Get out of my life, but first take me & Alex to town- is a life saver for any parent of a teenager!

[cleo14]

Only half way through this book and wish I had read it along time ago! Information is up to date and gives great insight into life today for a teenager as well as how we can deal and respond to many issues. Well worth £5 from amazon

Totally didn't work for me, sorry.
Can you specify what you found so helpful?

It really is. Haven't read it for a while but keep lending it out. IIRC it's more the not feeling you are the only one than specific advice.

Made me feel normal.

Love that book.

I always think, of parenting books, that if there is just one tiny thing in there that you didn't know or that works for you then the book is worthwhile.
Haven't looked at that for years but may get it out again.

Yes, secret! That's exactly it!
I started reading it a week ago, to try and understand my DD17's behaviour, but it actually told me more about my DS15, who is an angel by comparison, but who has retreated to his room and only comes out for food or school! I think it's the 2nd section that struck a chord with me most, but I keep having to re-read it as I'm too tired to concentrate last thing at night ... zzzz !!

I found it really helpful too.
Also 'How to Talk so teenagers will Listen and Listen so they will Talk" (or similar) is another good one.
This from someone who never read any parenting books when they were babies....

BackforGood As I recall there were no parenting books when they were babies.
Well not quite true there were two I think that I could find. I can't for the life of me remember who they were by. They were baby books and written by two women with totally different approaches. Unbelievable how different it is now in only 18 years.
I had spent my entire adult life being able to solve work problems by researching the subject and then implementing a solution. I had no knowledge about babies at all and thought I could get a book to learn about them. I was actually quite distraught that there wasn't just a right way and a wrong way to do things.

My DS quotes it at me in an ironic fashion…

You could be right there, Secret

Although, tbh, I didn't have time to read when they were babies anyway

This book turned a house full of battles to a much happier calmer home.
I keep seeing posts about what happened to my dd or my DS hates me etc. I keep answering them by saying read that book.
Every parent of a teen should be given it or an equivalent book.
I too never read a baby book.

I love this book too. Also never read any parenting books before but find the teenage years challenging!

I think I like it because it makes me feel like we're not abnormal, it describes my DD to a T and makes me feel like it's not my fault, I'm not doing anything too wrong, that the parenting I've done up til now will hold good eventually etc.

I have gone back to it a few times and re-read it. There is one paragraph I particularly like:

'What is it to be the parent of a teenager? It is to do what you think best - when really you have no idea what is best. It is to ride out the storms and be back again the next day. It is to continue to give love to a child, who five minutes earlier, seemed to deserve a slap more than anything else'

There are quotes in the book that literally describe the arguments I have with my teenagers practically to the letter. I felt so reassured reading the book. It took a load of my mind. I felt like a normal parent of teenage children.

Just about to see if I can download this on my kindle - I am pretty desperate to change things at home. DS 15 and DS16 have recently started to argue and physically fight about anything and everything. They are lovely outside the home but I am at ky wits end how to stop this - hoping the book helps

Mumthetaxidriver- I'm sure it'll help. For me, it's made me look at some aspects of teenage life quite differently and helps take some of the emotion away- good luck x

I downloaded it of of the kindle store last week.
I have only read the first few pages but I need to get back to it.
I have a pesky 14 yr old ds who lives for his Xbox.
His manners have disappeared and he hibernates in his room.

I have also just read this and it's brilliant. I currently have 16 yr old ds, 15 yr old dd, and 12 1/2 yr old dd. (plus 3 younger ones!) and was begining to feel I wouldn't survive till they turned 18!
My oldest dd is more troubled than an average teenager (low mood, self harm, under CAMHS) but the book has still been really helpful in understanding some of her more "typical" teenage behavior for what it is.
For me it has made me able to take a step back and take things less personally which in turn enables me to respond less emotionally and more objectively.
I also feel so massively relieved to realize that DS communicating with me only in grunts is actually just a developmental stage and actually doesn't mean he hates me!!
I read it on Kindle but have just ordered a "hard" copy to re-read and highlight etc..

Out of stock on Amazon.........

A new edition just published yesterday including updates about social media etc. It is on the Waterstones website.

Just love this book!

Makes me, and my feelings about ds (13), seem normal.

I have lent it to my ex dh (ds's dad) to try and help him understand some of the more annoying behaviour!

Now if only my dh (ds's stepdad) would read it too, but he's not so keen

Money well spent imo.

ive just ordered this book on ebay for £2.04............cant wait to read it!

Sounds like I should get it too, I've an almost-15 dd, almost-13 ds and just turned 11 dd. I feel like an alien talking to them sometimes!

Half way through it and am feeling calmer already .

I'm resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one.

I'm about 2/3 done and it's such a relief already. I realise that my son doesn't actually hate me. He is actually a pretty good kid. I just need to give him his space not take it personally, and nag without getting upset.

It is a useful book to get through the teen years.

I remember having a Miriam Stoppard baby book when mine were small

I think I need to get this - have your teens read it too ?