The funny thing about being a parent, first we take the test, and then we get the lesson! I have two sons, ages twelve and fifteen, and I wanted to get some expert advice that would help us with our "Negotiating Moments." I went looking for information on the Web and in bookstores that could help me with the fine art of negotiating with kids. However, I found very little. As my first son became a knucklehead teenager, I began to realize that our negotiating moments were getting a little more heated, and his reasons and abilities to argue negotiate were very pathetic and infantile. As a parent, I became very nervous and concerned. I knew that I was going to have a tremendous effect on my son's destiny, because as a parent, I was going to set the stage for his life.
Our experiences, family relationships, daily rituals and motivations all form the way we run our households. We teach our children how to deal (negotiate) with others by modeling this behavior during interactions with them and others. This life skill is something they will take with them throughout their entire life. I believe that their future happiness and success will be directly affected by the outcome of the negotiating moments they experience at home.
I began to look at how I negotiate in my life, both at home and at work, and a light bulb went on. That is when I decided to write a book on this topic myself. I really believe in the content of this book. In fact, I use the techniques in this book on a daily basis.
My vision for Argue Negotiate With Your Children And They Will Negotiate For Their Lives! is to provide something simple, but worth reading (and learning), a reference manual filled withillustrations, quotes and stories. It is an easy to understand guide packed with examples for parents and children to use (and reuse) together. These practical examples address specific issues (negotiating moments) that typically occur within and outside of the family unit. Ultimately, I would like to use this information to change a life, save a life or help a life become fun again.

Extensive Gallup research offers a unique glimpse inside the heads and hearts of today's teens. A must-have for parents, youth workers, and teachers.

Stop the Hurting

Mary Pipher's bestselling Reviving Ophelia triggered widespread interest in the culture of preteen and teenage girls and the seeming epidemic of relational aggression (bullying) among them. Gossip, teasing, forming cliques, and other cruel behaviors are the basis of this bullying, which harms both victim and aggressor. Until now, no one has been able to offer practical and effective solutions that stop girls from hurting each other with words and actions. But in Girl Wars, two experts explain not only how to prevent such behavior but also how to intervene should it happen, as well as overcome the culture that breeds it.

Illustrated by compelling true stories from mothers and girls, the authors offer effective, easy-to-implement strategies that range from preventive to prescriptive, such as how to

• Adopt a "help, don't hurt" strategy
  
• Provide positive role models
  
• Teach communication skills online and off
  
• Stress assertiveness, not aggressiveness
  
• Learn conflict resolution skills
  
• Identify alternatives to bullying behavior
  

With their combined experience in offering and evaluating programs that combat bullying, the authors show that girls not only want to help rather than hurt each other, they can do so with guidance from concerned adults.

"Parents and young adults alike should benefit from the advice in Apter's insightful book."—Washington Post

What do young people at the threshold of adulthood really need and want? Why do so many responsible and motivated teenagers become young adults who are still dependent, financially and emotionally, on their parents? Why are many young people today so quick to leave childhood behind, but so slow to become adults?

In this wise and compassionate book, Terri Apter debunks outdated and misguided ideas about maturity: Acting in the name of love, many parents withdraw emotional or practical support, thinking it best for a son or daughter to solve his or her own problems—even to suffer alone the consequences of mistakes. Apter shows us that young adults actually need a parent's guidance and support, while also requiring respect and independence. Based on carefully observed case studies and current research, this book describes how we can support young people through a crucial stage in their development.

Written by the founders of Generations of Virtue (various women and teenagers), this set of three booklets is specifically designed to help guide girls and their mothers through the passage from girlhood to womanhood. These books focus on the first period and explore the idea that women are blessed with God's gift to be able to give life. Our culture has made a women's period out to be a burden, but our desire is to communicate the wonder of God's creation and celebrate the positive aspects of womanhood, not the negatives. Celebrating Womanhood- Having your period is something to celebrate, and this booklet explains why. The second book in the Beautifully Made series, Celebrating Womanhood covers subjects like "PMS," which products to use and how to use them, tips on health, and much more. You and your daughter can share quality mother-daughter time as you read and discuss this book; afterwards, she can keep the booklet as a continuous reference. Biblically centered, this book will give your daughter an encouraging message about her period. Recommended as a gift for your daughter at the start of her first period.

