Are you weary? Stressed? Depressed, anxious, and annoyed? And, to top it all off, do you feel guilty for feeling bad? Rachel Norman gets you, mama. She knows how much you love your kids. And how, day after day, you put your family's needs first, which means your own needs come last. Or don't come at all. Rachel used to be a mom who spent her days weary, anxious, and guilt laden. She had five kids in five years, lived on three different continents, and then was blindsided by a devastating health diagnosis. Neglecting her own physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs for so long--in an effort to be a selfless mother--had left her utterly depleted. And physically unwell. Then she began asking a question she'd never considered before: Could it be that taking good care of myself is not actually selfish, but maybe, just maybe, something a responsible adult does? In this countercultural book, Rachel takes some weight off your shoulders by offering hands-on, rubber-meets-the-road strategies to cultivate a life you aren't trying to constantly escape teaching you to discover and claim your own limits and boundaries so you can be a calm, resilient, peaceful mother showing you how to shape your daily life and values around the few things that really matter, and how to let the rest go If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But when mama is at peace? Everyone benefits.

Are you weary? Stressed? Depressed, anxious, and annoyed? And, to top it all off, do you feel guilty for feeling bad? Rachel Norman gets you, mama. She knows how much you love your kids. And how, day after day, you put your family’s needs first, which means your own needs come last. Or don’t come at all. Rachel used to be a mom who spent her days weary, anxious, and guilt laden. She had five kids in five years, lived on three different continents, and then was blindsided by a devastating health diagnosis. Neglecting her own physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs for so long—in an effort to be a selfless mother—had left her utterly depleted. And physically unwell. Then she began asking a question she’d never considered before: Could it be that taking good care of myself is not actually selfish, but maybe, just maybe, something a responsible adult does? In this countercultural book, Rachel takes some weight off your shoulders by offering hands-on, rubber-meets-the-road strategies to cultivate a life you aren’t trying to constantly escape teaching you to discover and claim your own limits and boundaries so you can be a calm, resilient, peaceful mother showing you how to shape your daily life and values around the few things that really matter, and how to let the rest go If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. But when mama is at peace? Everyone benefits.

16 chapters of easy to implement routines, rhythms and schedules from birth through school-aged kids to help you streamline day-to-day life with kids.SECTION 1: SAMPLE SCHEDULES6 weeks to 3 months old3-6 months old7-9 months old9-12 months old12-18 months old18-24 months old2-3 years old4-5 years oldSECTION 2: TIPS AND TRICKSTips for managing the day with multiple childrenDaily Rhythms for an Only Child Ages 1-4 Years OldDaily Rhythms for Multiple Small Children Ages 0-5Sample Bedtime, Mealtime, and Playtime RoutinesTips for Keeping Kids Busy Throughout the Day

"'Say What You See' is a little how-to guide designed to open your eyes to what actually works with children. With real-life tips, practical examples, and playful illustrations, it shows you how to: always know the right thing to say; set boundaries like walls; replace 'no' with CAN DOs; grant wishes in fantasy; use acknowledgment instead of praise; and point out STRENGTHs to change behaviors."--P. [4] of cover.

Winner, Governor General's Literary Award Finalist, Lambda Literary Award and Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction "Raziel Reid is a really extraordinary guy. He's got a great thing going."—Anne Rice School is just like a film set: there's The Crew, who make things happen, The Extras who fill the empty desks, and The Movie Stars, whom everyone wants tagged in their Facebook photos. But Jude doesn't fit in. He's not part of The Crew because he isn't about to do anything unless it's court-appointed; he's not an Extra because nothing about him is anonymous; and he's not a Movie Star because even though everyone know his name like an A-lister, he isn't invited to the cool parties. As the director calls action, Jude is the flamer that lights the set on fire. Before everything turns to ashes from the resulting inferno, Jude drags his best friend Angela off the casting couch and into enough melodrama to incite the paparazzi, all while trying to fend off the haters and win the heart of his favourite co-star Luke Morris. It's a total train wreck! But train wrecks always make the front page. Raziel Reid is a graduate of the New York Film Academy. He currently lives in Vancouver.

Do your kids have trouble listening? Do they ignore you and go on their merry way? Parenting little ones can be crazy at times, but these proven phrases will teach your kids to listen. And the best part? You can stop repeating yourself!In the midst of the chaos, what you need is a plan. A system of simple phrases to turn all of your craziness into a manageable, organized life that leaves you plenty of time to do the things you really love.After countless hours of research, real-life experience, and talking with other moms, Helpful Phrases was born to help you learn the best ways to respond to your kids in any situation! There are 16 Chapters full of phrases:Why Use Short Phrases?Getting Started with Short PhrasesBehavior and ObedienceCoping with Big EmotionsRaising a Great ListenerMagic Mealtime PhrasesSleepy, Sleepy TimeRaising Independent LittlesCleaning, Chores, and ContributionPublic Places, Strangers, and New SituationsA "Phrase" of EncouragementPhrases to Minimize or AvoidBonus: Encouraging Structured PlaytimeBonus: Getting a Routine That Really Works12+ Printables

People affected by a loved one's addiction suffer silently in church pews. I was one of them. I'm Juliet. Sometimes I wish I could be someone else, with another name altogether, someone whose life is more comedy than tragedy. During the twelve years I was married to a cocaine-addicted Christian, I was overwhelmed with isolation and shame as I sat next to my ex-husband in church week after week. No one fathomed our family skeletons. How could I tell anyone? God stirred my spirit to seek personal healing and give voice to my reality. Through Him, I found freedom from silence and redemption for the life dreams I thought were forever lost. Same Dress, Different Day: A Spiritual Memoir of Addiction and Redemption chronicles my journey from victim to victor as I struggled to break free from codependency's suffocating cycle. I learned to see my Savior as the soul mate and provider my chemically dependent spouse could never be. God's healing grace is not only for the addicted, but also for the broken ones who love them.