You scour the Internet, you read every book you can find, you devour newspaper article after newspaper article, you purchase magazine subscriptions, and watch hours of television programing, determined to become the perfect parent. You feel you must be the perfect parent. Doesn't every child deserve a perfect parent? What type of parent would you be if you did not want the very best for your child? In your quest for perfection, you even turn to your own parents for advice. Still seeking the answers, you buy this book. What exactly, then, does it take for you to be the perfect parent? The essays in this book will help you to better understand children and child rearing. You will gain confidence in your ability to "Do what works!", whatever that may be. It is my sincere hope that you will lay down the notion of perfection in parenting, for there is no such thing! Learn to be gentle with yourself, and with your children. Be generous - generous in terms of patience, compassion, and forgiveness, with yourself and your children. If you can grasp and accept the concept that there is no such thing as perfection, along with the understanding that there is no one right way to parent, you will be placing yourself on a good and healthy path - healthy for you and for your children.