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Southern plantations are an endless source of fascination. That's no surprise since these palatial homes are rich in history, representing a pivotal time in U.S. history that truly is “gone with the wind.” With the Civil War literally exploding all around, many of these homes were occupied either by Confederate or Union troops. Nowhere else in the south were plantations so affected by the nation's bloodiest war than in Virginia. At times, families fled, leaving behind slaves to manage the property. There are still more than 60 plantations in Virginia today, most of them open to the public. Some have been restored, others undergoing that process. If only the walls could talk, the stories we might hear! That's what we hope to bring into this book on The Plantations of Virginia. We'll take the tours and talk to the guides and dig even further if there is more to discover. We hope that travelers will be enlightened before they travel to Virginia, their visits will thus be enriched, and that residents will equally love exploring this deep history of Virginia. Accompanying the text will be photographs, taken by one of the authors, showing, in all their splendor, the exteriors of these plantations, as well as areas of interest inside the buildings.

The'middler years,'ages ten through fifteen, have always been characterized by an urge for independence and secrecy from parents. But these days, that secrecy can lead to more danger than ever before. Tackling the frustrations and fears of parenting in a world where cyber predators make headlines every day and'normal'adolescents act out in ways that beg the question'Where were the parents?', What Are You Doing in There? presents a new way of approaching a child's private life.In their inimitable, candid style, Charlene Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese offer a variety of strategies for staying informed without resorting to snooping, eavesdropping, or other embarrassing KGB-like tactics. Within each of a child's six privacy zones—bedroom, friends, romance, school, body, and the Internet—Giannetti and Sagarese educate parents about common cover-ups and how to establish limits that enhance a spirit of mutual respect within the household. Exploring not just whether to worry, but how to go about getting honest answers, What Are You Doing in There? charts a course designed to instill maturity that will last well beyond the middler years.The media constantly exhort parents to find out what the kids are really up to. Now there's finally a common-sense guidebook for addressing suspicions—without doing more harm than good.

For the 20 million parents of 10- to 15-year-olds, The Roller-Coaster Years is a lively guide to mastering the ups and downs of early adolescence. Every parent knows about the terrible twos and the brooding teens, but few have anticipated the wild ride of these magical yet maddening years that can provide all the thrills and chills of a carnival ride.Now, drawing together the latest information from experts, supported and advised by the National Middle School Association, and with surprising insights from the authors'own surveys of parents, teachers, and the children themselves, The Roller-Coaster Years covers every facet of the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of early adolescents, including: • Appearance Anxiety • Distractibility • Fears and Other Emotions • The Battle for Independence • Success in School • Friendship and Peer Pressure • Sexual Awakening • The Lure of Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol • The Promise and Peril of Electronic Media • Sticky Questions About Your Own Past

Your little girl used to play with Barbie.Now she dresses like her.The course of teen love never did run smooth, but these days it seems bumpier than ever. Children are growing up faster and pushing the boundaries of sexuality earlier, as well as facing new kinds of pressures most parents have never even dreamed of. You cannot shut down your daughter's hormones. What she is feeling—the thrill of romantic anticipation and the euphoria of falling in love—is biologically programmed and age appropriate. But watching your daughter discover boys is both exciting and scary. Before you lies a major challenge: helping your daughter navigate the oncoming rush of romance during the young adolescent and teen years. Boy Crazy! shows you how to recognize and remember what your daughter is going through—the excitement of a first date, the throes of a first crush, or the pain of a first broken heart. It also gives you insight into what teen love is like today, and helps you establish yourself as your family's authority on relationships—no longer will daughters feel starved for guidance and forced to turn to the suspect guidance of the media or peers. Learning how to enjoy romance and build healthy relationships are some of the most important skills to have throughout our lives. This book is a blueprint to understanding and helping your coming-of-age daughter start to develop those skills.

In the first book to focus on the traumatic effects caused by cliques in our schools, an acclaimed parenting-advice team offers a fresh perspective and an innovative eight-step program to turn around the culture of cruelty that torments all students.There have always been'in crowds,'but today's social pressures force children into explosive, destructive, and even life-threatening situations. No matter what role your child plays in this schoolhouse drama--clique leader, victim, or innocent bystander--this book is a must-read. Giannetti and Sagarese have honed in on this little-understood phenomenon and come up with insights that parents can use immediately. Read Cliques to understand: • Who the clique leaders are in your child's school• What you can do NOW to help your child avoid abuse• Times during the day when cliques are visible to adults• Where in your school you should start to lobby for change• Why your'innocent bystander'may not be so innocent• How you can rid your child of bully-like behaviorCliques is more than just a manual for cheering your child on--it brings hope and a truly comprehensive understanding of adolescent society to the millions of families struggling against this divisive force. Within its pages, you will find the tools you need to make a difference.