Betty Londergan - The Agony and the Agony: Raising Your Teenager Without Losing Your Mind

Mom, you woke me up when I specifically asked you not to! Why did you turn here when you know this is the slowest possible way to go? I cannot believe you made teriyaki chicken again! Is that the only freaking thing you know how to make? Sound familiar?The Agony and the Agony is a bitingly honest guide to what it takes (out of you) to raise a teen in todays permissive, high-anxiety culture. This book is packed with hilarious stories, tips from former teens, parental traps to avoid, and advice on how not to handle each phase. For every parent whos wondered, What the hell is wrong with my kid? Londergan provides empathy and wisdom from the trenches, as well as hope for a gainfully employed future.

Londergan (Im Too Sexy for My Volvo) turns her pen to parenting adolescents in this comical treatise on the teen years. Using the Kbler-Ross model of five stages of grief, Londergan divides the angst-ridden adolescent years into five tongue-in-cheek stages of parental denial, anger, depression, bargaining and acceptance. The author notes that puberty and menopause often occur simultaneously in families, providing a perfect storm of roiling emotions. With anecdotes and tips from other parents and teens, as well as her own experiences as the parent of four children, she tackles such issues as drugs and alcohol, sex, and teen privacy, coaching parents on how to talk to teens without seeming dumb and weak. Londergan notes that while male teens often disappear into their rooms (they are subtle and defiant), girls can be hysterical and in your face. Urging parents to give up the ideal of the perfect kid, Londergan delivers her unvarnished truth about teens with style and humor (e.g., There is no EZ pass on the turnpike of teen parenting). Though Londergan is anything but cheerful, readers seeking savvy practical advice as well as sympathy for their plight during the teen years wont be disappointed. (Nov.)
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Publishers Weekly, 10/6/08
Londergan turns her pen to parenting adolescents in this comical treatise on the teen yearsWith anecdotes and tips from other parents and teens, as well as her own experiences as the parent of four childrenLondergan delivers her unvarnished truth about teens with style and humorreaders seeking savvy practical advice as well as sympathy for their plight during the teen years wont be disappointed.

About Families Magazine, November 2008
A recommended read for parents whose childrens ages are fast-approaching double digitsbitingly honest guidepacked with hilarious stories, tips from former teens, parental traps to avoid, and so much more.

Library Journal, December 2008
Verdict: Beyond espousing readers to take life lightly, this book offers a sound, commonsense approach to living with teens. A hearty, welcome addition to the parenting shelf in public libraries.