Congrats—You’re Having a Teen!: Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person

The American Academy of Pediatrics, long trusted as a solid voice for advice on parenting, attempts to present a balanced perspective centered around celebrating adolescence, yet recognizing challenges. This volume is dedicated to busting myths and sharing that teens do care about their parents’ opinions. Their brains are rapidly changing, allowing them to be super learners, and though they are driven to explore limits, they can be both rational and thoughtful. The book addresses the challenges of LGBTQIA+ and racial identity during the teen years. The first step includes engaging in the emotional work to become a lighthouse parent, a stable force on the shore. Silent scripts inside a parent’s head influence the way teens see themselves. Therefore, it is necessary to practice self-compassion first and then direct attention to the youths in their lives by recognizing the inherent good. Some of the topics Ginsburg explores are gender stereotypes, navigating the internet, building resilience in uncertain times, and responding to bullying and structural bias.