Why childhood matters -- The gift of adventure: bringing back skinned knees, secret forts, and yard games -- The gift of boredom: why kids need mental white space -- The gift of being uncool: how and why to let your kids be awkward -- The gift of imagination: creative play, saving reading, and a family technology contract -- The gift of balance: sports and extracurriculars are awesome (except when they're not) -- The gift of grit: instilling work ethic, handling failure, and other lessons from our neighborhood pet-sitting business -- The gift of manners and kindness: how I taught my kids to look adults in the eye (and other long-lost courtesies) -- The gift of family: why kids need a tribe and they need it to be you -- The gift of innocence: the blessing of not being a grown-up -- The gift of faith: grace for kids (and parents) who mess up

"Practical ideas and encouragement for moms who want to raise kids that honor their family values, make good decisions, pursue life creatively, and live with a deeply rooted faith"--