Trade Secrets: Parenting: Everything You Will Ever Need to Know

One of BBC's conspicuous successes of the last six years has been the ten minute slot called Trade Secrets. Each week seasoned professionals from key occupations give hints and tips developed through a lifetime of doing the job. This completely new book contains over 5,000 hints and tips on bring up children from conception, pregnancy, birth, babies, toddlers, school, teenagers and, at last packing them off into life. Each series of tips is contributed by an individual who has a lifetime's experience in the subject.

SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE have so far run two serial instalments. REAL Magazine used TRADE SECRETS: PARENTING in Issue 11, (due to be published on 20th May) for a kids section feature. CHAT are using the book for their weekly tips section featuring tips on how to avoid morning sickness- Summer issues. Annie Ashworth wrote an impressive piece for the TES on the subject of parents' evenings which ran day after publication and Karen Dolby wrote an equally interesting article for HEALTHY magazine on hyperactivity. Radio interviews have been done on BBC Radio 5 Live's Simon Mayo Show, BBC Radio WM, BBC Radio Jerseyand BBC Radio Essex. Junior Pregnancy and Baby and Real magazine have reviewed, and there's more to come from Sainsbury's magazine, Parenting, Baby and Junior. 'For a parents' reference book it would be hard to beat TRADE SECRETS:PARENTING by Annie Ashworth, Meg Sanders and Karen Dolby. It gives you tips on just about every aspect of child-raising you can think of.'BELLA 'Essential reading for everyone from first-to fourth-time parents, grandparents, step-parents, foster parents and all those working with children'INDEPENDENT EDUCATION TODAY 'A guide designed not just for first-time parents but for the whole family ... The advice is short and to the point, making it perfect for dipping into at any time, especially for busy parents who don't have time to sit and read for long periods.'BABY & YOU - ADULT BOOK OF THE MONTH 'There ishelp on a massively broad range of topics including tantrums, shaving, guesthouses and even swallowed teeth. So that's the Motherin awasaurus sorted again.'FAMILIES SOUTH EAST 'If you wish that children came with an instruction manual on bringing them up, then you might find enlightenment in Trade Sectrets: Parenting ... This book has a lot to offer grandmothers, too.'THE LADY 'Practical, easy-to-use, and charmingly illustrated, this completely new book contains everything you need to know about the first 18 years of your child's life - from conception to leaving home.'FAMILIES JOURNAL

Katherine Lapworth worked at the BBC for six years as a Producer and Director in both radio and television before launching her own copywriting business. She is also a founder member of Maverick Media the sister company to Maverick Television, established to exploit all the print and video opportunities arising from Maverick's broadcast work.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
The Title Says It All
By Dora
All the things. This book covers all the things. There is some repetition, and it can be a bit bogged down, but chances are - if you have a question about a life-issue (how do I remove those stubborn stains - what should I look for when purchasing x, y, and/or z), this book has the answer. Nailed it. I've had this book for about a year now and it has proven itself worthy beyond its purchase price.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
I should have known that most of the information was out of date
By Amazon Customer
Since this was made in England though, it was actually an entertaining read. I didn't find much of use in so far as actual trade secrets though.

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Heads You Lose

Heads You Lose is the latest novel by crimewriter (and rabbi) Martin S. Cohen. We’re on the road with Saul Jacobson as he treks across Western Canada with a sullen teenaged hitchhiker. Part maccabre crime tale, part coming-of-age chronicle, Heads You Lose is also a very humourous road story with a biblical perspective. Ultimately the redemptive power of love and the meaning of friendship are celebrated in this most unusual story. Highly recommended both for readers interested in the way love can bloom in the least likely soil and for fans of Biblical decapitation tales.