Written by the founders of Generations of Virtue (various women and teenagers), this set of booklets is specifically designed to help guide girls and their mothers through the passage from girlhood to womanhood. These books focus on the first period and explore the idea that women are blessed with God's gift to be able to give life. Our culture has made a woman's period out to be a burden, but our desire is to communicate the wonder of God's creation and celebrate the positive aspects of womanhood, not the negatives. Women's Wisdom: A Mother's Guide- Are you anxious about your daughter starting her period? Generations of Virtue has compiled a wonderful resource for mothers to lovingly guide their daughters into womanhood. This book contains ideas on how to celebrate with your daughter, an informative section on the biology behind women's bodies, how and when to tell your daughter about her period, and some of the surprises associated with a developing daughter (for instance, mood swings). This biblically-focused book can help every mother explain some of the intricacies of womanhood to her precious girl. This book is for Mothers of preteen girls.

A Parents' Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being

"What Dr. Spock was to the infant, Dr. López is to the adolescent."—Alan B. Wachtel, M.D., author of The Attention Deficit Answer Book

With the publication of The Teen Health Book parents will finally have a single volume to help them navigate the confusing changes of the adolescent years. Ralph I. López, a pioneer in the field of adolescent medicine, is known for his warm and accessible manner and offers health and medical information in a clear and conversational tone. Addressing both physical and emotional concerns, this essential guidebook discusses the full spectrum of adolescent issues from sexual development and eating disorders to acne, growth issues, and alcohol and drug use. In addition, a comprehensive reference section details the common and not-so-common ailments of teenagers. Dr. Spock is the bible for parents of toddlers; The Teen Health Book will be the bible for parents of teens.

"A terrific book for parents of teens (and preteens).... López writes with empathy and good humor and clearly has a thorough grounding in—and affection for—his specialty."—Library Journal, starred review

"An informative, comprehensive manual that gives parents the 'what to expect' of the teenage years."—Dallas Child

"[López's] approachability is also characteristic of his book...[which] conveys respect for parents, too."—New York Times

"A must-read for any parent of a teen or "near teen.""—S. Jean Emans, M.D., Children's Hospital, Boston

"[A] great source: easy to read, easy to understand, and a comfort for the many parents who have difficulties..."—Ira Sacker, M.D., author of Dying to Be Thin

"[A] comprehensive and highly practical guide....will definitely be a valuable resource for both parents and professionals."—Stanley Turecki, M.D., author of The Difficult Child

"Dr. López knows adolescents and, more importantly, he likes them and cares about them....an indispensable guide for parents and adolescents."—Charlene C. Giannetti, co-author of The Roller-Coaster Years, Parenting 911, and Cliques

Written by the founders of Generations of Virtue (various women and teenagers), this set of three booklets is specifically designed to help guide girls and their mothers through the passage from girlhood to womanhood. These books focus on the first period and explore the idea that women are blessed with God's gift to be able to give life. Our culture has made a women's period out to be a burden, but our desire is to communicate the wonder of God's creation and celebrate the positive aspects of womanhood, not the negatives. Approaching Womanhood- This is the first book in the Beautifully Made series, designed for mother-daughter discussion and bonding time. Help your daughter through this potentially stressful experience while she anticipates her first period. This book is designed to encourage your daughter as it discusses issues all developing girls face and wonder about: her changing body, her first period, her body image, how she can be prepared if her period starts unexpectedly, and, most importantly, her worth in God's eyes and her role in His kingdom. Recommended for girls ages 8-12.

The first book to focus on the day-to-day experiences of adolescents dealing with sexual identity issues, Always My Child provides the insights and practical strategies parents need to support their kids and cope themselves.

Parents whose children are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or who are going through a "questioning phase" are often in the dark about what their children face every day. As a result, offering support that will comfort and fortify them feels like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.

In Always My Child, Kevin Jennings supplies the missing pieces by guiding parents through the world their child inhabits. He explains what these teens often encounter -- teasing and harassment -- and offers solutions for parents who want to better understand their LGBTQ children and learn how to protect their self-esteem. He offers advice, including how to:

• Initiate constructive communication with their child
  
• Respond effectively to frequently asked questions
  
• Recognize depression and signs of drug abuse and harassment
  
• Successfully advocate for their child's well-being outside the home
  

Always My Child makes it possible for parents to create the kind of relationship with their children that allows them to grow into emotionally healthy adults.

A comprehensive overview of teenage obesity and what parents and teens can do to overcome weight problems

Parents: Does your teen withdraw to his or her room at every opportunity? Does she talk with you about her friends? Does he participate in discussions at meals? Does your teen want you to see projects from school? When is the last time you actually went into your teen's room and looked at what's hanging on the walls and sitting on the shelves?

Teens: Do your parents hide behind the newspaper? Do they always have to work when you've got a game, a recital, or an open house at school? Is there anything you do together anymore? When was the last time they took a walk, a bike ride, or even a trip to get ice cream with you?

When did that sudden gap divide your home into territories staked and claimed, with music blasting through the halls and fists banging on doors to turn down the stereo/TV/video game? Teens, when did you start seeing your parents as your enemies instead of your heroes? And parents, when did you start seeing your teens as crazy little demons instead of your loving children?

Finally, there is a solution for both sides, and one that will not only bridge that gap but show parents and teens alike how to prevent it. Jay McGraw is the ideal person to write a book for both parents and teens. A bestselling author by the age of twenty-one and son of number one New York Times bestseller Phillip C. McGraw, Ph.D., known to millions worldwide as Dr. Phil, Jay has seen the parent-teen battle from all angles. In this groundbreaking work, he introduces a new plan for both teens and their parents to work through the issues that divide them and, in the process, rediscover the love that initially defined their relationship.

Jay works from both sides -- sharing the perspectives of parent and teen as the former struggles for control, the latter for independence. He explains to parents how their teenagers wish to be treated, cared for, and even disciplined, and he shows teens how gaining power can come only from earning respect. In this entertaining, informative, and life-changing book, Jay gives instructions to both sides of the familial gap on:

• Dos and Don'ts for Parents and Teens
  
• Parent and Teen Myths
  
• Discovering Your Needs
  
• Tuning In to the Needs of Others
  
• Ten Ways to Bridge the Gap and Reconnect
  

In finding a common ground and, even more important, a common respect for each other, parents and teens can break down the walls, unlock the doors, and welcome each other back into one another's lives again.

The dreams and visions of young hearts are part of God's plan for our lives -- including our dreams of the perfect mate. In Dating, Intimacy and the Teenage Years, Karl Duff explains God's design for the sexes and warns of the ways it can be distorted and ruined. The short chapters in this book make it ideal for individual and group study by families and youth groups.

Based on the latest scientific findings, a comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of teenage depression.
Each year thousands of American teenagers are diagnosed with clinical depression. If ignored, poorly treated, or left untreated, it can be a devastating illness for adolescents and their families. Drawing on her many years of experience as a pychiatrist working with teenagers, Dr. Maureen Empfield answers the questions parents and teens have about depression, providing detailed information on:
*Identifying the different types of depression
*How depression is diagnosed
*Which teenagers are most at risk
*Suicide
*The effect of depression on other teenage problems
*How depression is treated and by whom
*The drugs used to treat teenage depression - what they are and how they work
*When a teenager needs to be hospitalized for depression
*and more
"Understanding Teenage Depression "provides the latest scientific findings on this serious condition, and the most up to date information on its treatment. The book includes numerous vignettes drawn from Dr. Empfield's clinical practice as well as first person accounts from teenagers who have themselves suffered from depression. "Understanding Teenage Depression" is a book that anyone who's been touched by this disease - whether parents, teachers, family members or teens themselves - will find invaluable.

From the author of the highly successful Maybe You Know My Kid comes a desperately needed follow-up–the first comprehensive guide for dealing with the unique challenges of raising an adolescent with ADHD.

Adolescence is a tumultuous turning point for everyone, but for teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it can be especially challenging, and for some of their parents, downright terrifying. Predictably, stress ensues over inconsistent or poor school performance and over inevitable decisions regarding higher education and life after high school. Adolescents with ADHD get more traffic tickets, have higher school-expulsion and drop-out rates, and are more likely to experiment with alcohol and drugs.

