I'd love to see what others put here! One book that I really resonated with was "For the Family's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. Some of the language is old, but I resonate with her perspective on the value of home and children. She also wrote one that focuses more on an educational philosophy called "For the Children's Sake". Truthfully, we have had to cobble many of our ideas together through a variety of avenues. I'd love to see others lists. If I think of any more, I will add them.

Here are some resources I've found helpful in my 3 years as a parent to a very active, assertive little girl. Julie, I apologize but I just can't do the very-brief thing. Please forgive me, y'all...

Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn. I know that many people find his "no punishment" stance hard to swallow, but I think he makes a good point in questioning our motives in punishing--whether it's actually for character building or for our own immediate convenience. Others find his "no rewards" stance even more bizarre, but to me it makes sense. There's also a DVD version for those who don't have time for reading another parenting book.

Between Parent and Child by Haim Ginott. It's a classic on how to communicate empathically w/ children (and the concepts apply just as well to any other relationship).

Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Laura Davis and Janis Keyser. I found this book different from most other parenting books for two reasons. One, the emphasis on diversity and social activism, and two, its section on handling difficult behavior is the best, most realistic and most practical I've seen. It's also the most liberal (politically, socially, etc) parenting book I've seen as well, which is awesome by me but may be a turn-off for others.

Empathic Parenting This is a website for parenting coach Lisa Stroyan. It's not the prettiest site on the web, but there are a lot of helpful, encouraging articles there.

www.gentlechristianmothers.com has great articles and resources that have really helped me~

"Grace Based Parenting" by Tim Kimmel is another great book

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn has been helpful to my husband and me, with perspective from parents who have children already grown into caring adults.

My Monastery is a Minivan by Denise Roy is a profound and funny collection of essays from life as a mother and a spiritual leader.

And the various children's religious education curricula published by Friends General Conference and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Religious Society of Friends/Quakers), much of which is available at www.Quakerbooks.org with inclusive and respectful language and activities.

Robin Mohr
What Canst Thou Say?

I am a huge fan of Alfie Kohn's writing and so I echo sarah in recommending his stuff. My favorites of his include -
Unconditional Parenting
The Homework Myth
and Punished by Rewards

another parenting books I've recently found helpful is Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen

On the ministry/spiritual formation side of things I would recommend
Ivy Beckwith's Postmodern Children's Ministry
Gretchen Wolff Pritchard's Offering the Gospel to Children
and Will Our Children Have Faith? by John Westerhoff

and I've been meaning to read Children Matter. Has anyone read this yet? Is it good?

Thanks for everyone's comments on this post! I just picked up Unconditional Parenting at the library last night, got through the intro and first chapter. WOW, this sounds great. A breath of fresh air. Can't wait to get through it.