Do you remember feeling misunderstood, misinterpreted, hard done by and harshly judged as a teen? Do you remember how hard it was to accept practical suggestions from your parents?
Subtitled, a guide to raising teens in a complex world, this is an essential guide for parents of today’s teens. In today’s fast-changing world, parents (who let's not forget, were once teenagers themselves!) can easily feel overwhelmed by the differences of today’s adolescent journey. Can parents and caregivers ever truly be on the same page as their teens? “The world has changed. Yes, to be fair, over time things have always changed. But in the last decade or two, the speed of this seems to have accelerated exponentially and a lot of us feel we are having a hard time keeping up. Our teens are immersed in the advances of technology and have grown up with the rise of the Internet,” says Robyn.
The Kids Will Be All Right provides the latest evidence based information and resources to help parents navigate today’s hot topics including body image, consent, online safety, porn, rainbow teens, safe relationships and vaping. Plus there’s excellent guidance on bullying, drinking, self-esteem, frenemies and risk-taking behaviour.
The welcome focus of the book is providing useful information, rather than rules or opinions. If you choose to dip into the most relevant chapters for you and your teen, I recommend you begin by reading the chapter on the teenage brain. “There aren’t any universally applicable guidelines to growing our teens; every teen is different and every parent is different, and as a result every relationship between a teen and their parent will be unique. What works for one child may not work for another, even within the same family,” says Robyn.
“You can learn how to acknowledge and validate your teen’s feelings without giving specific advice,” says Robyn.
I particularly enjoyed how this book was co-written by Robyn, a nurse and educator, and her daughter Molly, who weaves her perspective throughout. The Kids Will Be All Right is both accessible and insightful and achieves its goal of empowering parents and caregivers to communicate effectively with their teens. Next month, our daughter turns 13 and I know I will be revisiting this guide to find new ways to support her and stay connected.
Robyn Fausett is the CEO of Next Consulting and delivers education programmes to schools and communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Her daughter Molly Fausett works in mental health and addiction services. Follow Robyn online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy Allen & Unwin, $39.99