Largely missing from debates about family values, childcare, education, and the future of children is the complex vocation called "parenthood." This book examines parenthood in the home, the community, and in society, and identifies parental stressors that have increased since the 1960s, calling on stakeholders to provide help with parents' day to day concerns and challenges. The chapters of the book are: (1) "Refocusing on Parenthood" (Marc H. Bornstein); (2) "Culture and Parenthood" (Patricia M. Greenfield and Lalita K. Suzuki); (3) "Growing Together: Parenthood as a Developmental Experience" (Jack C. Westman); (4) "Motherhood" (Bernice Weissbourd); (5) "Fatherhood" (Roger T. Williams); (6) "Family Life" (Jack C. Westman); (7) "Combining Love and Limits with Authoritative Parenting" (Robert E. Larzelere); (8) "Modeling Values for Children in Families" (David Popenoe); (9) "Parenting Adolescents and Adolescents as Parents: A Developmental Contextual Perspective" (Richard M. Lerner, E. Ree Noh, and Clancie Mavello Wilson); (10) "Grandparenthood" (Jack C. Westman); (11) "The Challenges of Divorce for Parents and Children" (Judith S. Wallerstein); (12) "The Effects of Maternal Employment on Families and Children" (Lois Wladis Hoffman); (13) "The Quest for Quality Childcare" (Diane B. Adams); (14) "Children, Parents, and Schools" (M. Elizabeth Graue and Benjamin A. Benson); (15) "Family-Centered Health Care" (Beverley H. Johnson); (16) "Parenthood in American History" (Stephanie Coontz); (17) "Growing Chaos in the Lives of Children, Youth, and Families: How Can We Turn It Around?" (Urie Bronfenbrenner); (18) "The Changing Contexts of Parenting in the United States" (Larry Bumpass); (19) "Supporting Parents in a Socially Toxic Environment" (James Garbarino); (20) "The Media and Parents: Protecting Children from Harm" (Joanne Cantor and Amy I. Nathanson); (21) "The Impact of Welfare Reform on Families: The Wisconsin Experience" (J. Jean Rogers and Heidi Hammes); (22) "Neighborhoods and Communities that Support Parenthood" (Lisbeth B. Schorr); and (23) "Parent Power" (Silvia Ann Hewlett). An epilogue by Jack C. Westman concludes the book. Each chapter contains reference notes. (HTH)