Love, Magic, and Mudpies: Raising Your Kids to Feel Loved, Be Kind, and Make a Difference

Special Thanks     XIII
Introduction     1
All in the Family-Family Life and Values
Be There     6
Pay the Bills, but Have Some Fun     8
Plan Their Birth Order (and Sex)     11
Sibling Rivalry     13
Mottoes to Live or Die By     16
Don't Be Afraid to Fail     18
Family Vacations     20
Family Therapy     22
Define Success     24
In-laws or Outlaws     26
Sports and Kids     28
Huddle Up     30
When They Don't Come One at a Time     32
Using Feedback from Schoolteachers     34
Hidden Talents     36
School Days     38
Let 'Em Grow Up     40
Love Is the Main Ingredient
Love at First Sight     43
Love Is the Answer     45
Go to "L"     47
Messages of Love     49
Love Them As They Are     51
Ugly Ducklings     53
Do What Will Make You Happy     55
A Wish Come True     57
Send Love Letters to Your Kids     59
Who Did That? Cut That Out!     61
Say "Yes" to Love     63
Mom, Dad, How Do I Look?     65
Special Moments     68
Tickling the Funny Bone
Childlike Humor     71
Schedule Laughing Sessions     73
Learn to Laugh at Yourself     75
One-Liners     77
Use Only Organic Fertilizer     79
Sex and Babies     81
How to Spy on Teenagers     84
You're Not Dirty Enough Yet     86
Set the Stage for Comedy     88
Grow Down and Lighten Up     90
Exaggerate to Celebrate     92
Creative Parenting
Don't Forget to Sing     95
The Art of Healing     97
Tell Stories     100
Direct TV     103
Green Parenting     105
Children's Day     107
A True Education     109
Health Days     111
Mudpies and Mudslinging     113
Take Your Child to Work     115
Move It     117
What's Cooking?     119
The Right Thing to Do     121
Art, Literature, and Music     123
Money Talks, but Chocolate Sings     125
The Three R's-Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities
Constructive Criticism      130
Nondirective Therapy     132
Lock 'Em Up     134
Say Um-m-m in Fifty-Three Ways     136
The Problem Child     138
Animal and Child Training     140
The Value of Pets     142
Becoming a Good Parent     144
Imagine No Possessions     146
Is Life Fair?     148
Words or Swords     150
To Spank or Not to Spank     152
Taboo Topics     154
Let the Kids Be the Parents     156
Rocky Roads-Troubles along the Way
This Too Shall Pass     160
New Life     162
Tough Decisions     164
Give Notice Before Big Changes     166
Give Birth to Yourself     168
Single Parents Need Support     170
Talk about Death-and Share Life     172
Be Positive about Healing     175
Behave Like a Survivor     177
Aggression with a Purpose     179
Terrible Twos and Other Labels     181
Dealing with Prejudice     183
Choose Peace or Conflict     185
Time to Listen     187
Give Them Some Space     189
Getting through Divorce      191
When Your Child Is Sick or Injured     193
The Soul in Parenting
It's Magic     198
Understanding and Forgiveness     200
A World Family     202
Get Away from It All     204
The Divine     206
Soul, Spirit, and Angels     208
Trust and Faith     210
The Magic of Life     212
Raise Conscious Children     214
How to Save the World     216
Help Them Follow Their Bliss     218
Parents Need Care, Too
A Perfect World     221
Living in the Moment     223
Take a Parenting Vacation     225
Let Your Age Be an Asset     227
Understand Why     229
Paint Therapy     231
Time Out     233
Your Candle     235
Empty Nest     237
Epilogue: Your Miraculous Family