Love You Forever

Amazon.com

The mother sings to her sleeping baby: "I'll love you forever / I'll love you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be." She still sings the same song when her baby has turned into a fractious 2-year-old, a slovenly 9-year-old, and then a raucous teen. So far so ordinary--but this is one persistent lady. When her son grows up and leaves home, she takes to driving across town with a ladder on the car roof, climbing through her grown son's window, and rocking the sleeping man in the same way. Then, inevitably, the day comes when she's too old and sick to hold him, and the roles are at last reversed. Each stage is illustrated by one of Sheila McGraw's comic and yet poignant pastels. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr

Book Description

A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.

Softly she sings to him:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."

So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition (as well as hundreds of thousands of copies in Spanish and French).

Firefly Books is proud to offer this sentimental favorite in a variety of editions and sizes:

We offer a trade paper and laminated hardcover edition in a 8" x 8" size.

In gift editions we carry:
a slipcased edition (8 1/2" x 8 1/4"), with a laminated box and a cloth binding on the book
and a 10" x 10" laminated hardcover with jacket.

And a Big Book Edition, 16" x 16" with a trade paper binding.

Customer Reviews:

I agree - this book is for warped minds.......2007-10-16

I was given this book and only recently got around to reading it to my children (we have lots of books to get through!). It starts out cute, and very quickly declines in to "strange behaviour". I'm a mother of 4 children whom I love dearly, and I do NOT want them to think that I'll be sneaking in to their homes later in life whilst they sleep. How creepy is that. And I really hope my son does not grow as a man who sleeps with his teddy and sucks his thumb. I'm shocked this book was published. Hollywood could make a really creepy movie out of this one.

Didn't like the message.......2007-10-12

This book is very popular with my husbands family so I got it at my baby shower - I didn't like it a bit. Infact I got rid of it. I think any mom that is driving across down to climb up a ladder and into a window to rock her son to sleep is just strange!! I was fine with the book until I saw the picture of her in the car with the ladder on top. I just find that creepy. I won't be reading this to my son and I dread the day I have to tell my inlaws not to read it to him either. Its just creepy!

This is a Top Ten Creepy Children's Book.......2007-10-03

This starts off kind of cute. The mother has a child in her arms and she tells him, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." As an expression of a parent's unconditional love it's a great little saying from a mother to her son. And then you turn the pages, the kid gets older, and the you see the mom sneaking into the teenage son's bedroom and repeating the mantra. It seems a little Oedipus, as I'd not really like to think about my mom sneaking into my room when I was a teenager but ok, still kind of cute.

Then the son gets married and moves away. Happy ending? Not exactly. Now the mother straps a ladder to her car, drives across town, and breaks into the son's house, sneaks into his bedroom and while he's sleeping with his wife next to him tells him "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." Ok, having seen Psycho, I have to say I'm a bit disturbed. This continues through the son's life, until the mother is dying, and the son repeats her mantra back to her.

The last page in the book shows the son, cradling his newborn, repeating his mother's mantra to the baby, and the cycle repeats. If this were a movie, I would have expected the creepy horror music to well up, have the son look into the camera and start an evil cackle as the picture faded to black.

A comfort.......2007-10-03

It was my Kindergarten teacher who introduced me to this book when I was about five years old. It was a hard time for me at that age because my mom was gone a lot but this book made it a little easier. The song "I'll love you forever" still rings true today and occasionally I even get a little misty eyed. Looking back I remember singing it to my grandmother who couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes and a slight smile on her face when she hugged me "Your right little one and it will never change". It's a comforting book about love between parents and yes even grandparents that passes on generation to generation.

This is one of my favorite children's books and will remain so. However I believe that sadly now we are becoming more and more politically correct and thats unfortunately effecting our children's books. Judge for yourself but remember that sometimes if you look to closely you lose the magic completely :)

I love my mom.......2007-09-28

This book is has impacted me in such a way, and from such an early age, that it will resonate forever.
It is only a sad book if you don't know how to celebrate the life of a loved one. I think it's good for children to question the lessons of this book.

