The Teen Whisperer: How to Break Through the Silence and Secrecy of Teenage Life
By Mike Linderman with Gary Brozek (Collins, $24.95)
The author is a cowboy and therapist, using lessons learned on ranches (discipline, trust) to steer teens away from trouble. He stresses that teenagers are complicated and need to be communicated with on their level. Parents who most often want to scream “Shut up!” must learn to whisper “I respect you.”
1. The teen brain “does not have all the connections and development necessary to enable sound, logical, reasoned, whole-brained decisions.”
2. “All long-lasting psychological problems are relationship problems. These relationship problems are the result of our losing connection with the people we need.”
3. Overscheduling a teen with activities can stunt her creativity and stymie her ability to have fun on her own.
4. Teens are anxious; they worry about their social standing, grades, appearance, sexuality and more.
5. “For many of today’s teens, sex isn’t intimate at all — it’s something they are very open about and don’t believe has to have any kind of emotional component.” Parents must accept this reality and consider it when discussing sex with their children.
