While I’ve always known that adolescence is a stage of life marked by unprecedented questioning about almost everything, it wasn’t until my kids entered their adolescence that I fully realized how many questions I had about the very kids who were asking so many questions themselves. In an effort to help parents better handle their child’s teenage years, our good friends at Understanding Your Teenager have recently released a practical and easy-to-read new book, Help! There’s A Teenager In My House: A Troubleshooting Guide For Parents (InterVarsity Press, 2005, ISBN # 0-8308-3286-6).

The book is rooted in the questions “Understanding Your Teenager” seminar attendees have been asking Wayne Rice and his speaking team over the years. The questions are divided into 14 different categories including the hot issues of emotions, family life, peers, dating, sexuality, appearance, drugs and alcohol, entertainment, faith, etc. The answers are written by nine members of the seminar team (including Marv Penner, Duffy Robbins and Mark DeVries) who have over 250 years of collective experience working with teens and raising teenagers of their own. Perhaps what makes this book most valuable is that the writers all share a deep love for Jesus Christ and a deep love for teenagers.

Help! There’s A Teenager In My House is a book we recommend for every parent of teens. We also recommend that parents of children who have not yet entered adolescence pick up a copy to read as preparation for the years ahead. Finally, youth workers would be wise to get this book in the hands of every parent. They’ll love you for it.

—Walt Mueller

The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding grants permission for this article to be copied in its entirety, provided the copies are distributed free of charge and the copies indicate the source as the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding.

For more information on resources to help you understand today's rapidly changing youth culture, contact the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding.

                ©2005, The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding