Adversity's Child By: Bettye Sweet, M.S. "This book shows the author's and the other six females' resilience. The transparency of their stories, their passions and their redemption are felt in each and every chapter. This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions, but once I finished it, I better understood how precious life truly is. I fully understand now that life is too short to hold onto pain, resentment and unforgiveness." -Shelby Alvarez, screenwriter and actress "If you're looking for fuel to help you power up and overcome adversities that you're experiencing, Adversity's Child is the book for you. This self-help book shares many stories of women who have overcome traumatic experiences and have turned those tribulations into triumphant testimonies." -Robin Sweet-Ransom, author of Taboo and motivational speaker "I was amazed about how little I knew of Bettye's early life. The other six females' incredible stories are also as riveting, constructed around their real-life experiences. You will travel with them all on their amazing journey towards redemption. A must-read." -Mary Ann Brevidoro, BFF Adversity's Child tells the story of seven females-three victims and four murderers-and their journey toward redemption. All of these women's stories involve childhood traumas. Each of them begins with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris' Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire. Bettye Sweet's story of molestation pales in comparison to that of her niece, Robin. Cheryl suffers extensive abuse and torture at the hands of her schizophrenic mother. Eight-year-old Carla watches her mother murder her twelve-year-old sister and then is raised by an incestuous father. There's Rita, who's serving a twenty-five-to-life sentence for murdering her boyfriend, and Kierra-serving the same for robbing and killing the neighborhood storekeeper. Finally, there's Danielle, an entitled girl whose jealously takes the life of her boyfriend's baby daughter. But with all of these challenges, can the power of love and forgiveness lead all seven to redemption? You will be riveted to these ladies' life-changing narratives.

A pioneering physician reveals how childhood stress leads to lifelong health problems, and what we can do to break the cycle.

A Powerful Approach to Bringing God's Grace to Kids Did you know that the way we deal (or don't deal) with our kids' misbehavior shapes their beliefs about themselves, the world, and God? Therefore it's vital to connect with their hearts--not just their minds--amid the daily behavior battles. With warmth and grace, Jim and Lynne Jackson, founders of Connected Families, offer four tried-and-true keys to handling any behavioral issues with love, truth, and authority. You will learn practical ways to communicate messages of grace and truth, how to discipline in a way that motivates your child, and how to keep your relationship strong, not antagonistic. Discipline is more than just a short-term attempt to modify your child's actions--it's a long-term investment to help them build faith, wisdom, and character for life. When you discover a better path to discipline, you'll find a more well-behaved--and well-believed--kid.

Clinical psychologist and author of The Defining Decade, Meg Jay takes us into the world of the supernormal: those who soar to unexpected heights after childhood adversity. Whether it is the loss of a parent to death or divorce; bullying; alcoholism or drug abuse in the home; mental illness in a parent or a sibling; neglect; emotional, physical or sexual abuse; having a parent in jail; or growing up alongside domestic violence, nearly 75% of us experience adversity by the age of 20. But these experiences are often kept secret, as are our courageous battles to overcome them. Drawing on nearly two decades of work with clients and students, Jay tells the tale of ordinary people made extraordinary by these all-too-common experiences, everyday superheroes who have made a life out of dodging bullets and leaping over obstacles, even as they hide in plain sight as doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, lawyers, parents, activists, teachers, students and readers. She gives a voice to the supernormals among us as they reveal not only "How do they do it?" but also "How does it feel?" These powerful stories, and those of public figures from Andre Agassi to Jay Z, will show supernormals they are not alone but are, in fact, in good company. Marvelously researched and compassionately written, this exceptional book narrates the continuing saga that is resilience as it challenges us to consider whether -- and how -- the good wins out in the end.

The Handbook of Trauma, Traumatic Loss, and Adversity in Children is a developmentally oriented book rich with findings related to child development, the impact of trauma on development and functioning, and interventions directed at treating reactions to trauma. Aspects of attachment and parenting and the use of interrelationships toward therapeutic ends are included in each age-related section of the book, ranging from 0 to 18+. Consolidating research from a range of disciplines including neurobiology, psychopathology, and trauma studies, chapters offer guidance on the potentially cascading effects of trauma, and outline strategies for assisting parents and teachers as well as children. Readers will also find appendices with further resources for download on the book’s website. Grounded in interdisciplinary research, the Handbook of Trauma, Traumatic Loss, and Adversity in Children is an important resource for mental health researchers and professionals working with children, adolescents, and families during the ongoing process of healing from traumatic exposure.

Dr. Arku takes readers from the passage of pain to their promise in God in order to help them deal with crisis victoriously. (Christian)

Inspiring true stories of kids from around the world of kids who have overcome obstacles to create success for themselves. The third installment in the Real Kids, Real Stories collection again travels the world with inspirational short stories of young people who overcame adversity and persevered in the face of extreme challenges. Soosan Firooz broke barriers to become Afghanistan’s first female rapper and speaks out about the oppression and hardships women in her country must overcome. David Omondi in Kenya built his own radio station despite a lack of resources. And Kevin Breel speaks out about his own depression to help save lives. The thirty short stories in Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Challenges will inspire readers to believe in themselves, strive for success, overcome obstacles, and create change in the world—even when faced with a challenge. Note: Several stories in this book address intense and serious situations, which some readers may find unsettling.