Lucie Hemmen - Parenting a teen girl: a crash course on conflict, communication, and connection with your teenage daughter

Lucie Hemmen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked for over twenty years to strengthen communication between teens and parents. The mother of two teen daughters named Marley and Daisy, Hemmen lives and practices in Santa Cruz, CA.

The author of this book is witty, wise, and happily, very practical. Using her own experience with her daughter, as well as her training as a psychologist, she guides us through the shoals of parenting and reassures us that while parenting a daughter is not smooth sailing, it is possible with a little helpand this book is quite helpful. For example, almost all parents of teenagers are going to get carved up by their child from time to time, and its nice to know that the constant criticism is part of the teens passage rather than ones own terminal defects. Also welcome are the many chapter tips, including the ones that help us understand obsessive behavior with phones and texting. The book is not only extremely sensible, its terrifically readable. You get to laugh at yourself, and learn valuable information at the same time.

Pepper Schwartz, PhD, American sociologist and sexologist, professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, and author of 201 Questions to Ask Your Kids

In Parenting a Teen Girl, Lucie Hemmen brings expertise, common sense, and a no-drama approach to the challenge of raising girls with respect and love. Her ideas are clear, realistic, and powerful, and her steady guidance will help you bring confidence and skill to your dealings with teen girls or, for that matter, with anyone. Her teachings are so universal and wise that we could all do well to learn from them, no matter the age or gender of the people we interact with.

Frank Andrews, PhD, professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz and author of The Art and Practice of Loving

Parenting a Teen Girl busts through many myths and helps parents stop catastrophizing and start connecting with their teen girls. Face your fears head-on and learn concrete steps to tackle common problems such as oversharing in social media and moodiness. You can learn to stop complaining about your teen girl and starting connecting to her.

Lara Honos-Webb, PhD, author of The Gift of Adult ADD and Listening to Depression

This is the instruction book we always wished our children came with. Hemmen provides straight talk, practical tips, and an empathetic understanding of the challenges that teen girls and parents face today.

Lisa M. Schab, LCSW, author of The Anxiety Workbook for Teens and Beyond the Blues

Parenting a Teen Girl will help parents understand their daughters behavior and experiences and create healthier connections with them. Through real-life examples and reflective exercises, Hemmen encourages parents to increase their self-awareness and teaches them to choose their responses rather than react to the chaos that life with a teen daughter can create.

Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW, psychotherapist and author of Dont Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens, The Bipolar Workbook for Teens, and Calming the Emotional Storm

As an Internet expert, educator of teens and parents, and mother of two girls, I appreciate Hemmens coverage of the issues most relevant to raising teen girls in todays world. The book hits all the most important targets without lapsing into long, academically dense discourse. Readers wont get that overwhelmed and hopeless feeling regarding the state of todays teenage girls! In fact, the book energizes as it informs. I love that the book offers practical tips parents can plug in immediatelyespecially regarding how to guide teens in the tech world. Hemmens compassion, understanding, and humor make the book a quick and valuable read.

Lori Getz, Internet safety expert and founder of Cyber Education Consultants

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2012 by Lucie Hemmen

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup

Text design by Tracy Marie Carlson

Acquired by Jess OBrien

Edited by Jean Blomquist

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Hemmen, Lucie.

Parenting a teen girl : a crash course on conflict, communication, and connection with your teenage daughter / Lucie Hemmen.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-60882-213-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-60882-214-0 (pdf e-book) -- ISBN 978-1-60882-215-7 (epub)

1. Teenage girls. 2. Parenting. 3. Parent and child. I. Title.

HQ798.H446 2012

305.2352--dc23

2012011749

I dedicate this book to my incredible mom the best writing support and mother I could possibly ask for.

Thanks, Mom!