The Ultimate Guidebook for Joyful, Effective Parenting Humans expect ourselves to be great parents - naturally -- as if good parenting were an instinct we're all born with. But you weren't born with that skill any more than with the ability to speak your family's native tongue. Before you became fluent in any language, you had to learn it: one word at a time and with a lot of repetition. You learn how to parent the same way -- one lesson at a time, through practice and trial-and-error. And error. And error. Which is why every parent, at any stage of their child's development, needs "Parenting as a Second Language, A Guidebook for Joyfully Navigating the Trials, Triumphs and Tribulations of Parenthood." With this book as your guide, you will learn: How to name yourself an effective parent, and make that true The nouns and verbs that connect your children to you, and the one adjective that describes -- and creates -- every effective parent How to turn negative numbers into positive outcomes How to "tell time" so that your whole family's needs are met How to use adages we all know to instill the values most important to you How to derive joy from life's most challenging role This book is the first step in your journey towards becoming the amazing parent you always knew you'd be. Some of the work may seem hard, but with time and effort, you can be fluent in Parenting, and your children will be native speakers "