examples. Would recomend to anyone in HR

The Essential Guide to Family and Medical Leave is one of the best purchases I have made. It has already paid for itself with the easy to follow format which allowed me to find my answers quickly. The CD is a bonus and the "lessons from the real world" are very helpful as everyone can relate to real life examples.

I highly recommend this book as a must have addition to your Human Resources Department.

Want ideas for spending time with your family?
Want those ideas to be flexible and appropriate for a wide variety of ages?
Want a framework for showing your children your values and why they're important to you?
Then you should check out this book.
Our family is not LDS (I'm a lapsed Protestant and my husband is an animist) but we found this book to be a treasure that we refer to again and again.

Great step by step details on activities that will help bring your family closer together.
Easy to follow instructions for weekly family nights that allow you to teach your kids YOUR VALUES, regardless of your religious background.
A MUST HAVE for every family library.

The package came overseas to Japan in less time than expected. Great service! I was so excited to get the package of books before I had to leave for a business trip for a week. (If the books had come "on time," then I would have already left.)

Here we have a collection of several articles about balancing work and life. I liked the book because of that. You don't have to begin reading on page 1. Just see the index for an article of choice an begin reading there. The ideas the authors propose are written in an easy reading manner an are always backed on serious researches. I licked it a lot.

As this was written by a friend of the family's, and edited in part by my mom, I was very interested to see what the story was like. And I learned a lot more about Dave than I had known about his history. I always simply thought of him before as a guy who helped my family out when we really needed it. This is a story of a man who has a great heart to serve and help those who are struggling in life, and can write authentically from his own experience, through choices and suffering, through Pilgrim's Progress and Pilgrim's Regress, to come to a place of Light and Truth. At times it seems that he has been through too much for it to have been real. Most of all, what comes through is his compassion and desire for others who are going through what he once did.

After reading this book, I recommended it to a friend of mine, who is struggling with a son choosing a path of violence and possible prison. She was greatly encouraged by Dave's thoughts. The one thing I would wish more from in this book is more stories. There are many times when what happened is glossed over, is told and not showed. You can tell that there is more here, that there are engrossing stories that need to still be related, with the freshness of greater detail and greater description. I would long to hear much more of Dave's life.

This book is a wonderful testimony to troubled youths to help keep them from going down a road they don't want to be on. And if they have already gone down that road, it is a beacon for finding Jesus Christ and their way out. It is full of profound truths and experiential wisdom and has the potential to change lives. Even if you're not going down that road, everyday life has it's share of troubles and can beat you down to a place where you just want to give up. This book can help you too. Especially the Helps chapters in the last part of the book and the extensive resource list at the end. To read about someone having the same problems you do and seeing that they came through it gives you hope and the desire to go on. Don't quit! Thanks Dave for sharing your life with us. God bless you!

If you are responsible for worship in your church, this would be a great addition to your library. The contributions made by these authors will help to spawn creativity in your thinking. I like the fact that three different authors provided their insight. Each of them bring a different perspective to corporate worship and challenge you to think in new ways. Read the book and then let the Holy Spirit move you to be creative with worship. Don't let church be boring!

Practical Insights into the Mechanics of Conflict January 6, 2003
I read this book nearly 10 years ago and found it very helpful. As a pastor of over 23 years and a survivor of a few humdinger conflicts, it was comforting to know that conflicts have patterns. It also helped me control my own responses.

I wouldn't wish church conflicts on a dog, but they seem to come (to most of us in the ministry, not dogs!) no matter what precautions we take. But they can often be contained early, and this book can help. It will also help you accept that conflict is common and to be expected, therefore leading us to the conclusion that one should be as prepared as possible. The chapters are all pretty good, but those written by Speed Leas excel.

The time to read this book is before (or early on)conflict begins. Every pastor needs to be prepared for what is inevitable. Lay leaders (board members, etc.) can also benefit from this book. Also helpful would be Terry Muck's book, "When to Take A Risk."

