title: Strong Happy Family: Unexpected Advice from an Ivy League Mom of 10
author:  Donna Baer 
description: <div><div><br><i></i><span></span><span><b>Pulitzer Prize winner David L. Marcus writes--</b></span></div><div><span><b></b></span></div><div><span></span></div><div><span></span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div><div>"She writes about parenting the same way she approaches parenting: in a cheerful, practical style, with surprising strategies for everything form assigning chores to dealing with ADHD."</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><b> Author, mother of seven, and blogger Margaret Nyman writes--</b><div></div><div>"Raising 8 boys and 2 girls is the perfect place to learn effective parenting, and Donna Baer lets readers know how anyone can build a strong, happy family like hers... No subject is off limits, and readers get to peek into her closets, watch her discipline, learn how to keep 12 stomachs satisfied, and much more. After reading Donna's book, I wish I could start raising my own family all over again!"</div>
zlib_text: > Chapter 1
  
  "Congratulations, Delly"
  
  "I knew you could do it!"
  
  
  "We're so proud of you!"
  
  
  I made small talk with my family as I casually tried to sneak away to the
  safety of my room, avoiding the barrage of guests that were crowding my living
  room. It was nothing against them, I was just mentally comparing myself to my
  sister and being around all of these people congratulating her success was
  unbearable. I kept my head low, attempting to hide myself and blend in with
  the crowd as I made my way through it. I was almost to the stairs when I was
  confronted by my uncle James.
  
  
  "So, Belle, I bet you're proud of your sister!"
  
  
  "Uh, yes sir, I am."
  
  
  "Harvard Medical School. Wow. I can't believe we're going to have a big-shot
  doctor in the family." He seemed pretty proud for my sister. Not at all
  secretly angry that his only son was majoring in sorority girls, alcohol, and
  failing grades. I hated when he left for college in California last year
  because he always threw the best parties w