Forever Lily: An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China

Average customer rating:

I wanted to like it, but...
I want the hours back I spent reading this
The author was under INCREDIBLE stress during her trip to china!
Very disappointed in her poor portrayal of China and the Chinese people
A real gem!

Forever Lily: An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China
Beth Nonte Russell
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743292979

Book Description

"Will you take her?" she asks.

When Beth Nonte Russell travels to China to help her friend Alex adopt a baby girl from an orphanage there, she thinks it will be an adventure, a chance to see the world. But her friend, who had prepared for the adoption for many months, panics soon after being presented with the frail baby, and the situation develops into one of the greatest challenges of Russell's life.

Russell, watching in disbelief as Alex distances herself from the child, cares for the baby -- clothing, bathing, and feeding her -- and makes her feel secure in the unfamiliar surroundings. Russell is overwhelmed and disoriented by the unfolding drama and all that she sees in China, and yet amid the emotional turmoil finds herself deeply bonding with the child. She begins to have dreams of an ancient past -- dreams of a young woman who is plucked from the countryside and chosen to be empress, and of the child who is ultimately taken from her. As it becomes clear that her friend -- whose indecisiveness about the adoption has become a torment -- won't be bringing the baby home, Russell is amazed to realize that she cannot leave the baby behind and that her dreams have been telling her something significant, giving her the courage to open her heart and bring the child home against all odds.

Steeped in Chinese culture, Forever Lily is an extraordinary account of a life-changing, wholly unexpected love.

Customer Reviews:

I wanted to like it, but..........2007-09-15

As the mother of a daughter adopted from China, I try to read as much in this area as I can, and encourage others to do the same, but... I'd recommend skipping this one.

Occasionally, I have read others' adoption stories and have been disappointed in them, but in this case I was disturbed.

I was hoping for a Karin Evans-like story (Lost Daughters of China) that pulled together the dreams and the realities of the author's bonds with the child. That didn't happen. More disturbing than that was the story of how Lily became the author's child and not that of the mother who was intended for her. This is an atypical adoption story (I hope)- one of disruption, of difficulty bonding, and sadness and depression.

Please, if you're considering adoption from China, read something less contraversial than this option.

I want the hours back I spent reading this.......2007-08-27

I thought the author's writing style was pretentious and self-absorbed. I found myself skimming over passages (not just the dreams) to wade through the "calligraphic" sentence structure she uses that is often overdone. While imaginative in the very least, it a tool she used with a heavy hand.

This story is on it's own is valuable, but the telling of it has stripped away much of it's meaning for me.

The author was under INCREDIBLE stress during her trip to china!.......2007-08-22

I agree with most other reviews that the dream sequences were a bit long and made me wonder many times where the author was going with them. However, I think the adoption story overall was great. This women simply went to China to be a travel companion for a "not-so-close" friend. Her views of China and Chinese people and culture were not that of an adoptive parent, but that of a tourist. A tourist who was under a great deal of stress the entire time she was in the country. She hadn't spent two or more years researching China and learning about the culture like all of us who have read this book trying to do just that. There are several references to past lives, and even a reference or two to tarot cards and psychics (I am an open minded person who has also spent time learning about that subject as well, so these references didn't make me look at the author as "weird"). To those of you trying to figure out if you want to buy this book: It's worth your time to read it.

Very disappointed in her poor portrayal of China and the Chinese people.......2007-08-16

