Parenting a Teen Girl: A Crash Course on Conflict, Communication, and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter

by Lucie Hemmen

It’s not easy to be a teen girl, and it’s definitely not easy parenting one. Parents everywhere struggle to respond appropriately to challenging behavior, hit-or-miss communication, and fluctuating moods commonly exhibited by teenage girls. More than previous generations, today’s teen girls face a daunting range of stressors that put them at risk for a range of serious issues, including self-harming behaviors, substance abuse, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. Is it any wonder that parents are overwhelmed? Parenting a Teen Girl is a guide for busy parents who want bottom-line information and tips that make sense—and work. It also offers scripts to improve communication, and exercises to navigate stressful interactions with skill and compassion. Whether your teen girl is struggling with academic pressure, social difficulties, physical self-care, or technology overload, this book offers practical advice to help you connect with your teen girl. Parents and teens alike can enjoy a positive connection once common parent-teen pitfalls are replaced with solid understanding and strategies that work. In this book, you will learn how
•Maximize your teen’s healthy development
•Understand what underlies her moods and behavior
•Implement strategies for positive results
•Communicate effectively about difficult issues
•Enjoy and appreciate time with your teen daughter

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Self Help, Family, Health

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Lucie Hemmen, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in Santa Cruz, California.

For over 20 years, Lucie has worked with individuals of all ages as well as couples and families. In addition to working with issues such as depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, and grief, Lucie is committed to promoting healthy teen development by working with teens, their parents, and their communities.

Reviews

[Pontiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, easy to read and practical guidebook for those of us walking the teen girl tightrope. A lot of what I read was familiar, but it's put together in such a way that it emphasized what's important for me to focus on, and reminded me what to let go of.

The exercises are useful to look at, but somewhat simplistic, I really liked the conversation examples.

What surprised me most is that when my 13 year old daughter saw me reading this, she said it was good because "I know how impossible I can be". She really is amazing, and with some help, I hope to do her justice raising her through the teen years.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in tandem with "Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy". I would recommend both of these books. They are both written by practicing psychologists (and parents of teenagers!). They sprinkle their chapters with events from real families/real teens. This one is specifically geared toward daughters. It has some really good advice, practical things to do to make things better. I particularly liked the chapter on social media. Good solid advice for right now. Highly recommended!

[Ekaterina Dolgova · Rating 4 out of 5]

The modern world changes so quickly that the book is already a bit behind in terms of tech advices, but general theme is good and helpful

[Dion Peat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful....... from an ignorant Dad's perspective.

This book provided some insight into a teenagers perspective. It allowed me to appreciate problem behaviours from my daughters perspective. As a Dad it helped me realise its not about me and how incredibly difficult it must be to a teenage woman in the modern age.

[Soojung Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading. For me, about 40% was excellent advice, 30% was not applicable (yet?) and 30% I didn't agree with for my family.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not terribly engrossing and encouraged some practices that I’m not fond of, such as abstinence, reading your child’s texts, and, worst of all, mindfulness meditation [shiver]. However, it also had some great messages, like the importance of loving interactions and positive reflected appraisals. Unfortunately for me, my dad seemed to miss every single one of these when he read this book in 2017. Abstinence, privacy violations, and the neoliberal imperative to take responsibility for your own wellbeing were the only things he seemed to take away from this book, actually.

[Maria Schoville · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I got validation more than information with this one. I wasn’t seeking answers as much as suggestions or advice. What I found was some common sense & some suggested exercises that may or may not go over like a lead balloon, mostly because they are geared toward a younger teenager or preteen. The best part was that I felt validated as a parent going through challenges. I know I’m not the only one, but it helps to read it.

[Jessie McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a lot of validation in this book, some great advice, and a levelheaded way to think about the less savory behaviors of the teenage daughter.

I have 3 girls. One who has emerged into young adulthood, one in the thick of the teenage metamorphosis, and one just entering. Many of the suggested activities would have been completely shunned by the 1st two, but I can see them working with the 3rd. Either way, that's just a small portion of the book and there is still a lot of value here.

[Mindy Schaper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a comprehensive book on parenting a teen girl and covered the gamut of issues a teen girl can face. I found it somewhat dry and not compelling. Frankly a little too "oh here sweetheart, let's talk about how we can bend over backward to accomodate you." While I do want to learn to be more understanding, this book was so, shall we say, different than the parenting I recieved that I really cannot fathom ever talking this way.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good especially for parents of younger teens.

This book has many good ideas that work over time. Unfortunately my daughter is 17.5. I was disappointed there were no ideas for what to do when the teen does respond as hoped as she is in the,” I am almost 18, I should get to do whatever I want.” Stage.

[Ankur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a parent of teenager girl who to get reassurance that they are not alone in this journey. The book served as a good reminder about how to handle various situations with teens which most of us are aware of but still need to hear about it at times.

[Kent Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This help me with a self-study parenting class. I would recommend this and other books that this author has.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the tips in this book were good. However, it’s quickly become dated. It was a fast read and worth skimming if you have a teenage daughter.

[Lara]

Audio

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book. I am not quite there with my teen but I have put some info away for the future.

[Jeffrey Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this thought provoking and filled with great advice for raising a teenage girl. I'm grateful for the author's research and experience.

[Katie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely helpful, realistic book perfect for parents of tween and teen girls

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great resource

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing earth shattering here. Just good solid advice that parents of teen girls need to be reminded of, often, as they try to navigate this difficult time without doing lasting damage to each other.

[Glitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Cab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish the author had discussed parenting from a divorced family situation,, otherwise I found this super helpful and informative.

[Cathy Miers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the few parenting books I have read that didn't leave me wracked with guilt but encouraged with some good ideas to work with.