I am convinced that never in history has it been so difficult to be a parent. There have been profound changes in the FAMILY where parenting takes place. We are all familiar with the words: divorce, single parenting, step-parenting, gay parenting, grand-parenting because there is no one else to parent. But we have to remind ourselves what impact these words have on family life and especially on children. Just since the 60s there have been profound demographic changes impacting on the family. MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT is likely to be the biggest societal change any of us will witness. The stats? 23 million mothers employed outside the home, 56% of mothers with children under 6 in the workforce, and the most revealing statistic, over 50% of mothers are back in the workplace within 12 months of giving birth. A decade ago? only 31%.

In one short generation, our BELIEFS have changed. We used to think that a family consisted of Mommy, Daddy and the children, that Daddy provided the last name of the children as well as the dollars needed to run the household. We used to believe that Mommy stayed at home to raise the kids and run the house and that marriage is forever. And we used to think the world was a safe place to raise our kids. NOT!