This is an excellent book that should sit in everyone's library, especially managers. At 143 pages, this book can be read in a short flight or two sessions on a stationary bike. Technology today enables us to do things faster, better and measure results more accurately. Nevertheless true success in business and life is still generally created in direct proportion to our ability to motivate ourselves and influence other people. In this fast-reading, well-written book, Jay provides us with a universal translator that can help us "crack-the-code" on what motivates us as well as others around us. I highly recommend this book.

Joe Santana,
Coauthor of Manage I.T.

Donna has taken everyday materials and put them together so that your children create easy and creative projects. The activities are indexed to enable you to choose appropriate projects. Many of the projects can be created with little supervision. No need to be creative...she does it for you!

This book has a wonderful assortment of activities to do with all ages of children every season of the year...An idea for every liile Holiday that comes each year.....Xmas,new years,valentines,groundhogs, ect...
I highly recommend this book to any one out there looking for special projects to do especially on rainy days with children....

I read this book as a parent to a recently diagnosed child with ADHD, inattentive type -- and to someone who homeschooled my child last year (she's in traditional school now).

The book does exactly what the cover says it will. Inside you'll find facts on:
-- classroom accommodations
-- how to set up a behavior plan (for teachers)
-- newest meds for ADHD
-- steps to improve attention in school
-- helping your child with homework

I'll review the book in terms of pros and cons. First the Pros:
-- The book is well organized. The sections are succint and easy to read. The book does a fine job of delineating between "parent" sections and "teacher" sections. So, it is easy to find the sections that apply to each reader.

-- As a parent, I found the homework help section refreshing and valuable. I have not found this information in other publications. Applied at home, the homework techniques are already making a positive impact at our house.

-- Chapter 4 on inattentive type is a treasure, as that is the type my daughter has. Most ADHD books focus on hyperactivity or the "combined type" of ADHD. It was great to have a whole chapter on just inattentive type.

-- Chapter 6 is all about comorbid disorders. You'll find this information in many other books; but not to the level of detail as is presented here. Dr. Parker gives us much more info on OCD, CD, anxiety, etc., than is typically offered. I will go back to this chapter again and again for reference material. It's really worth the read.

Cons:
-- The book's narrative is as dry as dirt. :) The information presented is correct and important, but reading the book is about as exciting as reading a cell phone owner's manual. Do not expect a riveting story. This is a guide and that's it.

-- The information "for teachers" on ADHD, in terms of what ADHD is and how it works/doesn't work, seemed very basic. Nothing that isn't presented in many other books. I've read just a few books on ADHD and found all the info in other publications. The info on how to create behavior plans seemed pretty good, but again, nothing that opens new doors. I would hope any teacher trained in dealing with ADHD already knows this stuff.

Overall I give this book 4 stars because it does exactly what it says it does. The bullets I listed in the Pros section make the book well worth the price and time spent reading it. I recommend this book for those sections, especially. Problem Solver Guide for Students with ADHD is a fine addition to one's ADHD library, but shouldn't be the only book in the library.

If you have a child just recently diagnosed with ADHD, I whole heartedly recommend "ADHD -- Living Without Brakes" by Martin L. Kutscher as the place to begin learning about this condition. From that point, books like Problem Solver Guide for Students with ADHD will be more of a help, in my opinion.

I have read many books on ADHD, as an educator this is the best that I have read. The interventions are great, and also the help in behavior modification techniques.

A male, Terry Ulick, and a female, Alyssa Wodtke have both tried matchmaking through the online dating web sites. Terry reports that he has found his true love online, Alyssa is still looking.

The web is perhaps the most significant change in communications since the invention of the printing press. And to move to match making is a logical use of these communications capability. The Internet expands your horizons beyond the local bar, or church, or any other social group that you might use to meet people.

First talking about the general rules, the authors move on to the mechanics of selecting and then using these sites. Let's face it, there are some commonly understood rules about making yourself as attractive as possible over the web without telling lies. As the story goes: 'She wants Tom Cruise, but she's no Nicole Kidman.'

The mechanics here include how to show yourself best in a picture, what to put in the written summary, how to phrase your first e-mail, and how to keep out of trouble -- the web is pretty wide open , how to proceed from just communicating online to gathering your heart in your throat and having that first meeting.

