One-child households have doubled over the last two decades, making it one of the fastest-growing family units in America. Expert Carl Pickhardt aids families in understanding the common traits of many adult "onlies"--like shyness, perfection, and intolerance--so that they can better prepare for potential outcomes. He also celebrates the positive qualities of only children and how to encourage characteristics like thoughtfulness, creativity, and ambition. Pickhardt sheds new light on issues that many only-child families encounter, such as: -attachment problems -conflicts between only child and parent -performance anxiety -unusually high personal expectations -feelings of entitlement -dependence -problems with risk-taking With a distinctive focus on long-term effects, this book will help refine and improve daily parenting methods. Parents will welcome these insightful guidelines for the formative influence they wish to provide.

Surviving a horrific school shooting, a six-year-old boy retreats into the world of books and art while making sobering observations about his mother's determination to prosecute the shooter's parents and the wider community's efforts to make sense of the tragedy.

There he is, my baby boy. His eyes are closed, his tiny rosebud mouth is pursed in sleep. My eyes well up as I catch a whiff of his newborn skin and I swallow back a wave of emotion. I should feel happy, I should feel grateful, but all I can think about is everything I just lost... It's a miracle when Katherine's baby boy is born healthy. But his twin sister doesn't survive, and when Katherine is told she can't have any more children the loss is almost too much for her to bear. Katherine always saw herself having a big family: she remembers how the loneliness of being an only child used to overwhelm her, and she is desperate to adopt a sibling for her son. But her husband Davis won't agree. He worries that Katherine will struggle when the new baby arrives. What if growing their family only adds to the grief she feels over losing her little girl? What if this breaks their marriage apart? And Katherine is forced to make a choice. Give up the second child she has always dreamed of or risk losing the family she already has? An unforgettable and heart-wrenching page-turner about fighting for those we love. Readers of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Kate Hewitt will remember this story forever. What readers are saying about Sam Vickery: 'Wow! This book blew me away... Will make you think and break your heart in equal measure and is a breathtakingly beautifully written story of a mother's love. I will be looking out for more from this author.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This one pulls you in and tugs at your heart. Make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand. A tear-jerker for sure.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow! Such a brilliant read! A devastatingly frank, honest depiction of the power and intensity of a mother's love and belief and the lengths she will go to to protect her child!... I really didn't want to put it down and read it in one glorious sitting!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This book is so heart rending!!... Beautifully written... It draws you in right from the first page and I couldn't stop myself from turning the pages to reach the end.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A stunningly heartfelt novel, written so beautifully. I read it in one go and felt a whole rollercoaster of emotions.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

By a child-care authority and mother of an only child, this useful, knowledgeable book provides sound advice on creating an enriching environment that's stimulating and enjoyable for only children and their parents alike.

Addressing the advantages and disadvantages of being an only child, this consideration discusses how growing up in a single-child family affects a child’s attitudes, relationships, and future. The study draws on the experiences of a wide range of children without siblings, exploring the difficulties they are faced with and how, as adults, they have learned to cope with these problems. At a time when couples are increasingly limiting their families to one son or daughter, this survey answers a pressing and growing need, making it essential for any parent or partner of an only child.

Although parenting approaches change, attitudes about only children remain stuck in the past. The negative stereotypes—lonely, selfish, bossy, spoiled, socially maladjusted—make parents think their child will be at a disadvantage when compared to those who grow up with siblings. The Case for the Only Child debunks the myths, taking into account the many chang­es the nuclear family has experienced in the face of two-family incomes, women who have children later, and the economic reality of raising children in our modern world. Combining often-surprising findings with real-life stories, compassionate in­sight, and thought-provoking questions, Dr. Susan Newman provides a guide to help you decide for yourself how to best plan your family and raise a single child. -Provides fascinating facts and statistics to show the reasons for the rapid risein the number of singletons -Explores pressure from friends, relatives, and strangers to have a second child . . . and how to deal with it -Demystifies the realities of raising and being an only child with personal stories and current research -Explores the highly debated question: Does a child need a sibling?

The author discusses the pros and cons of being an only child.