The baby abandoned on the doorstep is a phenomenon that has virtually disappeared from our experience, but in the early modern world, unwanted children were a very real problem for parents, government officials, and society. The Unwanted Child skillfully recreates sixteenth-century Nuremberg to explore what befell abandoned, neglected, abused, or delinquent children in this critical period. Joel F. Harrington tackles this question by focusing on the stories of five individuals. In vivid and poignant detail, he recounts the experiences of an unmarried mother-to-be, a roaming mercenary who drifts in and out of his children’s lives, a civic leader handling the government’s response to problems arising from unwanted children, a homeless teenager turned prolific thief, and orphaned twins who enter state care at the age of nine. Braiding together these compelling portraits, Harrington uncovers and analyzes the key elements that link them, including the impact of war and the vital importance of informal networks among women. From the harrowing to the inspiring, The Unwanted Child paints a gripping picture of life on the streets five centuries ago.

Elle Edwards, who has been told she's a product of her mother's sinful mistake, has never gone to school, never met a teenager her own age, never even been allowed off of her grandparents' property. Convinced that their granddaughter is infected with evil, Myra and Prescott Edwards believe that only the harshest child-rearing methods will prevent Elle from becoming an instrument of the devil. When Elle's mother finally returns home and tells a different story of her daughter's conception, Elle worries her grandparents are right. But with the help of a handsome boy vacationing nearby, Elle is finally about to discover the truth about her past…

Author Jenifer Stewart's family life from childhood to adulthood was never easy. In this unsettling tale of abuse and trauma, Stewart relates to challenges of growing up unloved and unwanted. Turning inward and finding the strength to fight back and move on, Stewart's story should serve as inspiration for those seeking a way out of an abusive relationship. Horrifying experiences at home with those who are supposed to love you and keep you safe don't have to be the end of your story. Stewart demonstrates that there is a path forward to a better way of life.

In his late twenties, Jack Delaney has lost his life. Set in a bleak and confusing afterlife, God's Unwanted Child is a picaresque novel that follows the narrator, Jack Delaney, on his path to eternity. As Jack enters his life after death, he is faced with a reality he never would have expected: You can choose where to spend eternity. Cursed with choice and burdened by his own memories, Jack attempts to navigate the seemingly endless doors that death holds for him. With each chapter, Jack takes the reader through his past filled with alcohol abuse, sex, violence, and existential isolation. In God's Unwanted Child, the reader will experience Jack's life first hand as he wrestles with his relationship with his Father, his past love, and the choices that lead him to his final decision.

Forty years of misery and loneliness come to an end when Ralph uttered the words, "If you are who they say you are, keep me from doing what I am about to do!" Coming to and finding his wheels six inches from a three-hundred-foot cliff began a journey like no other Ralph had ever experienced""the journey that took him deep in the bowels of prison, dealing with the very dregs of society, the lost souls that God still loved, and being tempted to strike out by the human side and given grace by God. Ralph didn't challenge God but requested to be shown the power of the Holy Spirit, asking as a small child would ask his father. If you have the tears, read this book.

The beginning of the decline -- Characterising harm -- Loss of autonomy? -- Defining the problem -- Notes -- Injured bodies -- Natural born reproducers -- Wrongful pregnancy as a personal injury -- Orthodox injuries -- Harmed minds, harmed bodies -- Paradigm shifts -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Health, disability and harm -- Emerging dichotomies -- The disability exception -- Parental autonomy -- The importance of context -- Rees in the House of Lords -- Conclusion : what kind of autonomy? -- Notes -- The harm paradox -- The mitigation ethic -- Mitigation is dead -- Long live choice -- My family and other animals -- Conclusion : a harm paradox? -- Notes -- Constructions of the reasonable woman -- On being responsible -- Responsible women -- Self-regarding woman : still a choice -- Natural woman : she had no other choice -- The woman in need -- Conclusion : not a choice? -- Notes -- Reproductive choice, reproductive reality -- A (wo)man's right to choose -- Reversing nature's discrimination -- In practice abortion is not a choice -- Women do not experience abortion as a choice -- Women are conforming, not choosing -- Conclusion -- Notes -- The moral domain of autonomy -- What kind of person? -- Beyond personhood -- A relational approach -- Being responsible beings -- Concluding remarks.

What if I drop my baby when I go down the steps? What if I burn the baby in the bathtub? Thoughts like these can be frightening to new mothers, but are a common symptom pregnant and postpartum women can experience. Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts addresses the nature of these intrusive, negative and unwanted thoughts. Kleiman and Wenzel offer answers to the women who seek information, clarification, and validation in this useful resource for healthcare professionals working with these mothers. Written by two clinicians who have established themselves as leading experts and authors in this specialized field, this book maintains a compassionate tone that will be a voice familiar to many women in the postpartum community. Whether you must confront these negative notions personally or in your practice, this book will explain what these thoughts are, why they are there, and what can be done about them.