Author and rabbi Martin Samuel Cohen hails originally from New York but now resides with his family in Santa Barbara, California. For many years a rabbi in Richmond, BC, Martin Cohen is the author of several volumes on religious life as well as three previous crime novels: Light from the Dead Stars, The Truth About Marvin Kalish, and The Sword of Goliath. He has a Ph.D. in the history of ancient Judaism and has been a post-doctoral fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at Harvard University. Although a traditionalist in matters of Jewish faith, he has a lively irreverent sense of humour.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
The Seductive Pleasure of Getting Even
By Ehud Yisroel
I very much enjoyed this unusual, slightly twisted book, which may contain every decapitation story in the Hebrew Bible, and then some. The book deals with the classic issues of injustice, cruel outrage, guilt, redemption, sweet revenge obtained, and justice received. It gets pretty exciting (and funny) along the way. Saul, a middle aged professor of Bible studies, takes off on a road trip across Canada to get away from it all after his brother hangs himself, his wife leaves him for the gardener's brother, his parents slip into dementia, and he loses his job without warning when the college drops Bible studies from its curricula. Along the way Saul picks up a 19 year old hitchhiker whose mother drowned herself after years of terrible abuse by his father. They both are carrying a lot of baggage they need to work through, and as you might expect, it all gets tied up into nice little, satisfying, but surprising, packages by the end. The only problem I had with the book is that the next book I read was Harold S. Kushner's new book, "Living a Life that Matters," and it has a whole chapter bashing "the seductive pleasure of getting even," which made me feel kind of guilty at having enjoyed "Heads You Lose" so much.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
A MUST READ
By VELVEL
THIS BOOK AS WELL AS OTHERS I HAVE READ BY MARTIN COHEN ARE REAL PAGE TURNERS. ITS GREAT TO FIND A BOOK EVEN THE PHONE RINGING WON'T INTERUPT!!!!

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The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck

This text is designed for children coming to terms with the absence of parents.

Casey's dad has to go away for a couple of days-AGAIN! Casey hates it that his father has to travel so often. But this time Dad leaves a special gift that will help Casey cope with his absence and future trips as well. This upbeat and delightfully illustrated book contains many valuable tips for families in which a parent is frequently away from home. Also contains a Note to Parents.

Marty Epstein Sederman, M.B.A, M.S., came up with the idea of a "magic box" to help her sons, Casey and Derek, deal with how much they missed their father when he was away on frequent business trips. The idea worked so well that she decided to write a children’s book about it. Ms. Sederman holds an MBA from Harvard Business School as well as a M.S. in clinical psychology. She lives in New Jersey with her family and is a market research consultant.

Seymour Epstein, Ph.D., is Marty Sederman’s father. Dr. Epstein, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, has a PhD in adult and child clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin. He is published extensively in professional journals and is the author of several books including "Constructive Thinking: The Key To Emotional Intelligence."

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Help kids stay connected while you're away with Magic Box
By A Customer
"The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There To Tuck You In," by Marty Sederman and Seymour Epstein (Magination Press/American Psychological Association, 2003, 32 pages. Ages: 3-7. Paperback,...) When children are faced with a parent's overnight absence, they can be frightened, angry or unhappy. Here's book that shows how families can cope with absences and even have fun with them.
It tells the story of Casey, whose father announces he has to leave town for work again. "Oh no! Don't go!" Casey pleads. Dad explains that although he misses Casey, he simply has to travel sometimes for work. Then he challenges Casey to plan what the two can do together when he's gone. The next day, Mom helps Casey locate where Dad is on a map, and, when he's particularly blue, she surprises Casey with a glittery magic box Dad left for him. The box is filled with hugs and kisses and new markers, the note says. Casey feels much better and decides to make a surprise for Daddy, too.
"The Magic Box" includes a note to parents by clinical psychologist Ann Rasmussen, who explains how temporary absences can actually be positive learning experiences when children find ways to plan for the absence, stay connected to the traveling parent and look forward to the reunion. Such skills, she says, will help kids later in life.
Although the traveling parent in "The Magic Box" is the father, this book may also help families where the mother must be out of town at times for work.
---Sonja Meyer...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
An excellent book
By A Customer
The Magic Box is a well written book about a mom helping her son deal with the sadness of his dad often being away from home. It is a must read for any family who has a member that travels a lot for work. It lets a child know that is is okay to be sad (and even angry) when his dad is not home. It also offers an excellent solution to help ease that child's pain - to make a magic box filled with hugs and kisses. As my 7 year old said, "the best part about this book is that anyone can make a magic box."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
A bit too difficult for young children
By C. De Bie
Though the book is well intentioned and provides good ideas of what to do when a parent is away, the text is lengthy and a bit difficult for young children.

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Travel While You Work: The Ultimate Guide to Running a

All around the world, thousands of people are ditching the office and taking their working life on the road...

Freelancers are packing up their laptops and setting up shop in Thai cafes and Spanish coworking spaces, while entire companies are realising that they can slash their costs and have happier employees by allowing them to work from wherever they want.

Being able to see the world outside of a two-week vacation is pretty great, but it's not just about the travel. It's about doing away with all the constraints of office life – the commute, the cubicle, the bad coffee – and finding freedom in a more flexible way of working and living.

Travel While You Work is your guide to how you can make this transition too – whether you're a freelancer or the head of your own company.

