Blueprints
Books
Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No
By Dr. John Townsend
Strong, healthy boundaries are the key to a strong, healthy relationship with your teen. Discover how to set healthy boundaries for both yourself and your teen to enhance your relationship and their relationships with others. Includes section on how to deal with special situations like drug and alcohol use, cutting, sex, defiance, school, and disrespect.
Losing Control & Liking It: How to Set Your Teen (and Yourself) Free
By Tim Sanford
Do you believe it's a parent's job to make your kids turn out right? Have you turned your home into a fortress, multiplied the rules or jumped in to "fix" things the moment your teenager made a poor choice? Do you wear yourself out with worry - and alienate your child to boot? The truth is that you can't make your kids turn out right. It's not even your job. In fact, your real role as a parent is much more rewarding and doable. Experienced counselor and parent Tim Sanford shows you how to give up your fears about your teenager's future - and the control you never really had. You'll discover the truth about how God parents His children - the truth that can turn your home from a battleground to a birthplace of freedom for you and your teen.
Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind
By Michael J. Bradley
Bradley, a psychologist drawing on current brain research, argues that teenagers are basically nuts. While 95 percent of the brain develops in early childhood, the most advanced parts aren't completed until adolescence is nearly over. As a result, teens can appear unstable, dysfunctional and unpredictable, with temporarily impaired judgment and decision-making processes. In addition, Bradley argues, contemporary culture further challenges teens' thinking capabilities; the prevalence of sex, drugs and violence makes the teen's job of cognitive balancing even more precarious. The good news is that parents do make a difference, and Bradley clearly explains how parents can encourage and guide their kids through these tumultuous years. Stressing that teens are still "children," Bradley encourages parents to respond like "dispassionate cops," teaching and remaining calm even when teens behave outrageously. While Bradley's prose which he admits might be shocking and offensive at times may be initially off-putting to some, the book is compelling, lively and realistic. Using crisp, believable anecdotes that are alternately poignant and hysterically funny (while avoiding generic examples, jargon or psychobabble), Bradley homes in on real-life scenarios, showing parents, for instance, how to respond when their teen is "raging," and how to set curfews and limits. Bradley draws a vivid picture of what the teen is going through, and gives parents the tools to tackle contemporary issues together. An invaluable parachute to parents diving into the teen years. (Sept.)Forecast: A $100,000 marketing campaign, a 10-city author tour, the recent widespread media coverage of related neurological data and above all, the need for sensible, funny books on raising teenagers all bode well for this book's sales.