Parenting is (Not) Child's Play

Most parents would say that they love their children, passionately. They might also admit that at times they experience frustration, anger and even disappointment because of disobedience and a lack of cooperation from their children.

Parenting is (Not) Child’s Play deals with the ‘Special Play Time’ method, a revolutionary and proven tool that empowers both parents and children. During a 40-minute weekly play session, parents learn, not only clear and practical skills in setting boundaries, they also gain a deeper understanding of the emotions and worries of their children. They discover how to encourage positive behaviour, too and thus increase the self-esteem of their children.

Within a short time, parents notice positive changes in the home. While enjoying mutual fun and play, they regain their parental authority and notice an increase in the emotional and social abilities of their children.

Orit Josefi Wiseman is a non-directive play therapist with an M.A. from the University of York in the United Kingdom. She has a clinic in Israel and has rich and extensive experience with parents and children using this method. She has also established trainings for families and professionals in the field of education in order for them to improve their communication with and empower the psychological robustness of children.

During her work, Orit has met many parents who have learnt parental skills but could not implement them in real time. Her book is written for all those parents. Having a deep faith in the efficacy of the method, Orit wishes to share her knowledge and make it accessible to every household with children.

Part of the Family

An inspiring story of one family’s journey through the British care system, from the point of view of a foster carer. It tells of the funny, challenging, and often harrowing times of living life in an ever-changing household of temporary children.

Steering a course through the muddy waters of the care system has provided many obstacles but has overall proved to be a rewarding and heart-warming experience for the author.

Children who find themselves removed from their birth families are thrust into a system which, although trying its best, is so often lacking in the love and good quality nurturing they deserve.

As a society, we need to look at the way we deal with vulnerable children.

Pass On My Greetings to Jenny

There is a very deep sense of gratitude that I have kept in my heart, a gratitude that I cannot describe in words. I promise in my heart that someday I will come to meet her, to convey my gratitude and I really want to repay her kindness. Now I have been waiting too long, for seven years, but there's no chance to meet her and that hope is only stored in my heart, I don't know for how long. One morning when I woke up from my sleep, I stood in front of the mirror. I saw there was one grey hair and I realised that I was old. Then I asked myself, if today I die without the slightest amount of time to fix anything, what would I regret the most? My answer was; I will be sorry because I haven't had the chance to meet Jenny to convey my gratitude. I wrote this book, because I did not know when would I meet her. If I would never have time to express my gratitude to her, at least through this book I have already conveyed it. Jenny is a beautiful old woman who helped me that night, the night I was struggling. Not even one person was by my side, even I could not help myself. Thank you, Jenny. If you were not there, I might have had a miscarriage, or I might had died.

Passionate

Do you ever feel confused, depressed or anxious? Do you think that you are going through some sort of crisis? Do you seem at odds with your partner, friends or work colleagues? But you can’t understand why this is happening? If so, Passionate will shed some light, as its author has experienced all these things and more besides, and has survived to tell the tale.

To achieve this, he experienced various therapies which helped to improve his mental health. But above all else, it was his discovery of attachment theory that was responsible for clearing his confusion and helping him to understand why his life had been so intense, so chaotic, and so passionate.

Originally applied to the early parent-child bonding process, attachment theory can also help explain why we have become who we are as adults. The author has applied this aspect of attachment theory to himself  – as he takes us on a roller-coaster tour of his life, with thoughtful self-analysis applied to every stage of the journey.

Passionate is not a quick fix for people unwilling to look within but it does show how positive mental health can be achieved through a better understanding of what exactly is going on in our lives and why. So, strap yourself in for a ride that might change your life!

Passive Conflict

Born on the serene island of Jersey, Irene Camus Smith’s life took an unexpected turn as the shadows of war descended upon her homeland. The Channel Islands, Britain’s oldest possessions, faced the threat of Hitler’s invasion during World War II. When the islands were demilitarized and left defenceless, German forces swiftly occupied them for five arduous years, marking Hitler’s triumph of setting foot on British soil after centuries.

The Channel Islanders endured unimaginable hardships under occupation, particularly during the siege that followed the Allied invasion of Normandy. Facing starvation and struggling to survive, their resilience was tested to the core. Among the countless stories of struggle, Irene’s family narrative unfolds, capturing the essence of the islanders’ collective experience.

Through their journey, we witness the strength of the human spirit amid adversity, as bonds are tested, and sacrifices made. In this poignant tale of survival and hope, Irene Camus Smith’s remarkable story stands as a testament to the unwavering resilience of the Channel Islanders during one of history’s darkest chapters.

