This long-overdue, witty, and revealing book on living life with teenagers begins with the premise that adolescence, as we know it, is nothing but a social construction. "Even your most aristocratic ancestors," Gore writes, "never knew these long seasons of middle school and orthodontia, Ritalin and yo-yo diets, standardized tests and summer vacations, call-waiting and CD Walkmans, football practice and study abroad programs, learner's permits and college choices." Much of what parents fear about their kids reaching their teens, she notes, stems from popular culture, media scare tactics, and parents' own dubious, sometimes painful experiences. Instead of fear and ultimatums, Gore offers a map for navigating the inevitable changes that come with kids growing older-wanting more freedom, peer-influenced decision-making, burgeoning sexual selves-and confronting the life changes moms and dads, who were "cool" themselves only yesterday, face as their parenting responsibilities and identities shift. Whatever, Mom is the only teen guidebook to include the opinions of teens themselves, including chapter-by-chapter rebuttals by Gore's daughter, Maia.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Save this book!:
This book made me laugh, sign, and in some places get all teary eyed. I'm going to save this book for when my daughter(s) goes through puberty. Ariel Gore did it again with this book. She is such a fine writer and hipster mama. I absolutely love all her work and she also is a skilled public speaker, when I've heard her read excerpts from her books. Back to the book, the inclusion of Maia's entries adds to the conversational tone of the book. Buy this book if you are parenting a girl-woman. It will... more info
Best book on parenting teenagers:
This is a lionhearted meditation on guiding our children through their teenage years and learning how to let go. I found Ariel Gore's well-researched advice extremely helpful. The chapters written by her daughter are poignant and, when they poke fun, seem to be all in good family humor. If you have children over eleven, you will want to read this.
Dissing Mom and Getting Away With It:
I have not read the book but did read several excerpts from it by the mom (author) and 14-year old snip (daughter).
It seems like daughter gets to dismiss or denigrate mom regularly and with impunity. One of the child's catch-phrases about her mom's actions or thoughts are, "Who's the genius?"
Mom says she often wonders, "Hey, I am paying for your food and clothes and giving you rides everywhere, Why don't I get any respect?"
I would guess she doesn't because she's let this kid think her quips are... more info
doing the best we can...:
I loved Ariel's new book. It came just at the right time, as I mourn the loss of my "baby" and am learning to embrace this new developing woman-child in my house.
Best: --Normalizing that the process of teen differentiation can be painful and difficult, as well as rewarding. We (parents) are not alone! It's not just me!! --The research to dispell fears & myths about teen, presented in clean and clear (and even funny) format --Reminder that the author is a "human mama-woman doing the best I... more info
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