When the dot com bubble burst in 2000, one of the few, consistently profitable sectors that remained was online dating. The biological imperative to um, you know, kept those websites well visited. Match.com, date.com and a whole slew of others.

Now, Ulick and Wodtke offer a guide to the uncertain newbie. Who might be considering patronising one of those sites, but is understandably wary. Indeed, well you should be, as pointed out by the authors. There is a potential bad side to this phenomenon. They explain how to take sensible and easy precautions to minimise your risk.

But there is a broader and more optimistic theme to the book. Namely that online dating can [might, maybe] increase your chances of finding a compatible person. Sure, people can lie online. But that also happens in personal ads of newspapers, and in face to face meetings.

Online dating can let you expand vastly the pool of people; far beyond your personal acquaintances. And to do comprehensive filtering on their preferences and yours to improve the odds.

Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (9/08)

Newborn children do not come with a guide, sure wish they did. We place the precious cargo into the car-seat, take it home, and do the best we can. Regardless of family background, household demographic or income, there is nobody who lives the perfect life. Although we all want the best for our children, and do what we can, sometimes things don't go as planned. If our children become out-of-control, use drugs or drink alcohol, participate in sexual acts, or become violent, we don't always know how to react. We try what we can, but sometimes we find ourselves at wit's end, submerged in guilt and angry at both our child and ourselves.

If you are a parent with an out-of-control child seeking alternatives and information, "Wit's End" can be your light at the end of the tunnel. Step-by-step information will help you choose the right program for your child's needs, ways to seek financial assistance, and information about Parents' Universal Resources Experts (P.U.R.E.) that will help you gain the tools you need to make the decisions you are faced with.

I do admit that I was skeptical when I first began reading the book. How could someone just send their child away when they really needed you? When your child was away, troubled, are you sure they are getting the care they need? After reading the challenges and brutally honest account of Sue and more-importantly, her daughter Ashlyn, you realize what courage and strength it takes for a parent to make the decision that could change their child's life forever. Because of Sue's lack of knowledge at the time she was going through this terror with her child, she did not always know where to turn and her child suffered because of it. We learn from the decisions she made. Ashlyn is an amazing young person that understands her mother did not intentionally place her in a situation where she, as well as her mother, would loose control. They both weathered the storm and came away wishing to fight for each young person that could ever face the same situation and guide them to a better resolution.

"Wit's End" by Sue Scheff is both informative and enlightening. Regardless of the situation, something good can come of it.

I'm sure all parents can relate-one of the most trying times in life is when your child hits the teenage years. An era where you go from "hero" to "zero" since your precious bundle has discovered there is more to life than you, your ideals, or your family. These are commonplace experiences that make instant fodder for sermon illustrations and late-night comedy episodes. A commensurate increase in use of headache medication can be measured in family medicine cabinets everywhere.

Unfortunately, not all ills can be solved with medication. Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, teenagers end up in places you would have never imagined. Sneaking out, drugs, sexuality: the travesties that accompany wanting to live life without regulation cause many sleepless nights.

Any parent who has been there can relate. I know I can...I lived it personally. I had to make the tough decision to have a child put into residential placement for awhile.

There are times when you feel as if no one understands what you are dealing with. Conversations with family and colleagues results in furrowed brows that seem to say, "What's wrong with you? Can't you control your kid?" Tears well up inside because you feel the answer should be, "Apparently...I can't."

Sue Scheff has written a marvelous work in Wit's End. The title adequately describes the frustration that parents in this circumstance face and the feelings they deal with. Wit's End demonstrates the dilemma that Sue endured with her daughter-but more importantly, it provides tools to help the struggling parent who is considering residential therapy. Her suggestions are not "pie in the sky" wishful thinking as her experiences actually resulted in her founding Parents' Universal Resources Experts, Inc (P.U.R.E.) to help families in turmoil.

I had occasion to correspond with Ms. Scheff before this book was published. If you are engaged in just such a dilemma this book is written for you.

Armchair Interview agrees.