We Have a Problem: A Parent's Sourcebook

by Jane Marks

A baby who won't respond to its parents...A seven-year-old's persistent bed-wetting...a young daredevil who's begun to court real danger...a little girl who's selfish and rude - and friendless...
As all parents know, the challenges of child rearing can often seem overwhelming. Jane Marks, the well-known columnist of "We Have a Problem" from Parents Magazine, brings together, in this collection, her wise and thoughtful "stories" about the triumphs and trials of being a parent. We Have a A Parent's Sourcebook addresses the predictable and unexpected challenges inherent in raising a family - from developmental tasks gone awry to fears and fantasies, puzzling behavior, separation, divorce, blending families, and death, dying, and bereavement. And, although these columns are about problems, they are also about solutions - about the ways in which resilient families can, and do, work things out.
Each column is told in two voices; the parent's voice, explaining the difficulty in the family and the reason for seeking help; and the counselor's voice, offering expert advice in an approachable and compassionate manner. Marks shows that tapping into another family's dynamics often gives us tremendous insights into recognizing and understanding our own. And although these stories may not reflect the particular difficulties in your family, the coping mechanisms described will help you face your greatest parenting.

449 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Jane Marks is an author and journalist whose article in New York magazine became the basis for her book, Hidden Children: The Secret Survivors of the Holocaust. Marks wrote Hidden Children “to leave a lasting record how these children lived in hiding; to make the world aware of the exceptional courage and goodness that emerged in the midst of unspeakable tragedy.”