The Good Enough Teen: Raising Adolescents with Love and Acceptance

RespectedpsychologistDr.BradSachshelpsparentstorecognizetheirunrealisticexpectationsfortheirteenagersandtolove,acceptandnurturethefamilytheyhavetoitsfullpotential.Hisapproachfreesthemtodiscoveracceptanceofthemselvesandoftheirchildren.Theagestwelvetoeighteenareoftenthemostchallengingandtryingyearsforadolescents––andtheirparents.Nootherphaseoflifeischaracterizedbysomuchphysicalandpsychologicalchangehappeningsoquickly.Andfrequentlythechildparentshadlovedandunderstoodbecomesateenagertheyhardlyrecognize––thechildwholovedmusicgrowsintoateenwhowantstoplayvideogamesratherthanthepiano;orthelittlegirlwholoveddollsbecomesateenwholovesstayingoutwithherolder,rebelliousboyfriend.TheGoodEnoughTeen,however,showsyouhowtoseeyourchild'sevolutionasawindowofopportunity––foryou,foryourchild,andforyourentirefamily.Ratherthanhavingyoubraceforyouroffspring'sadolescencewithyoureyesshutandyourjawclenched,thisbookwillhelpyoutounderstandtheinvisibletransformationteensareexperiencing,aswellasthewaysinwhichyourownadolescenceintimatelyinfluencesthisunderstanding.Youwillfindyourselfbetterabletoseeevenyourchild'smostexasperatingbehavioursasstepsinhisorherstrivingtowardsmaturity,ratherthanchronicproblemsormean–spiritedeffortsdesignedtomakeyoumiserable.TheGoodEnoughTeenpresentsadevelopmentaloverviewofwhatparentscanexpectfromtheirchildrenduringadolescence,thendelineatesthefivestagesinthejourneytowardsacceptingachildforwhoheorsheis.Withprescriptivetoolsandstrategiesforparents,includingchecklists,quizzes,andexercises,andnumerouscasestudiesfromtheauthor'sownpractice,TheGoodEnoughTeenisvitalhelpforanyparentwithateenager.