Over the course of over 300 pages, you'll learn:

• The art of getting down to work fast in a new environment
• How to stay productive despite the hassles and distractions of travel
• Essential information about currencies and payments – including cross-currency payments
• Tips, tools and important principles for communicating with clients abroad
• A system for reliably hiring the best contractors and employees without meeting them in person
• How to manage a team when you're all in different locations

... And everything else you need to make "out of office" your permanent reality.

Travel While You Work also contains interviews with 13 very different business owners and freelancers – everyone from a management consultant to a circus school owner – sharing their tips for how they make their business work from anywhere in the world.

PLUS interviews with three travelling families who successfully balance entrepreneurship and education along with a life of travel.

This book won't teach you how to start a business, or what business you should start. But if you want to take an existing business mobile (whether as a solo freelancer or the head of your own company), Travel While You Work will give you all the inspiration, resources and practical guidance you need.

Mish Slade has spent three years as a “digital nomad” – running her businesses from 20 different countries with her husband, and blogging about the experience on makingitanywhere.com. She has travel down to the finest of arts, yet still can’t quite be trusted not to make jokes while going through security.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Joining the Ranks of Location-Independent Professionals? This is a Great Place to Start!
By Language on the Loose
Travel While You Work is Mish Slade’s third guide for fellow and aspiring “digital nomads” (a title she claims somewhat grudgingly, for lack of a better term). The follow-up to Travel Like a Pro and Protect Your Tech is longer than its two predecessors at more than 300 pages, although highlights from both previous guides are revisited (and expanded upon) in Slade’s latest work. In addition to Chapter 3’s sobering advice on information security and the bonus chapter providing her best travel tips, Slade offers street-tested tips and resources for settling in quickly, dealing with financial matters, optimizing mobile productivity, freelancing on the go, hiring the best employees, and running a location-independent business. Particularly interesting for those considering this lifestyle may be the appendices featuring interviews of other digital nomads - including three who travel with their children.

Slade’s self-effacing, whimsical style belies her sophistication as a writer, traveler, and entrepreneur. From getting through airport security with minimal fuss and bother to conducting remote interviews from (almost) anywhere in the world, Slade uses her quirky sense of humor and light-hearted anecdotes to make the pages turn easily. Relevant and practical advice is reinforced with examples, links to resources, and recommendations for additional research.

Readers who will find this book most useful are those who are either considering or just beginning a lifestyle of truly location-independent work, whether self-employed or working remotely for someone else. It may be less relevant for more experienced digital nomads or those whose lifestyles don’t involve frequent international travel, since Slade devotes a good bit of attention to topics like air travel and dealing with multiple currencies. As an experienced freelancer with (children and) a strong preference for ground transportation, I found myself skimming through sections on productivity tools and finding the best airfares, but I devoured other sections relating to communication tools and interacting with contractors. I appreciate Slade’s willingness to research and share solutions from various resources (sparing her readers hours of tedious legwork to find the information she compiles so neatly for us), as well as her commitment to giving credit where credit’s due (links to sources and providers accompany every topic).

If you’re among the vanguard of professional nomads, or your mobile office only needs to function within a limited area (your home country), you may not find this book especially helpful (in fairness, it's still a fairly comprehensive clearinghouse of information and advice for work-related travel). However, I highly recommend it for newbie digital nomads and those who aspire to - in Slade’s words - “manage and communicate with [a] team of staff and contractors around the world,” learn “the best methods for dealing with clients as a freelancer,” and develop skills for “maintaining productivity while moving around the world.”

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent Resource - A Must Have for a Digital Nomad
By Genius
First let me say, as someone with a desire to travel and work from anywhere, this book was fascinating. A behind the scenes (so to speak) look at how someone actually does it.

This is not a book about theory. It is the real "how-to" from someone who actually walks the walk and talks the talk.

The author has a very easy to read style of writing and I found the book to even be entertaining at times. (the author writes with wit and like that) I like books that are easy to read and are a "quick read" and this book does not disappoint.

I do not review many books but I felt I needed to make an exception because this book is on a topic that I am really interested in and studying currently. You will read this book and go back to it over and over again. You will be bookmarking so many links because you will want to remember them and find them when you need them and you WILL eventually need them. LOL

If you are a freelancer or internet entrepreneur, I suggest you grab this book. You will get tons of ideas as well as tools and resources that will make your life much easier as a digital nomad.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Great information, and fun to boot!
By Strudeloo
Hands down one of the best resources for someone considering taking their show on the road. This book is absolutely full to the brim of important information. While you can hunt and peck for a lot of this information online, it really is worthwhile to have it all gathered in one place. This really is an indispensable resource.

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