| Introduction: In Praise of Grown-up Time | 11 |
| Saying No to Your Child: It's a Kick! | 16 |
| The Childproof House: How to Know If You've Gone Too Far | 22 |
| Bedtime: Is Five-thirty Too Early? | 29 |
| The Child at a Social Event | 32 |
| Screaming: Is It Necessary? | 39 |
| Your Child's Life: Now Available on DVD! | 42 |
| Diaper Bag or Steamer Trunk? | 46 |
| When It Is Time to Leave | 49 |
| Children's Birthday Parties: Not Just for Children! | 54 |
| The Family at Table | 61 |
| Child Labor: Not Just for the Third World! | 68 |
| Avoiding the Detritus of Childhood | 74 |
| Preschool: The Fast Track to Harvard | 78 |
| The Three-Martini Playdate | 82 |
| Mommy, I Want a Puppy! | 87 |
| "Children's Music": Why? | 94 |
| Are We There Yet? On the Road with Max and Maddy | 101 |
| School Days, School Days | 108 |
| Self-Esteem and Other Overrated Concepts | 113 |
| Karate, Little League, and Ballet: Your Child's Eighty-Hour Work Week | 117 |
| Steppin' Out with My Baby | 121 |
| Television: Is Six Hours a Day Too Much? | 126 |
| Your Cost-Effective Tomboy | 130 |
| Don't, Like, Waste My Time | 133 |
| The Amazing Hands-Off Daddy | 136 |
| Epilogue: Why Do We Have Children? | 141 |
| Helpful Hints! | |
| Etiquette for First-Time Parents | 14 |
| When You Are the Victim of Your Own Child | 20 |
| Practical Childproofing | 28 |
| On Getting out the Door | 53 |
| On Having Your Cooking Appreciated | 66 |
| Fiscal Planning and Your Tooth Fairy | 72 |
| For Your Listening Pleasure | 98 |
| Entertainment on the Road | 105 |
| On Helping Your Youngster with School Projects | 112 |
| Do-It-Yourself After-School Enrichment Program | 120 |
| Recipes | |
| Our Little Tot's First Martini Recipe | 37 |
| Lemonade for Grown-ups | 57 |
| Weenie Fondue (For a Crowd) | 58 |
| Devilish Eggs | 60 |