Things I Wish I'd Known Before My Child Became a Teenager

by Gary Chapman

Help your child navigate the teenage years and become a mature adult. The transition from childhood to adulthood is hard for everyone. Physical changes—on the inside as well as the outside—make for a lot of ups and downs. The teenage years are turbulent, no question about it. But if you’re a parent or caregiver, don’t despair. There’s a way through! Gary Chapman, beloved author of The 5 Love Languages® , has raised two kids of his own, so he knows what it’s like to ride the roller coaster of parenting teens. Now he combines the hard-earned wisdom of a parent with the expertise of a counselor to help you know what to look out for. You’ll Though the years ahead will be demanding, you don’t have to feel helpless. Let Gary Chapman point the way you as you guide your child through this challenging yet rewarding new stage of life.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 5, 2021

About the author

Gary Demonte Chapman is an American author and radio talk show host. Chapman is most noted for his The Five Love Languages series regarding human relationships.

Reviews

[Alla Kovalenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and useful book with clear, practical advice. It encourages quality reflection on one's own behavior with children and also helps to see the most important things in parenting: love, attention, patience.

[Maria Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! For sure I will have to re-read it.
And it offers lists with so many Resources! (Books, movies, organizations)

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gary Chapman’s books are always good and while this wasn’t one of his best, it WAS good. I already have 3 teenagers so I’m reading this a little late. It would be better to read it before you have a teenager like is recommended.

The topics are the following:

Teens are Developing the Ability to Think Logically
Culture Greatly Influences Teens
Teens Need to Feel Loved
Teens are Moving Toward Independence
Teens Need to Learn Social Skills
Teens Need to Learn How to Process Anger
Teens Need to Learn How to Apologize and Forgive
Teens Need Guidance
Teens Need to Learn an Attitude and Forgive
Teens Emotional Health Greatly Impacts Educational Success
Teens Need Spiritual Direction
That a Parent’s Model is More Important Than Their Words

It can be easy to assume that since teens are almost adults, they are mature and you should expect a lot from them. This book shows us that they are still learning many things.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Yanet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro ha sido justo lo que necesitaba leer en esta etapa de la adolescencia tan complicada de mis hijos. Este libro nos da muchas enseñanzas y nos sirve de guía en cómo podemos entender mejor a nuestros adolescentes, pero sobre todas las cosas, La mejor enseñanza es que no estamos solos en este viaje. Todos los padres de adolescentes, estamos pasando por las mismas dificultades y al unísono nuestros hijos están pasando por cambios muy drásticos y difíciles y en esta etapa más que nunca necesitan de nuestro apoyo. El libro me ha enseñado a concentrarme en áreas, en las cuales hasta este momento, no había pensado que eran necesarias o no le había prestado la atención que merecen. Me encantó el libro, me encantó la manera en que el autor explica con detalle y elocuente. Se lo he recomendado a muchas madres y espero que muchas más al igual que padres puedan encontrar en él, una guía sabia y práctica para brindarle apoyo a nuestros hijos en esta complicada etapa de la adolescencia.

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things I Wish I'd Known Before My Child Became a Teenager goes much deeper than I expected, due to the casual and playful cover art. Basically, it reveals the things that shape youth as they graduate from childhood to young adult.

Many things go into shaping a productive teen, such as feeling loved, proper guidance, social skills, and spiritual direction are some of the biggies. There are other ideals, such as processing anger, how to apologize and forgive, etc. All these things make a monumental difference in how teenagers (and their brains) develop. And this book helps parents know what to expect and aids them in preparing their children to become independent, productive, and healthy young adults.

This easy-to-read guidebook reveals how parents of tweens can avoid some of the pitfalls their kids may fall into as they begin to seek independence and a sense of belonging.

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.

[AJ Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read any of the love languages books - though I'm aware of the languages and I may have even taken the quiz once? Anyway, I didn't know this was connected to that.

So I enjoyed the advice, and thought it was mostly well balanced and in line with other things I've read. I provides some practical examples and resources.

But man oh man, way too much God and Jesus stuff in here for my liking. It also presumes everyone is Christian - or should be. Ick.

So mostly good, turned be off when it got to the spirituality chapter toward the end (and lots of the resources recommended throughout are Christian resources)

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize this work was a part of the 5 Love Languages series when I requested it from my library! What an easy to read, well written, conscientious book this was. I, almost as a rule, never pick up non-fiction willingly - but I did this one because I needed direction and understanding with my teen, and that's exactly what I got.

[VBergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't agree with everything I read in the book, but still there are many useful advices, like in other Chapman's books.
At the end of every chapter, the book includes suggested readings and movies.

[Toshalea Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straightforward, and meaningful layout; it is
Very insightful & I love the additional resources the author provides for each topic and that he gives specifics of what they're about & how to use them.

[Tracie Amad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical advice written simplistically.

[Sarah Fowler Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good, it's just more of a resource list than a stand-alone book. Still, helpful reminders. A good place to start though it may be overly simplistic for some.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful as I have a new teen! Need all the help I can get!

[Janka Rozsályi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody should read this! My oldest is 12 now… and this book opened my eyes to soo many things!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read by the author of The 5 Love Languages. It is not a long book, but I took my time reading and absorbing each chapter. Definitely recommend for parents of teens and tweens.

[Maria Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical. I love at the end of each chapter he gives a list of resources to help you go deeper and expand on what he's talking about.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly thought this was a good quick read. It does have some religious aspects to it but I don't think that was the basis of the of the book.

[Leini Ena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives lots of practical advice & resources throughout.