"No one book resolves a lifetime of hurts and misunderstandings, but it can remove the blinders from our eyes. Make an effort now." LOS ANGELES TIMES No matter how old you are and whether or not your parents are alive, you have to come to terms with them. This wise and practical book will show you how to deal with the most fundamental relationships in your life and, in the process, become the happy, creative, and fulfilled person you are meant to be.

A self-help guide for those who have to take care of their aging parents. Caring for aging parents is difficult-it's exhausting, expensive, time-consuming, and under appreciated. And that's under the best of circumstances, when the caregiver loves and respects his or her aging parent. What happens when adult children are asked to care for elderly parents who were abusive, neglectful, or absent? Here is a compassionate and practical guide to facing the psychological and emotional issues that arise when caring for aging parents. Eleanor Cade offers sound as well as personal accounts from individuals who have made the choice to care for difficult parents. The result is a powerful guide to moving beyond feelings of anger, regret, and grief in order to build healthy new family dynamics based on decency and mercy.Target audience For individuals who are caring for aging, dysfunctional parents, as well as counselors and therapists who work with familiesFeaturesan authoritative resource for baby boomers caring for aging parentsdefines differences between "normal" and "dysfunctional" familiespersonal stories validate the experiences and feelings of readers

Do you spend much of your time struggling against the growing ranks of papers, books, clothes, housewares, mementos, and other possessions that seem to multiply when you're not looking? Do these inanimate objects, the hallmarks of busy modern life, conspire to fill up every inch of your space, no matter how hard you try to get rid of some of them and organize the rest? Do you feel frustrated, thwarted, and powerless in the face of this ever-renewing mountain of stuff? Help is on the way. Cindy Glovinsky, practicing psychotherapist and personal organizer, is uniquely qualified to explain this nagging, even debilitating problem -- and to provide solutions that really work. Writing in a supportive, nonjudmental tone, Glovinsky uses humorous examples, questionnaires, and exercises to shed light on the real reasons why we feel so overwhelmed by papers and possessions and offers individualized suggestions tailored to specific organizing problems. Whether you're drowning in clutter or just looking for a new way to deal with the perennial challenge of organizing and managing material things, this fresh and reassuring approach is sure to help. Making Peace with the Things in Your Life will help you cut down on your clutter and cut down on your stress!

"Dan Neuharth's book demystifies much within our pasts that can hurt our intimate relationships in ways we may not even realize. If You Had Controlling Parents helps spark understanding and acceptance across generations." — John Gray, Ph.D., author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus Do you sometimes feel as if you are living your life to please others? Do you give other people the benefit of the doubt but second-guess yourself? Do you struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, lack of confidence, emotional emptiness, or eating disorders? In your intimate relationships, have you found it difficult to get close without losing your sense of self? If so, you may be among the fifteen million adults in the United States who were raised with unhealthy parental control. In this groundbreaking bestseller by accomplished family therapist Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., you'll discover whether your parents controlled eating, appearance, speech, decisions, feelings, social life, and other aspects of your childhood—and whether that control may underlie problems you still struggle with in adulthood. Packed with inspiring case studies and dozens of practical suggestions, this book shows you how to leave home emotionally so you can improve assertiveness, boundaries, and confidence, quiet you "inner critics," and bring more balance to your moods and relationships. Offering compassion, not blame, Dr. Neuharth helps you make peace with your past and avoid overcontrolling your children and other loved ones.

Now in paperback, one of the first books to help navigate the profound emotional challenges of caring for elderly parents in a strained parent-child relationship.

Most people know the story Jesus told of the prodigal sonthe child who demanded his inheritance and then threw it away on wild living. But there were two sons in the story: the older son watched events unfold and told his father, I stayed with you all these years and you never threw a party for me! Those who grew up in a family with a prodigal understand that cry. Sue Thompson shares her own story of struggle and hope in The Prodigal Brother. She offers ways to heal the ache of feeling second place in a parents affections and attention, and writes with sensitivity about forgiving a wayward brother or sister without excusing the behavior. Anyone whos ever been the good kid will find empathy and encouragement to unload the emotional baggage of growing up with a prodigal in the family. Many of us grew up in families where one of our siblings was the favorite childeither because that one did everything right in his parents eyes or because he was so needy. Whichever the case, Sue Thompson gives practical suggestions from her own life experiences. Whether you are the good one or the neglected one, you will find fresh insight in this eye-opening book. Florence Littauer Author of Personality Plus and Silver Boxes In the all-important arena of interpersonal relationships . . . Sue's book is at the top of my all-time list. It is that good, and it is that important. Ralph Harris, LifeCourse Ministries Author of Better Off Than You Think

“Making Peace with Your Parents is compassionate, well-written, and will be of great value to many.”—Leo Buscaglia No matter how old you are and whether or not your parents are alive, you have to come to terms with them. This wise and practical book will show you how to deal with the most fundamental relationships in your life and, in the process, become the happy, creative, and fulfilled person you are meant to be. “A marvelous and helpful book on how to release the emotional pains of growing up, to forgive and release the feelings of guilt, and to celebrate the miracle of being alive. Dr. Bloomfield’s book is worth thousands of dollars of therapy.”—Elisabeth Kübler-Ross “No one book can resolve a lifetime of hurts and misunderstandings, but it can remove the blinders from our eyes. Make an effort now.”—Los Angeles Times