I just completed this book last night and was very bothered by what I read. While the interplay between Alex and Beth is interesting, I was horrified by her descriptions of China and her pereceptions of the Chinese. Although she asserts that the reason she was invited on the trip was because of her travel experience, I would venture that Beth has NOT traveled extensively abroad and especially not in Asia. I think she viewed the country and people through very American eyes and that can not and should not be done. They are not American and we are two very different cultures. As such we are going to have different beliefs about democracy and freedom. She complains of being jostled about and stared at but these are normal occurences in China. The pushing in the market places was not a reflection of what they thought of her, because I doubt little thought went towards her. I'm glad she ate most of her meals in the hotel or she would have been quite surprised at the pushing that goes on while at a buffet!
She viewed the treatment of the orphans at the orphanage as neglectful. I believe they are probably doing the best they can with the resources they have available. The reason the babies are seated on the benches is to allow them to be up and interact with other children, but also to prevent them from falling and hurting themselves. Which is worse? The poorer more rural orphanages do not receive adequate support from their government which is why they rely on the $[...] orphanage fee from the adoptive parents.
I understand as an adoptive parent she wants to define the incredible connection she feels to her daughter, but the dream sequence goes beyond straining credulity. It was a distraction to the story and just another thread to force us to believe this was meant to be.
For someone who feels so strongly connected to China, asserting on some level that she is Chinese, I was appalled by her lack of knowledge of the country, people, culture and beliefs. In the epilogue she tells of visiting Hong Kong with her now 6 year-old daughter. She writes "your very presence frees them of their guilt, Lily; perhaps you understand this." Perhaps in China this would be true, but Hong Kong operates as a separate entity. The citizens of Hong Kong do not know the plight of the orphans in China, why would they? That is another country's problem. The preference for males does not exist in Hong Kong. They have no population control (no 1 child laws).
As a person who has traveled extensively,spent time in these countries, and has friends from both Hong Kong and China I was disturbed that the author did not spend more time learning about the place her daughter came from. Maybe she felt that these omissions made for a better story, but I am bothered that people with no first hand experience with China or the Chinese will read this book and make unfair judgements based on one woman's story.

A real gem!.......2007-08-08

I found this gem of a book in an airport bookstore and it made a long layover and plane trip seem to "fly" by. I couldn't put it down. My favorite part of this beautifully written story were the vivid and detailed dream passages. Integral to the unfolding of the story, the dreams offer a glimpse into the author's psyche, subconscious - her very soul. The author's willingness to invite the reader along on her inner journey is what sets this book apart from other memoirs. Without the dream passages, this book would be little more than a travelogue through China that leads to adoption. I applaud the author's courage in sharing her amazing story and am richer for having read it. If you are open to reading about beliefs, experiences and a perspective that may be different from your own, you will enjoy this book.

Average customer rating:

Very Nice

I Love You Always And Forever
Jonathan Emmett
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0439916542

Book Description

In this endearing story about a father and his child, Longtail is always so much faster than Littletail. He's also so much cleverer. But that won't be forever, Longtail tells Littletail. At the end of a busy day, as Littletail curls up in their nest, Longtail reminds her of the one thing that will stay the same--always and forever.

Customer Reviews:

Very Nice.......2007-03-11

My nearly two year old likes this book, but I wouldn't say loved it.

The Truth about Forever (Teen's Top 10 (Awards))

Average customer rating:

Best BOOKK
FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES
books
Highly Recomended!
Cute book

The Truth about Forever (Teen's Top 10 (Awards))
Sarah Dessen
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670036390

Amazon.com

With her sixth novel, award-winning author Sarah Dessen offers up another generous helping of finely crafted storytelling about real teens dealing with real life. In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own. As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future endedwith her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her. All of the Dessen trademarks are here: a girl in transition, a wonderfully fleshed out cast of secondary characters, and of course, the luminous, powerful writing itself. The Truth About Forever will more than satisfy Dessen's legion of fans, and will win her countless more as well. Highly recommended. (Ages 12 and up) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

Macy's summer stretches before her, carefully planned and outlined. She will spend her days sitting at the library information desk. She will spend her evenings studying for the SATs. Spare time will be used to help her obsessive mother prepare for the big opening of the townhouse section of her luxury development.

But Macy's plans don't anticipate a surprising and chaotic job with Wish Catering, a motley crew of new friends, or . . . Wes. Tattooed, artistic, anything-but-expected Wes. He doesn't fit Macy's life at all&150so why does she feel so comfortable with him? So . . . happy? What is it about him that makes her let down her guard and finally talk about how much she misses her father, who died before her eyes the year before?

