The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck You In

This upbeat and charmingly illustrated book contains a wealth of tips for families in which a parent is often away from home.

Casey's dad has to go away for a couple of days...AGAIN! Casey hates it when his father has to travel. But this time Dad leaves behind a special gift that will help Casey cope with the absence, and with future trips as well.

A Note to Parents by Ann Rasmussen, PsyD, helps parents understand what their children are facing, reassures parents of the value of these separations, and suggests many practical techniques for helping the child before, during, and after an absence.

From the Note to Parents:

Today's children often face short separations from their parents because of far-flung work demands or family commitments. In the common chaos of family life, their reactions to parental comings and goings may be overlooked. But when parents travel, feelings usually do arise in children that are difficult for young minds to understand and express feelings that include fear, rejection, anger, helplessness, sadness, and loneliness.

Such feelings are normal and expectable. Indeed, children have such troubling feelings precisely because they love and need their parents so much. On the positive side, the brief absence of a loved one is a vital learning opportunity for children who will inevitably suffer unwanted disruptions of their closest relationships throughout their life. Where better to struggle with and learn to manage difficult feelings than in the safe, small circle of the family?

Marty Sederman came up with the idea of a "magic box" to help her children while their dad was away on frequent business trips—and it worked so well that she decided to write a book about it. A market research consultant, Ms. Sederman holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a master's degree in clinical psychology. She lives in New Jersey with her family.

Seymour Epstein, PhD, is Marty Sederman's father. Dr. Epstein, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, has a doctoral degree in adult and child clinical psychology. He has published extensively in professional journals and is the author of several books, including Constructive Thinking: The Key to Emotional Intelligence.

Karen Stormer Brooks is the illustrator of several children's books, including Elana's Ears by Gloria Roth Lowell and Dylan, the Eagle-Hearted Chicken by David L. Harrison. Her illustrations have appeared in many children's publications, such as Highlights for Children, Spider, and Cricket magazines. She lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit her at www.stormerbrooks.com.