Examining family life from birth to death, with its crises, developments and finales, this book describes many common scenarios and offers practical advice on stepping out of uncomfortable roles. The author deliberately adopts theatrical metaphors to engage the reader, and to show how members of a family are actors in a play and actually have the power to change the plot and the outcome. The dramas explored include invasive grandmothers after the birth of a first child, sibling rivalries, adolescent excesses (from acne to God), fleeing the nest, sex, in-laws, crises at work, divorce, and dealing with illness and death. The book suggests way of spotting problems in advance, and explains how to get professional help when necessary, but its main aim is to challenge the notion that we are victims of our fate and to enable readers to take control of their lives.