Sarah Dessen delivers a page-turning novel that carries readers on a roller coaster of denial, grief, comfort, and love as we watch a broken but resilient girl pick up the pieces of her life and fit them back together.

Customer Reviews:

Best BOOKK.......2007-09-26

This was by far my favorite Sarah Dessen novel. She creates characters that make you feel like you know. They're personalities jump out at you and suck you in, and by the end you're wishing that it was never over.

FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES.......2007-09-12

i absolutely LOVE this book. i started reading it at about 10 o'clock and just couldnt put it down. i finished it that night, at 3 in the morning. i lauged, cried, and fell in love with this book, and all the characters. Sarah Dessen is by far my favorite author. i am in the middle of another one of her books, "this lullaby," which i am loving.
i would recomend this book to anyone in a heartbeat!

books.......2007-09-07

My daughter just loves this author and all her books so far that she has read.

Highly Recomended!.......2007-09-01

Before I bought it I wasn't sure if I would like it, even though everyone I had talked to loved this book. They weren't wrong. This book shows deep insight into the life of a teenager who is too afraid to show her emotions even though she longs to do so. Beautifully written, I would recomend this book to anyone!

Cute book.......2007-07-03

This book was engaging. I really enjoyed reading it. My only complaint was the occasional swear word. I whited these out but was nonetheless offended that one would degrade teenagers so by assuming we enjoy indulging in that garbage. Other than that the book was a terrific great, a great plot, cute guys, and a thorough understanding of the teen mind set.

Average customer rating:

wonderful
Important Message in Fun, Easy to Read Format
Heartwarming! Our Forever Family's FAVORITE!
Not nearly as simple as that!
No wonder this book has won awards!

Families are Forever
Craig Shemin , and Deb Capone
Manufacturer: As Simple As That
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0972866604

Book Description

A family's particular origin is only the start of what being "a family" means. In this heartwarming tale of family love and beginnings, Rain meets Bo and her new "forever" Mom and they become a brand new family. There are many kinds of families, but all families are forever. It's as Simple as That.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful.......2007-06-05

I love that proceeds from this book and others go toward a good cause and the book was beautiful

Important Message in Fun, Easy to Read Format.......2006-09-10

A six year old girl's light hearted account tells how she came to her adoptive mother. The easy to follow text and child-like drawings celebrate adoption and "forever families" of every kind. It's an ideal story for lap-time reading or an easy way to make the adoption story part of 'happy bed time stories'. The book will inspire parents and kids to talk about their own first "meetings," whether at birth or in an adoption agency. This picture book will have great appeal for many youngsters, though adoptees and children from blended families and single parent homes will feel a special connection and be reminded that it's love that binds families together.

Marsha Jordan
author of Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter
Inspirational essays illustrated by sick children
www.hugsandhope.org/pb.htm

Heartwarming! Our Forever Family's FAVORITE!.......2006-03-25

A must have for every adoptive family's personal collection. Our three year old daughter (adopted from China), loves the story of Rain and Bo, and can relate so perfectly to how their forever family was formed - (and more importantly - how it explains how her own family was formed) - that she read it with us every night at bedtime. She now "reads" it all by herself - as it took no effort at all for her to memorize this heartwarming tale. Told from the child's perspective with simple but meaningful language, and the cutest illustrations - every child will love it. It's one of our favorites!

Not nearly as simple as that!.......2005-12-11

I am an adoptive mother, I have done quite a bit of research about adoption, and I have written my Master's thesis about adoption and its perspectives in children's literature. This book oversimplifies the subject and leads children to believe that an adopted baby understands the journey she begins when she meets her forever family. The text is nothing like what a six year old (the supposed age of the character narrator) would use. The pictures are over simple in some parts to look as if a child has drawn and colored them, and in other parts they are something like a bizarre cross between a photo and a sketch. They are not likely to draw a young child in or hold their interest.
It is impossible that this character, Rain, would have had all of the thoughts and feelings she tells her young readers she had. Many, many other adoption books are out there for children. Do not spend your money and time on one that paints an over-simplified story. It's NOT as simple as that.

