Chapter 1Where Do Successful Children Come From? -- 1 -- Every Child Can Be Successful -- 1 -- Take a Deep Breath--You're Normal -- 2 -- Your Individualism Is the Key -- 4 -- Using Your Individual Skills -- 5 -- Shape a Healthy Family Dynamic -- 6 -- Forming Attributes for Success -- 9 -- Today's Family Life -- 10 -- Chapter 2 "Successful" versus "Picture Perfect" -- 11 -- Your Picture of a Perfect Family -- 11 -- Your Expectations -- 12 -- Defining the Successful Child -- 16 -- Your Family Goals -- 18 -- Learning How to Auto-Focus -- 19 -- Turn Your Picture into a Video -- 20 -- Chapter 3 Parenting Strengths and Weaknesses -- 21 -- Your Individualism Is a Strength -- 21 -- Celebrating Your Child's Individualism -- 21 -- Where Are Your Parenting Strengths and Weaknesses? -- 23 -- Accepting Your Weaknesses -- 27 -- Using Your Strengths -- 28 -- Five Key Skills -- 30 -- Chapter 4 Decision-Making -- 33 -- Who Decides? -- 33 -- Sharing the Responsibility of Decision-Making -- 35 -- Communicating Decisions -- 38 -- When Good Decisions Go Bad -- 39 -- When Bad Decisions Go Really Bad -- 39 -- Stress of Making Numerous Decisions -- 40 -- Modeling Decision-Making Skills -- 41 -- Chapter 5 Organizational Skills -- 43 -- Why Organization Is Important -- 43 -- Organizing Day-to-Day -- 44 -- Scheduling Household Chores -- 47 -- Forming Good Habits -- 48 -- Juggling Career and Family -- 49 -- Family Time -- 51 -- Modeling Organizational Skills -- 52 -- Chapter 6 Family Finances -- 55 -- Budgeting in Families -- 55 -- Allowances -- 58 -- Saving Money -- 60 -- College Tuition -- 61 -- Insurance -- 63 -- Retirement -- 66 -- Chapter 7 Emotional Intelligence -- 69 -- What Is Emotional Intelligence? -- 69 -- What Is Your EQ? -- 72 -- Become Aware of Your Child's EQ -- 73 -- Strengthening Your EQ -- 74 -- Reaching Your Limits -- 76 -- Modeling a Healthy EQ -- 77 -- Chapter 8 Self-Control and Self-Discipline -- 81 -- Why They Matter -- 81 -- Life's Little Frustrations -- 84 -- Pick Your Battles -- 86 -- Lashing Out -- 86 -- Activities That Calm -- 88 -- Modeling Self-Control and Self-Discipline -- 90 -- Chapter 9 Morals and Values -- 93 -- Difference Between Morals and Values -- 93 -- Why Successful Children Need Both -- 95 -- Establishing Your Values -- 96 -- Teaching Values Through Stories -- 98 -- Teachable Moments -- 99 -- When Your Values Differ from Your Partner's -- 100 -- Pluralism and Tolerance -- 100 -- Modeling Your Morals and Values -- 101 -- Chapter 10 Creating Useful Parenting Tools -- 105 -- Listening to the Experts -- 105 -- Listening to Family, Friends, and Neighbors -- 109 -- How to Use Good Advice -- 110 -- Information Overload -- 112 -- Becoming Your Own Expert -- 112 -- Five Key Parenting Tools -- 114 -- Chapter 11 Modeling -- 117 -- Learning Through Behavior Modeling -- 117 -- Role of Role Models -- 120 -- Parental Influence -- 120 -- Peer Influence -- 121 -- Do as I Say, Not as I Do -- 123 -- Drop the Guilt -- 123 -- Mentors -- 124 -- Natural Progression of Modeling -- 125 -- Chapter 12 Communication Tools -- 129 -- Children Need Open Communication -- 129 -- Door Openers versus Door Slammers -- 131 -- Active Listening -- 132 -- I-Messages -- 135 -- Your Parenting Tone -- 136 -- Natural Progression of Communication -- 136 -- Chapter 13 Discipline -- 141 -- Children Need Discipline -- 141 -- Effective Discipline Techniques -- 142 -- Setting Reasonable Expectations -- 145 -- Natural and Logical Consequences -- 147 -- Don't Complicate Matters -- 148 -- Natural Progression of Discipline -- 149 -- Chapter 14 Protecting Your Successful Child -- 153 -- Safety First -- 153 -- Media -- 157 -- Internet -- 162 -- Protecting Children from Themselves -- 166 -- Being Prepared Matters -- 166 -- Chapter 15 Problem-Solving -- 167 -- Taking Ownership of the Problem -- 171 -- Don't Become the Problem -- 172 -- Take Your Time -- 173 -- Using an Action Plan -- 173 -- Natural Progression of Problem-Solving -- 174 -- Chapter 16 Family Traditions -- 179 -- Importance of Family Traditions -- 179 -- Making Your House a Home -- 183 -- Religious Beliefs -- 184 -- Holiday Whirlwinds -- 184 -- One-on-One Time -- 185 -- Setting a Budget for Traditions -- 186 -- Natural Progression of Family Traditions -- 188 -- Chapter 17 Extracurricular Activities -- 191 -- Start Early and Diversify -- 191 -- Use Your Child's Interests, Not Yours -- 192 -- Keep Your Child Involved -- 194 -- Danger of Overextension -- 195 -- Downtime Hobbies -- 197 -- Summertime Activities -- 199 -- Chapter 18 Attributes of a Successful Child -- 205 -- Five Key Attributes of Successful People -- 205 -- Why These Attributes Lead to Success -- 207 -- Using Parenting Skills and Tools -- 209 -- When the World Steps In -- 211 -- Power of Peer Groups -- 212 -- Time Will Tell -- 213 -- Chapter 19 High Self-Esteem and Self-Worth -- 215 -- Two Important Qualities -- 215 -- Goal Setting and Planning -- 217 -- Your Reinforcing Role -- 219 -- Gender Differences in Self-Esteem -- 221 -- Problems to Look Out For -- 222 -- Activities That Foster High Self-Esteem -- 223 -- Chapter 20 Willingness to Learn -- 227 -- Learning Is the Key to the Future -- 227 -- Maximizing Academic Achievement -- 230 -- Teacher and School Problems -- 232 -- Learning Outside the Box -- 235 -- Problems to Look Out For -- 235 -- Activities That Foster Willingness to Learn -- 237 -- Chatper 21 Ability to Love -- 239 -- Knowing How to Love -- 239 -- Communicating Your Love -- 240 -- Kindness and Courtesies -- 241 -- Unequal Treatment of Siblings -- 242 -- A Child's Love Relationships -- 243 -- Problems to Look Out For -- 247 -- Fostering the Ability to Love -- 248 -- Chapter 22 Good Character -- 249 -- Importance of Character -- 249 -- Personality Types and Character -- 252 -- Manners, Manners, Manners -- 253 -- Sportsmanship and Being a Team Player -- 256 -- Problems to Look Out For -- 257 -- Activities That Foster Good Character -- 258 -- Chapter 23 Resilience -- 259 -- Being Resilient -- 259 -- Learning as They Go -- 260 -- Revise, Renew, and Reconsider Rules Often -- 263 -- Overcoming Common Obstacles -- 264 -- Overcoming Hard-Hitting Obstacles -- 265 -- Problems to Look Out For -- 266 -- Activities That Foster Resilience -- 269 -- Chapter 24 Saving the Best for Last -- 271 -- How Do You Know if It Worked? -- 271 -- Giving Up Control -- 272 -- Looking Back -- 274 -- Creating Your Own Luck -- 274 -- Congrats on Your Successful Child -- 275.