Isolina Ricci, Ph.D.
Internationally known family expert, Isolina Ricci, Ph.D., is considered one of the top professionals in her field. Her book, Mom's House, Dad's House (1980, 1997) has gone through 44 printings and is considered the "bible," that has inspired two generations of parents and families with her message that they can bring strength and dignity to their families, regardless of whether they are still together, separated, divorced, or remarried. She is known for her compassionate, always practical, sometimes humorous, step-by-step approach that makes complex issues understandable. Now she speaks directly to older children and their parents in her new book, Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids: Feeling at Home in One Home or Two (Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster Trade Paperback Original; May 2, 2006; 0-7432-7712-0; $15.00).
Dr. Ricci's extensive work as a licensed marriage and family therapist, mediator, and educator is well known in clinical and legal circles. In the 1970s, she pioneered family and custody mediation, the "Parenting Agreement" (now called Parenting Plans), and educational programs for parents including divorce adjustment, setting up two homes, dealing with the legal business, meeting children's needs, and ways for parents to work together to share parenting. She also championed shared custody and better words to replace "broken home", "custody", and "visitation". She spent 15 years with the California judicial branch as head of the Statewide Office of Family Court Services, and as Assistant Director of the Center for Families, Children and the Courts. Many of her pioneering concepts put forth in the original Mom's House, Dad's House, have now become accepted standards. She has conducted research on divorce and child adjustment, writes for both the popular and academic press, and is a popular lecturer and workshop leader for universities and professional organizations.
Dr. Ricci, received her doctorate from Stanford University, is a Rockefeller Bellagio Scholar, and an award winning family mediator. She is the Director of the New Family Center in northern California where she consults with family courts, works with children in the Kids Turn workshops, and works directly with individuals, couples, and families.
She has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. For more information on Isolina Ricci, Ph.D. or Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids please visit: IsolinaRicci.com or www.momshousedadshouse.com.
Contributor: Simon & Schuster
Reviews
Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids: Feeling at Home in One Home or Two
Isolina Ricci
Isolina Ricci wrote Mom's House, Dad's House for adults dealing with divorce and child custody issues. Now she has a similar book, specifically written for young people in the middle years (10 to 14 years old). This book addresses several sensitive topics directly from the point of view of the child. The book is designed to appeal to younger readers, and includes large type, colored headings, bulleted lists, and highlighted information on almost every page. It is organized in a linear fashion, moving from dealing with the separation and divorce through a section on stepfamilies, and finally a section called "Believe in Yourself," which helps kids deal with their own issues. As Ricci explains in the introduction, the book does not have to be read straight through, but can be used as a resource, reading just the section that you need at the moment Also, throughout the book there are numerous references to other sections if the reader has more questions about certain topics. The "try" sections, words to say if a child needs to tell a parent something difficult to put into words, are my favorite part of this book: "I would like to have some bathroom and overnight stuff here. It would be easier. Can we try it?" (p. 64). This provides a good resource for kids and for their parents and extended families. When a divorce happens, everyone needs to be prepared to deal with the fallout. 2006, A Fireside Book/Simon & Schuster, $15.00. Ages 10 to 14. Wendy M. Smith-D'Arezzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7432-7712-0
Added 09/29/06
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