Sharon Hersh - Mom, I Hate My Life!: Becoming Your Daughters Ally Through the Emotional Ups and Downs of Adolescence

Peppered with examples from her counseling practice and her own experiences as a mother of a teenage girl, Hershs book urges sensible compassion as mothers and daughters become companions on a mutual journey. She gives concrete and specific examples of how mothers can appropriately respond to their daughters pain and help them understand their feelings. Throughout, Hersh also offers a central Christian message that Gods love should be the foundation of girls and mothers identities.

P UBLISHERS W EEKLY

No one is more precious and disturbing to us than our children. There is no subject we are more desperate and fearful to enter than parenting. And there is no better book than Mom, I Hate My Life! to honestly and hopefully guide you to hope. We all know our children face realities we could never have imagined, and we rightfully need a wise, kind, and generous guide. Sharon Hersh lives and writes with brilliance, wisdom, and winsome wit. This book will allow you to encounter the rapids of your daughters adolescence with greater confidence and joy.

D AN A LLENDER , author of How Children Raise Parents

The two greatest complaints I hear from teens about their parents are these: They dont listen, and they dont understand. Sadly, those complaints are usually warranted. Sharon Hersh has once again done moms and daughters a great favor by providing a depth of understanding that can close the cultural-generational gap. No doubt our girls are in crisis. Mom, I Hate My Life! is a compelling cry that can help undo the crisis by challenging and equipping moms to meet their daughters deepest needs in the best way possible. But this isnt just a book for moms. Dads, youth workers, and anyone else working with young girls will have their eyes opened to the painful realities of growing up female in todays world.

W ALT M UELLER , founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and author of Understanding Todays Youth Culture

In an age where teens themselves struggle to put words to their own kaleidoscope of confusing emotions, this is a wonderful book for teen girls, parents, and counselors alike. I highly recommend itit can save lives.

C HRISTIAN H ILL , parent and counselor, Alpine Connection Counseling

Want to rebuild, restore, and refresh your relationship with your daughter? Countless moms and daughters will be blessed by this carefully crafted book. Sharon Hersh speaks hope into the mom-daughter relationship. You can have a trusting, rich relationship with your daughterthis book will show you how!

G REGORY L. J ANTZ , P HD , author of Moving Beyond Depression and Hope, Help, and Healing for Eating Disorders

I didnt think I would write this book. Its assignment came during a painfully hard time in my life. Writing it was a gifta gift from God and all the amazing people in my life who gave God a face.

Kristin and GrahamThank you for sharing your stories and for being my greatest teachers. You demonstrate that you can hate things about your life and still live well, love faithfully, and laugh a lot.

My parents, John and Kathleen BakerThank you for continuing to father and mother me.

All my mother-daughter clients and teachers, including but not limited to the followingAmy and Amanda; Jessie and Josie; Ellen and Lauren; Linda and Jessie; Jill and Kate; Susan and Meg; Cami and Katie; Carol and Heather and Holly; Cindy and Danika; Debbie and Britney; Connie and Mallory; Jill and Mo; Megan and Meredith.

Publisher Don Pape and all the wonderful people at WaterBrook Press and Shaw BooksYour interactions consistently confirm that you all are about so much more than just business.

My editor-friend, Traci MullinsI most certainly would not have written this book without you. Thanks for your insight, encouragement, and commitment, and for telling me, Write.