Children don't arrive with an instruction book. Raising children and providing for their physical as well as emotional needs is a difficult job for which we receive little training. We often approach parenting reflexively, relying on what we learned from how we were parented without reflecting on what we are doing. This book introduces the Parent Empowerment And Child Empowerment (PEACEFUL Parenting) approach, which will help parents develop their own style of parenting that is grounded in a philosophy. It will not just offer a set of guidelines, but will give parents the tools necessary to make thoughtful decisions about their parenting options that exist within a consistent system of beliefs. PEACEFUL Parenting is more process than program and is sufficiently flexible to be adapted to a variety of family situations-single parents, special needs children, blended families, ranges in age of children, and a variety of value structures.