My daughter started high school this week. According to her, it’s a miserable place to be. I can concur–I don’t have terribly fond memories of high school myself–except for the fact that when pressed as to what could be so horrible, she tells me it’s because her teachers are boring and all the people in her classes are “snobby and boring and not people she wants to be friends with.” Can we all heave a hearty sigh together now?
Overall, though, we have a good relationship. We share a similar sense of humour, and we enjoy doing many of the same things. She has even started demanding coffee in the mornings! She is currently reading Jane Eyre for the first time, and I’m having lots of fun refusing to tell her what happens, but dropping all sorts of maddening hints.
I heard a lot of horror stories about the teen years. So far, I’d have to say that there are elements of truth to the stories, but it’s not all bad. In fact, I remain awfully fond of her.
Arden Greenspan-Goldberg, a family and marriage psychotherapist, agrees. The teen years don’t have to be terrible. Her new book offers lots of practical suggestions for moms and teens in the thick of adolescence. What Do You Expect? She’s a Teenager offers help and hope to those of us with tween or teenaged daughters, all eye-rolling and “whatevers” aside.
Please read the rest of my review and more of my thoughts about parenting a teenaged daughter, at our Kirkus Reviews Blog column. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, so please leave a comment over there!
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Elizabeth has three teens, one of whom is a girl. Read more about her family on her blog, Planet Nomad.