Staying Connected to Your Teenager, Revised Edition: How to Keep Them Talking to You and How to Hear What They're Really Saying

How can families keep their connections strong when adolescence transforms even the happiest kids into defiant, independent teenagers? In the sage, practical Staying Connected to Your Teenager, family psychologist Michael Riera reveals that in every teen there are two very different people; many parents and guardians see only the rebellious child but miss seeing the more nuanced, increasingly adult thinker. It offers helpful strategies for promoting authentic, respectful conversations (whether in person, by text, or online); moving from a "managing" to a "consulting" role in a teen's life; understanding and working with normal adolescent development; and guiding kids on everything from social media to college applications. Riera shows how to bring out the best in a teen—and, consequently, in an entire family.