Mothers today juggle more tasks, work longer hours, and sleep less than their own mothers did. Yet the self-healing revolution has overlooked the most significant issue in the lives of some twenty million women: how to cope with the relentless, sometimes overwhelming, stresses of raising young children in the twenty-first century.

Rick Hanson, Ph.D and Jan Hanson, L.Ac. , have written many colums to help a mom take care of herself while she takes care of her family. Be sure to visit often as this area will be expanding to offer more than 100 colums that will be searchable by keyword for easy navigation.

Building Parental Teamwork:

• Empathy:A Key Relationship Skill
  My husband and I communicate well enough on the surface, but I feel we are drifting apart deep down. I for one don't feel like he understands me that much any more.

• The Real Gift of Parenting
  Last year, the holidays were crazy! I seemed to spend most of my time standing in line or carrying bags. We spent a small fortune on assorted complicated gizmos -- which got opened and then ignored as my daughter and son spent most of the day playing with $2.99 worth of stickers. We got stressed out in order to relax and suffered in order to have fun. My husband and I stared at each other across the flotsam and jetsam of wrapping paper and various pieces of who-knows-what, and you could see the look in each of our eyes: Say what?!

• Speaking from Your Heart
  I feel like I have to walk around on eggshells with my husband and his family: If I'm not VERY careful, they get upset and either blame themselves or me or both. But the result is I have all this stuff bottled up inside.

• True Love
  Len and I are doing OK; for one, we don't argue as much as we used to. But something is still missing, some spark that used to be there. We're pleasant with each other and still make love but that whole deep connection thing we had before kids has really faded.

• How to Be Good Partners in Parenting Shortly after everyone had signed the Declaration of Independence, one of those present is believed to have said: "Gentlemen, we must hang together now. Or we will all hang separately!"

  Much the same is true for parents. Once the baby arrives, there is is an urgent need for teamwork. There is just too much for one person to do alone, and each parent has a big stake in what the other one does with the child. Decisions have to be made now that could be postponed prior to children.

• Parents Are NegotiatorsThrough our professional experiences and personal lessons, we've found that a cooperative parental partnership has three key qualities: communication, negotiation, and effective problem-solving

• Parenting from the Same Page
  I feel that Angelina, our 5-year-old, should watch only an hour of TV per day. My husband mumbles "OK, honey,' but when I leave the house I come back to see her glued to the tube while he reads a book/pays bills/etc. And it's not just TV: I say no sweets, he says "just a couple." I say no spanking, he thinks a swat is OK. I say bed by 8,'but that means I've got to do it. I read books about parenting and he reads the sports pages. I'm afraid that we are confusing our daughter plus driving each other crazy.

• Sharing the LoadThe amount of mental and physical work that comes with children is staggering. It ranges from figuring out what color to paint the new baby's bedroom while you're pregnant to -- eighteen years later -- helping him pack for college.

Past Columns Working on Teamwork:

• Asking for Empathy
  My husband's good at solving problems, but I wish he listened better when I want to share how I'm feeling or talk about our relationship. Is there something I could ask him to do?

• Resolving Quarrels
  Larry and I get along OK a lot of the time, but whenever we talk about who's doing what or how we're spending money, the fights can get really intense, sometimes even scary, and they never seem to settle anything.

• Talking About Parental Values
  Before we had children, I always thought Steve and I saw the world in the same way. But now it sometimes seems we are miles apart in our basic views of family life and how to raise our children. We need to talk about them but where do we start?

• Translating Mom-Speak and Dad-Speak
  Sometimes it seems like Eric and I are speaking different languages. For example, when I think we're just talking about how we're each feeling about something, he thinks we're trying to identify some problem and solve it. I end up feeling like he's not really listening to me, and he ends up feeling frustrated that we're not getting anywhere.

• Making Time for Your Relationship
  With two kids and two jobs, Doug and I never seem to have any time to be together just the two of us. You're busier than ever, the days blur by, and then you look up and there's your husband, and you realize that it's been weeks, literally weeks, since you've done anything pleasant together. When we do get some time, it's great and there's a little glow in our relationship that lasts a couple days. We keep saying we have to do that more often. But it's really hard.

• Getting More Help From Your Partner
  I did all the organizing for our son's second birthday, hoping that Bob would help out during the party itself. But no, he spent the whole time talking with his buddies while I raced around doing everything, except for when he cut the cake and then looked at me like he deserved some kind of reward! I want someone who doesn't need me to stamp my feet to get some help, who takes initiative with the kids and the house, whose mind is not elsewhere all the time. Somebody who does things because he wants to do his share, not just to get me off his back. I need to really feel like I have another half.

• Issues with Relatives
  I've got hassles with my extended family. My husband's parents were pretty strict, so that's his inclination, but I'm trying to raise our children in more of an attachment parenting kind of way. So I get a lot of unwanted advice and comments about me "spoiling" our kids, etc.

• What Mom Can Do for Dad
  I've been thinking more about my husband's needs lately, and wondering what I might be able to do for him, even while swamped with kids, laundry, and all the rest. Any suggestions?

• 5 Keys to Settling Marital Conflict
  I'm sick of fighting! Enrico and I love each other, but wow do we argue, especially since having children. Help!