No wonder this book has won awards!.......2005-04-06

Most baby albums start with new-baby photographs. But for a little girl named Rain, her "forever family" album begins with her adoptive mother's trip to China to meet her. Told from Rain's point of view when she's "almost six," this sweet tale is graceful and eloquent: "Our eyes were different, but we could both see. Our lips were different, but we could both smile." There's no question that it was love at first sight: "I could see love in her eyes. So I gave it right back." Bridging both the generation and culture gap is Bo, the cuddly stuffed hippo who was once the mother's toy and now is a companion to Rain. This story presents a reassuring way to talk to young children about adoption: "Mom always says I was the best present she ever got."

Terrific writing teams up with superb illustrations. The photo-album technique is perfect here, providing the highlights of this family-building process.

One of the book's creators - who did adopt a Chinese girl - founded a company called As Simple As That, which provides multi-media products that encourage children to understand and respect other cultures. Their tagline is wonderful: Celebrating What We All Share. Truly, this book is a celebration of love and life.

[...]

Parents Are Forever: A Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming Successful Coparents After Divorce

Average customer rating:

Parents Are Forever: A Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming Successful Coparents After Divorce
Shirley Thomas
Manufacturer: Springboard Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0964637839

Average customer rating:

A fun tale.

No Dessert Forever!
George Ella Lyon
Manufacturer: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1416903852

Book Description

Have you ever been blamed for mischief your brother has caused? Did you get mad?

Well, so does the girl in this book about a brother who pesters, and a sister who objects -- big time.

In their spirited words and pictures, favorite friends George Ella Lyon and Peter Catalanotto have a fine time righting the wrong of this familiar family injustice.

Customer Reviews:

A fun tale........2007-01-06

George Ella Lyon and Peter Catalanotto's NO DESSERT FOREVER! will reach ages 5-9 with its story of a pesty brother and a girl who is tired of being blamed for his mischief. A girl's fantasy of what will happen when she 'gets big' makes for a fun tale.

Fathers Are Forever: A Co-Parenting Guide for the 21st Century

Average customer rating:

Most Helpful Guide
Fathers Are Forever: A Co-Parenting Guide for the 21st Cent.

Fathers Are Forever: A Co-Parenting Guide for the 21st Century
Steven Ashley
Manufacturer: Steve Ashley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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Parent & Adult Child | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1556308582

Book Description

Fathers Are Forever is a must read for all divorced dads who want to remain involved parents. The saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies here. Reading Fathers Are Forever means kids keep their fathers. Every father needs to read this book.

Fathers Are Forever is a handy, 180-page how-to book which draws on actual experiences of men and women seeking to create and sustain co-parenting relationships. The book walks parents through the divorce process from beginning to end. It moves Mom and Dad from adversaries to co-operative parents in spite of the fact that they live in two separate homes.

Customer Reviews:

Most Helpful Guide.......2002-07-27

As a recently divorced dad struggling for a way to deal with the court system and my relationship with my 8 year old daughter, I found Fathers Are Forever to be invaluable. This book truly is a "how to" guide for fathers (as well as mothers) who want to retain a strong relationship with their children while rebuilding their lives. After reading the book, I attended several of the author's workshoips and came away very impressed with his sincerity and knowledge. As I am both a Ph.D and a law student, I was particularly impressed by the author's insight into basic human psychology as well as the legal system. I recommend Fathers Are Forever in the strongest terms!

Fathers Are Forever: A Co-Parenting Guide for the 21st Cent........2002-07-09

In Fathers Are Forever, author Steve Ashley is a relentless advocate for co-parenting and the importance of fathers in their childrens' lives. He speaks to divorced men in an easy to read, understandable style. Most chapters conclude with practical action steps guiding the father through the potential difficulties of co-parenting and the custody process. The book is very validating of fathers, and their experiences in divorce. It is also realistic in its assessment of the bias that fathers face in the custody process, while providing strategy for dealing with that bias.

