Someone once said: "Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad." It is just not enough to ensure food on the table and a roof overhead. Fathers play an important part in the lives of their children. There's more to being a father than just "fathering" the child.

A child misbehaving in public may lead parents to overreact and feel frustrated. After all, kids of good parents are supposed to behave themselves. A public incident is very embarrassing for  parents as it attracts a lot of attention. A little planning can help parents deal with children misbehaving in public.

Working mothers face quite a few challenges both at home and the workplace. Ask any working mom what she finds most difficult and the top answer would be guilt. The time spent away from her children and the home is something that all working mothers deal with. While some may enjoy pursuing a career, others work out of necessity. In either case, the emotions that all mothers go through are the same. Here we take a look at how to work through these challenges and deal with the emotions.

Self-esteem is a set of perceptions and feelings that we have about ourselves and these patterns are formed in early childhood. The way your child values herself/himself is a factor that affects the choices they make as well as their behavior. Children with low self-esteem grow up to be insecure adults, have trouble making friends, are more vulnerable to substance abuse, bullying, eating disorders and suicidal tendencies.

Separation or divorce is traumatic not only for the concerned adults, but also for the children caught between their parents. Whether the separation has been messy or amicable, it does result in a lot of change for the family. Sometimes one parent has sole custody with visitation rights for the non-custodial parent. Other times, custody is shared. 

The process of adoption requires a lot of thought on the part of the prospective adoptive family. When it comes to the choice of adopting an older child, it does require some amount of preparation. If you are considering adopting a child older than 2 to 3 years you could face a unique set of challenges and issues. Adopting older children is rewarding, but it comes with its own set of considerations. 

Adoptive parents face several unique parenting situations and challenges. One of them is the all-important question about how and when to tell your child that she or he is adopted. Knowing the truth about where we come from is an important part of our identity. This article gives you guidelines as to how to go about telling your child that they are adopted.

Starting out on an adoption journey can be exciting, joyous and sometimes scary as well. People choose to adopt for various reasons. Some of the most common ones are infertility, genetic or medical complications that make it difficult for a normal pregnancy, wanting to be a single parent, to complete the family or just for the joy of giving a child a home. Just like biological parenting, adoption is a permanent arrangement. There are various factors to consider before you decide to adopt.

When both parents work, sometimes they have no option but to give the child a house key or leave a key with the neighbors. If you are leaving your child alone at home, it is important to take precautions and ensure your child is safe and prepared to handle the responsibility.

When you give your children quality time, you give them the feeling that they are loved, important, connected with you, valued and significant in your life. No toy or activity will ever be a substitute for a parent's focused, undistracted time with their child.