<p>wouldn t miss for the world (and neither would I for that matter)<br />

is the familiar nightly session of bedtime reading; exploring exotic<br />

lands&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; learning about witches&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; monsters&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; frogs&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; balloons&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; airplanes.<br />

alphabets&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; lost dogs and people of any description.LJ Last night<br />

I chose to read this fair-haired son of mine a children s book ap-<br />

propriately titled &quot;Families.&quot; In a very graphic&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; spirited and adoles-<br />

cent manner&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; its aim is very similar to the aim of this book which<br />

you hold in your hands.Fl When Kathy and I first began this<br />

project&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; many moons ago&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; our very simple goal was to tell you--<br />

and perhaps more importantly show you--that we do not all have<br />

to be the traditional family of yesteryear&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; the Ozzie and Harriets.<br />

the I Love Lucys&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; the Father Knows Bests&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; to be valid&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; viable&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; liv-<br />

ing&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; breathing&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; functional family units. That does not mean the fami-<br />

ly is dying. But it s clear that the family is changing. [q Of course<br />

the traditional family still exists to some degree. But it is not the<br />

predominant model. According to Miriam Galper&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; author of Joint<br />

Custody and Co-Parenting&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; &quot;The typical American family is more<br />

myth than reality. Today s typical American family life might in-<br />

clude divorce&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; remarriage or two children from previous marriages<br />

~.. my children&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; his children&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; our children&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; various in-laws&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; ex-laws&iuml;&frac14;&OElig;<br />

and so on?[] It s these newer alternative family forms&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; as<br />

well as the traditional families that we d like to introduce within<br />

the pages of this book. Join us for a look at joint custody families&iuml;&frac14;&OElig;<br />

how they deal with schedules&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; conflicts&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; communication between<br />

ex-spouses&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; and most importantly&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; how the children are faring. We ]]<br />

show you how several single parents deal with the problems of over-<br />

whelming responsibility&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; financial concerns&iuml;&frac14;&OElig; and coping without</p>