Past Sounds

This is a book about classical music – for people who say they love music “but don’t understand how it works”, as well as for performers and music students of all ages.
Proposing that deeper enjoyment begins with an understanding of music’s basic structures, the book describes how the simple template of earlier dance-songs was adapted by composers writing music for instruments. The instrumental sonata became one of the great formal frameworks of western music: in symphonies, concertos, chamber music and solo sonatas, it dominated concert music for some 250 years – yet it is little understood by many music lovers. To simplify this vast field, Past Sounds singles out for study “sonatas” for piano trio – piano, violin and ’cello. These instruments have well-contrasted and easily identifiable sounds, and as the story unfolds the reader is introduced to many rarely heard but beautiful works for piano trio.
This is a lively, clearly-written narrative as well as a handbook for subsequent listening. The book has two distinctive features. Firstly, technical terms are carefully explained, and for those not familiar with music notation, audio clips in an accompanying website reproduce the actual sound of the music described. Secondly, in a broad historical sweep from mid-18th to 20th centuries, the development of the sonata is followed in its context of contemporary arts and literature – demonstrating how the sonata idea of classical music well deserves to be understood and valued as a western cultural archetype alongside other great artistic and literary forms.

Pathways to Paradise

All is well when intelligence is used intelligently. Salvation is the ability which we all possess to come to terms with spiritual reality. To fully comprehend life and our obligations to it, we should seek to understand what obligations we owe to God and humanity. We should seek guidance from our immortal soul, which is of God and from God. The mind of mankind has, to an overwhelming degree, become conditioned to acquisition of material wealth. The inescapable fact is, there is no tow bar on a hearse.

Paul’s Story: A Son’s Struggle with Adoption, Schizophrenia and the Mental Health System

“Mental illness? Who wants to read about that?” Despite one in four people experiencing mental ill health in their lifetime, it is not a popular topic for conversation.  Perhaps this book will change that!

Combining amusing anecdotes, insights from research and heart-rending personal reflections, this book recounts the triumphs, traumas, and tragedies of the life of Paul – adopted child, loved son and brother, schizophrenia sufferer – and of his family. Excerpts from Paul’s own journals and reflections from his family, highlight the ups and downs of Paul’s life. These include his struggle with having been relinquished for adoption, his difficulty accepting the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and the inconsistent and patchwork approach to support for people with mental ill health and underline the tragic waste of human possibility resulting from inadequate mental health care.

An absorbing, poignant and powerful read, this chronicling of Paul’s life and experiences and its impact on his family is incredibly emotive, tackling some difficult subjects with honesty, compassion, and humour. The personable writing style makes this work accessible to a wide audience and the sustained analysis and discussion relating to the need for a higher standard of care and improvements in the mental health system makes the work compelling. Ultimately, it is a heartfelt piece that raises important suggestions for society today.

Paying with Fish

Living close to the beach promised long, relaxing days, reclining peacefully and contemplating life, not prolonged screeching and jumping along the sand with a live crustacean taking residence in your pants.

Life in France for Viv is not what was expected. Perception based upon memory and recall alone is just not up to scratch. Who knew about the live lions parked in open containers in rural car parks. What about the monkeys tethered to grass verges eyeing you suspiciously? Why do horses have their heads poked through town house kitchen windows? Are they hoping for sustenance for the long night ahead? Just what is this obsession with drains blowing smoke up sewage pipes and making the colour of water especially grey? And just because there is a bus stop, can it be presumed that any type of vehicle has ever stopped there? Residence in rural France might just be a tad more tricky than first anticipated.

Peace and Happiness for Believers and Nonbelievers

Today humans are too busy working to gather wealth as a way of seeking happiness only to find that peace and joy are eluding them. They are resorting to chemicals for a moment of thrill in their active lifestyle. A highly-charged busy life does not provide any time to pause and gain in-depth knowledge of their life mechanism.    

This book explains the present-day misconceptions of the way society conducts its affairs regarding education, religion, environment and politics. It is written in a simple, readable language, with an astounding collection of facts and techniques usable by anyone interested in attaining health and happiness, and a wonderful new life of inner fulfilment.

It is a must-read book for people with a busy lifestyle, as it is found to be an illuminating and informative outlook on today’s difficult decisions on health and well-being. The readers will find much to intrigue them, compelling them to read until the final page.

Pepi and I

Does freshly deceased rat taste better than frozen steak?

Can dogs weed a flowerbed?

Does the Universe provide free birthday cakes in a park?

As soon as Jitka and her fiancé buy a house, it’s time for Jitka to fulfil her long-time dream: to have a faithful, cute, furry friend, capable of true, unconditional love.

 
The new addition to their family is strong-willed, with a clear focus on his own wants. He displays daily his obvious love of all the things the world so generously provides for him, especially if it tastes good, or at least is not completely inedible.  

Not aware yet that a dramatic turn of events is just around the corner, Jitka and her fiancé are enjoying life with the many surprising and frequently comical situations that Pepi drags them into. As life, so often unpredictable, can change laughter into tears, joy into fear and vice-versa, Jitka’s secure world is turned upside down and she is hurtling down the roller coaster with Pepi by her side. Will they make it?

 
These are life lessons – powerful, maybe, but always entertaining.

Perfection Is NOT the Word for It

Orchestral life in Britain is thriving and anarchic, in turns chaotic, hilarious and brutal. Perfection Is Not the Word for It is a personal, and mostly affectionate, account of life amongst the extraordinary characters who lead their over-stressed lives in this unusual world, surrounded by music but driven by everyday anxieties, and always defying the best efforts of administrators, bureaucrats and conductors to tame the unruly beast which is a professional orchestra.