Table of Contents

Part I: Welcome to Our World – Parents with a Difference

1. Getting the Most Out of Life

Part II: Taking Care of Yourself

2. Put Yourself on the To-Do List

3. Ya Gotta Have Friends

4. Get Through the Day – Fuel Up with Food

5. Stay Strong and Health – Get Physical

6. Desperately Seeking Sleep

7. Fighting Your Inner Darkness – Anger, Anxiety, and Depression

Part III: Daily Life – Reality Check

8. The Time Crunch

9. Find the Help You need

10. Advocacy 101 – Speaking Up for Your Child

11. Taking Charge of Your Finances

12. Create a Positive Future

13. Legal and Financial Steps to Planning Ahead

Part IV: Family Ties

14. Who’s Minding the Marriage?

15. Just the Two of Us – Finding Time and Energy to Nurture Romance

16. The Joy of Siblings

17. Grandparents and Extended Family – Getting Them on Board

Part V: Overcoming Barriers to Quality Care – Childhood to Adulthood

18. Figure Out What Type of Care You Need

19. When Regular Care Options Don’t Work – Custom Care Ideas

20. The Hunt for Care

21. After the Hunt – Keeping the Care, Once You’ve Found It

22. Paying the Price for Quality Care

Part VI: Career and Home – The Ultimate Juggling Act

23. Know Your Legal Rights at Work

24. Build Workplace Support

25. Explore Flexible Work Options

26. Cut Back, Take Off, or Call It Quits

Part VII: Redefining Your Work Life

27. Get Ready – Establishing Goals

28. Get Set – Changing Your Work Situation

29. Go! Finding and Landing the Perfect Job

30. Be Your Own Boss – Starting a Home-Based Business

Part VIII: Transformations – From Struggle to Strength

Appendix 1. State Leave Policies

Appendix 2. Provincial (Canadian) Leave Policies

Appendix 3. Sample Flexibility Proposal Memo

Appendix 4. Checklist for Child Care Re: Special Needs

Appendix 5. Sample Caregiver Interview Questions

Resources

Related Reading

Research References

Index