My son celebrated his 31st birthday recently. For the past several years, I´ve spent this annual occasion marveling at what a decent and competent adult he´s become -- despite my bumbling job of parenting. Back in the 1980s, when I got pregnant, I knew next to nothing about child-rearing. Like many people, I leaped into parenthood with fingers crossed, hoping I´d figure it out along the way. I was never sure how best to cope with tantrums, picky eating, nap refusal, potty training, sibling rivalry, and all the other delightful issues that come with having children. I devoured parenting books and magazines, looking for a fail-proof `recipe,` a to-do list for how to raise a healthy and happy...
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