Surviving Adolescence: A Roadmap for Teens and Their Parents

Book excerpt: Surviving Adolescence: A Road Map for Teens and Parents This book is a survival tool for parents and guide on how to manage your parents for adolescents. Wouldn't be nice if we could just skip adolescence? You know, those terrible years from 12 to 20. I'm sure most parents are shouting "Yes!", and many adolescents as well. Well, unfortunately, we can't. So there is nothing left to do but make the best of a challenging situation. This book tells you how to make these years, as a parent or a teenager, as easy as possible-- in fact, very enjoyable at times. The key is knowledge and an infinite amount of patience. With a little bit of humor, plenty of understanding and 50 years of experience treating adolescents, child psychiatrist Cal Colarusso, M.D. provides ideas and examples to smooth the way. Surviving Adolescence, A Roadmap for teen and Their Parents provides understanding of inscrutable adolescent behavior and offers practical suggestions on managing mood swings, backtalk, disgusting bedrooms, sexual behavior, and dating. This book includes Developmental Concepts: An understanding of the effects of puberty The meaning of adolescent withdrawal and secretiveness The need for continued parental involvement and limits The meaning of adolescent crushes When to allow dating The vital role of friendships Parental involvement in choosing a career Do’s and Don'ts for parents