Book Description

Life expectancy is going up. Our parents are increasingly likely to be living into their eighties and nineties. Many find themselves in the position of caring for their parents when they are already retired themselves, or not in good health, or still have

The Loss That is Forever: The Lifelong Impact of the Early Death of a Mother or Father

Average customer rating:

Kind intentions, wrong focus.....
A story that parallels my own life
Must Read
Gives you hope at a dark time
As bad as it is for surviving spouse, it's worse for the children

The Loss That is Forever: The Lifelong Impact of the Early Death of a Mother or Father
Maxine Harris
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0525938699

Customer Reviews:

Kind intentions, wrong focus............2007-07-29

I lost my mother at the tender age of 7, and was also raised in a somewhat dysfunctional family. A couple of years ago, I started college, and I felt that my emotional baggage was so getting too much in the way, so I bought a lot of self help books to find a way to feel better and move on with my life.

Sadly, this was one of the books that did not do it for me. Although knowing certain traits about people who lost their parent(s) early did help me acknowledge some of my characteristic, (like my having little interest in small talk), it did nothing to get me out of the rut that I was in. I was left with the feeling: what now?

I am proud to say that I have resolved most (if not all) of my emotional baggage, and I'm now someone who looks to the future with hope and aspiration and doing extremely well in school, etc. What was my inspiration? I found a purpose in my life: I want to be successful and make good money so that I would have a comfortable life and be able to help my loved ones lead more comfortable lives. I also plan to donate a lot of money to charity once I start making good money (I'm still in school).

People may have different aspirations, but I find that as long as you have a dream, it will help pull you through a lot of hardships. Of course, there were many other things I learned along the way that helped me cope with my past better. I read a ton of self help books, I go to a great university that taught me how to think more critically about life. So it was a long journey to peace of mind for me, but well worth the effort.

I guess my main beef against this book is that, like most psychology-influenced book, it focuses too much on the past and on damage that has already been done, and not enough on the possibilities in the future. The hope for a better future is what pulls a lot of people out of a rut.

I will be compiling a listmania thing of books that has helped me, if you wanna check out the stuff I've read.

A story that parallels my own life.......2007-01-17

I was one of the people initially interviewed for the book when it was being written. After the book was published I was so deeply affected by the overall effect of all the lives that Ms. Harris had so beautifully interwoven. For the first time in my life I no longer felt so alone having been a child who lost a parent at an early age. I think this is must reading for anyone of any age who has gone through this experience or knows others who have had this experience.

Must Read.......2007-01-10

This book is a must read for anyone who has lost a parent in their childhood. I was talking about it today at my book club meeting where four out of seven us lost a parent at a young age. We all agreed with a lot of what was written in this book. Three of us had tears in our eyes as we described our experiences. We all had tears rolling down our cheeks when one of us told about going to elementary school and the other kids could have their mothers be the room mother and how she didn't have a mother to do this. This woman is in her 40s. Realistic look at those of us who were so unforunate to lose a parent and how it defined our lives.

Gives you hope at a dark time.......2005-10-17

My 45 year old husband died suddenly of a heart attack. He was a very thin, active person who never smoked and had NO family history of heart disease. Besides dealing with my loss I was distraught at this staggering blow to our three children, 18, 15, and 10. This book gave me hope that our children could go on to live whole and happy lives in spite of this loss. Eight years later, our children have, for the most part, thrived. I recommend this to anyone dealing with this tragedy in their lives.

As bad as it is for surviving spouse, it's worse for the children.......2005-07-16

This book was a life-saver for me some 10 years ago when my husband, at age 40, died from cancer. We had two children - ages 5-1/2 and 20 months at the time - and this book helped me empathize with their plight and grief at their daddy's death.
As hard as his death was for me personally, I understood after reading this book that the experience was at the time -- and would be in the future -- far harder for them. It let me shift focus away from myself and to something far more important -- helping guide their little hearts and minds into stable, secure and productive adulthoods.

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