Debutante : A Ball for Y’all

Debutante: Rites and Regalia of American Debdom
by Karal Ann Marling

It is an institution that seems almost hopelessly out of date, a social relic of bygone times. The very word debutante evokes images of prim, poised beauty, expensive gowns, and sumptuous balls, all of which seem anachronistic in these post-women’s liberation times. But as Karal Ann Marling reveals, debdom in America is alive and well and ever evolving.

For thousands of young women every year, the society debut remains a vital rite of passage, a demonstration of female power; debs continue to be viewed as the finest flowers of a distinctive American culture. The debut and its offshoots–the high school prom, the sorority presentation, assorted beauty pageants–continue to emphasize celebrity, class, and community. But why does this peculiar tradition persist? Marling has the answer, as she demystifies debdom and the long-term American hankering after the trappings of royalty.

Debutante presents a penetrating and entertaining look at American debdom from the colonial era to the present day. Debbing has always been a performance art, created by and for women. In its heyday in the nineteenth century, debut signified the formal presentation to elite society of a young woman of substance who was eligible for marriage. During the twentieth century, it evolved from the glamour girl galas of the Great Depression to the charity bashes of the 1980s after the Deb Drought of the ’60s and ’70s. Marling reviews this colorful history, documenting changes in debdom right up to our own day, when the sisterhood of debs includes African Americans, Latinas, and members of other ethnic groups once carefully excluded: now even economically disadvantaged young women have their coming-out, where the emphasis of the event is on community.

What’s Heaven? by Maria Shriver

What’s Heaven?
by Maria Shriver

How do you explain death to children? How do you help them understand the loss of a loved one? Journalist Maria Shriver was faced with this dilemma when her grandmother, Rose, died. Her discussions with her oldest daughter, Katherine, who was six at the time, became the inspiration for Shriver’s first book for children, What’s Heaven? This touching story, beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Sandra Speidel, is an important tool for other parents trying to explain the mystery of death to their children.

What’s Heaven? tells the story of Kate, a young girl struggling to understand the loss of her great-grandmother. Kate is full of innocent and thought-provoking questions young children ask–why do people die? How do they get to Heaven? What is it like? Kate’s questions are real, coming from Maria Shriver’s own children, nieces, and nephews as they coped with their own family’s loss. As they prepare for Great-Grandma’s funeral, Kate’s mother gives warm and reassuring explanations that help Kate (and the reader) understand that death and grieving are a natural part of life.

Death eventually touches every family, and it can be hard for parents to talk about this difficult topic. Combining her skills as a journalist with her experiences as a devoted mom, Maria Shriver has created a beautiful book that parents of all faiths can share with their children.

Maria Shriver graduated from Georgetown University. A correspondent for Dateline NBC, she lives with her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and their four children in Santa Monica, California.

A Place for Grandparents Who Are Parents Again

The six-story project, called the GrandParentFamily Apartments, will open within the next few weeks; it already has a waiting list of more than 100 families. The development, on Prospect Avenue, will have three full-time social workers, support groups, parenting classes and, for the children, tutoring, a full-time youth coordinator and organized activities in the afternoons and evenings.

By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
New York Times
Published: May 21, 2005

Grandparents’ Rights

Grandparents’ Rights: With Forms
by Traci Truly

Single parenthood and divorce have had a dramatic impact on the numbers of grandparents who need to seek legal advice regarding visiting or raising their grandchildren. The goal of Grandparents’ Rights is to look at the laws of each state that control grandparent visitation and custody and to consider certain specific situations that may influence a decision to take legal action.

Truly outlines the process for determining whether or not to file a claim for custody or visitation and provides straight talk on what the hurdles are. The appendix of state laws is well done, providing not only citations to statutes but a summary of grounds, the effect of adoption on grandparents, and whether a parental preference rule exists in the state. This book conveys useful information concisely and pays proper attention to important variations among states.

Grandparents’ Rights: What Every Grandparent Needs to Know
by Patricia Perkins Slorah

One reviewer wrote: As the father of two adopted children, I’m very sensitive to the loss or potential loss of a child. Having gone through the adoption system, I’ve attempted to pass along my understanding of that process. When I read “Grandparents’ Rights,” I was thrilled by Dr. Slorahs’ step-by-step methodology, which guided me through the process of understanding Grandparents’ rights, as well as non-custodial parents rights. How wonderful to have such a practical handbook that gives you direction, guidance and sensible answers in dealing with very sensitive and challenging interpersonal relationships.

I Miss You: A First Look At Death

I Miss You: A First Look At Death
by Pat Thomas, Lesley Harker (Illustrator)

When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one’s death.

Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers.

The story lines are simple and direct–easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page.

Grandloving: Making Memories With Your Grandchildren

Grandloving: Making Memories With Your Grandchildren
by Sue Johnson

Selected as “Outstanding” by Parent Council, winner of the National Parenting Publications Gold Award, and recipient of the Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center, this new third edition of “Grandloving” is the upbeat comprehensive sourcebook grandparents will find truly helpful.

It highlights tips from 350 families worldwide, heartfelt ideas for holidays, visits, and family traditions, reminders about child development, help for grandparents caring for their grandchildren, an extensive list of resources and book reviews, plus helpful logos, 95 illustrations, and an easy to use 7 page index.

Whether you live near to or far from your grandchildren, you’ll grow closer to them as you use Grandloving’s creative ideas to become the grandparent every child wants!