Maybe You Know My Teen brims with management strategies for parents new to ADHD as well as those who have coped with it throughout their child’s life. Explaining the roots of the disorder clearly and extensively, while discussing situations most likely to cause symptoms to manifest themselves, ADHD authority Mary Fowler presents step-by-step advice, along with in-depth personal stories and first-person advice from leading experts in the field. This is the one-of-a-kind lifesaver thousands have been awaiting.

In her bestselling "Raising a Thinking Child," Myrna B. Shure introduced her nationally acclaimed "I Can Problem Solve" program, which helps four to seven-year-olds develop essential skills to resolve daily conflicts and think for themselves. With "Raising a Thinking Preteen," Shure has tailored this plan especially for eight-to twelve-year-olds as they approach the unique challenges of adolescence.
The preteen years are often the last opportunity for parents to teach their children how to think for themselves. This book is the only source with a proven plan to help them do just that.

John Nikkah asked one simple question: What do the boys think? From the best-selling Ophelia Speaks to the "girl power" movement, teenage girls are speaking their minds and having their due. But what about the boys? Aside from the works of a few academics, there seems to be no outlet in today's media for the true voices of teen-age boys. Until now.

John contacted over 5,000 schools across the country looking for the voices of America's boys. What are their goals, their fears, their hopes, their dreams? What are their lives really like as they stand on the verge of manhood? Our Boys Speak takes the best of hundreds of entries from boys aged 12-18 from varied racial, economic, religious, and regional backgrounds. The essays, poems, diary entries and stories cover topics ranging from sex and dating, sports, religion, depression, violence, video games, family, and just about everything in between. And narrating the essays is John Nikkah, who comes to new understandings about his own teenage years through the raw voices he encounters. This is a book for parents, for teens, for educators and for the heart.

Our Boys Speak is just that. It is our sons, our friends, our neighbors, our families, ourselves. Sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, Our Boys Speak is most of all truthful and real.

Revisiting her past through old journals and diaries, author Roberta Israeloff traces her passage from self-confident tomboy to a teenager trying to understand what it means to be female in today's society. Her recollections, juxtaposed with thoughts on her current life, capture from a personal perspective the journey to womanhood. Will appeal to readers of REVIVING OPHELIA.

Respected parenting counselor Jay Kesler offers ten proven principles to help parents teach the concept of cause and effect, learn how to listen more than lecture, and model a life-changing love for God-resulting in emotionally healthy teenagers.

"The authors have produced a very readable, extremely well informed and comprehensive book that will add greatly to the knowledge base of interested parents. This book is strongly recommended." —Stewart Gable, MD Chairman, Department of Psychiatry The Children’s Hospital, Denver, Colorado You supported and encouraged them as they grew from toddlers to teens. Now you are confronted with one of the toughest challenges you and they will ever face … teenage depression. Adolescence is a period of peaks and valleys. Most teens negotiate these years with relative ease; yet for some these times are treacherous with countless pitfalls. When depression ensues, it can interfere with much of your child’s potential. Clinical depression is now epidemic among American teens, and teen suicide can be a deadly consequence. Helping Your Depressed Teenager is a practical guide offering family solutions to a family problem. This book will sensitize you to the hidden struggles of adolescents and assist you in understanding their multifaceted problems. The authors are experts in this field and have helped countless youngsters confront and overcome their depressed mood. In a highly readable and gentle manner, they help you see behind the "masks" of troubled teens who attempt to hide their true feelings. They help you distinguish the subtle and sometimes not so subtle signs that something is seriously wrong. And they help you provide the loving support and assistance teenagers need to make it through this difficult life passage. Some of the useful information provided:

• What families can do to prevent teen depression
• How to tell the difference between moodiness and depression
• How to read the warning signs of a troubled teenager
• How to know when professional help is needed and where to find it
• How to choose the right treatment options for your teen

Are you at your wit's end trying to deal with your teenager? Unsure of how to handle those tough problems that so often become a battleground? Help is here in this refreshing, practical guide that offers workable advice.