Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 The Art of Soothing a Screaming Child
On fussy infants and toddler freak-outsat home, in stores, and on the road 9
Chapter 2 The Art of Getting Your Kid to Eat Stuff
Food trickery for babies and picky eaters 33
Chapter 3 The Art of Getting Your Kid to Act Like a Person
On getting out the door, bathing and grooming, potty stuff, manners, cleaning up, and going to bed and staying there 50
Chapter 4 The Art of Making Monsters Less Scary
On calming active imaginations 88
Chapter 5 The Art of Keeping Your Kids from Strangling Each Other
On sibling rivalry 103
Chapter 6 The Art of Keeping Your Cool
Like, whenever possible 121
Chapter 7 The Art of Tricking Your Kid into Self-Babysitting
So you can have time to recharge, talk to another grown-up, or just take a freakin' poop in peace 133
Chapter 8 The Art of Making This Scary-Ass World Less Scary
Because real things are often scarier than imaginary things 148
Chapter 9 The Art of Getting Your Kid to Tell You Things
Communicating with tight-lipped kids on matters big and small 167
Chapter 10 The Art of Getting It On as a Parent
Do we really need to explain this one? 185
Chapter 11 The Art of Helping Your Kid Not Be a Kid
Giving your baby the space to grow up, while setting boundaries that (hopefully) won't backfire 205
Chapter 12 The Art of Manipulating Your Parent
Because once it comes full circle, you have truly won 232
Acknowledgments 244
