Single Parenting: The Family in Harmony

Offering advice and inspiration for single parents, this two-volume set combines voiceover narration, interviews with a cross-section of parents and children, and comments from a family therapist, all addressing the subject of maintaining emotional health within the family. Mothers featured here range from a 19-year-old college student with a four-month-old daughter to a middle-aged woman whose son is autistic, while fathers include an older military retiree and a man who became a dad at the age of 17 and has never lived with his daughter's mom. The first volume, Creating a Healthy Life for Yourself, covers a wide range of topics, including continuing education, balancing work and childcare, budgeting and financial responsibilities, taking time for personal growth, and co-parenting (highlighting tips for communicating with the other parent, and underscoring the benefits to children of knowing that their parents are in agreement). Volume two, Creating a Healthy Life for Your Child, looks at caring for children at different stages of life (from toddlerhood through adolescence), age-appropriate communication, listening and asking questions, observing a child's behavior for signs of stress, and knowing when to seek professional help. A section on dating also offers cautionary tips for integrating potential new partners into family situations. Emphasizing that children need reassurance, stability, and predictable routines in their home lives, this fine series offers plenty of good advice while also presenting single parenthood as a rewarding opportunity. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)