A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens

Book excerpt: The teenage years will bring problems that will make any parent long for the days of their childhood. However, you’re not alone! This invaluable resource tackles all of the issues that you can possibly encounter with your teen. Oh to be able to return to the days of messy bedrooms and preteen attitudes! Now as parents of teenagers, the days have the potential of bringing us not-so-fun issues like sexting, cyber-bullying, and eating disorders. Let’s not forget the old standbys of drugs, alcohol, and depression. As much as you pray that your child will be the shining exception, as their parent you must still be prepared! Will you know what to do when a naked picture of your daughter gets forwarded by her “boyfriend” to the entire school? How will you respond when your child is bullied online--or is the bully himself? A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens has thought through all the issues you haven’t, covering a broad range of issues including: sex, drinking, drugs, depression, defiance, laziness, conformity, entitlement, and more Parenting expert Joani Geltman approaches 80 uncomfortable topics with honesty and a dash of humor. She reveals what your teens are thinking and feeling--and what developmental factors are involved. A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens explains how to approach each problem in a way that lets your kid know you “get it” and leads to truly productive conversations.