Guilt-Proof Parenting: How to Be a Better Parent Through Those Tough Teen Years

Because he felt that he and his wife were ""terrible parents'' to their adolescent sons, Wolenik became a client of California psychologist de Garcia. This self-help guide incorporates her advice on dealing with tempestuous teenagers. Assuring mothers and fathers that they are not entirely responsible for their children's faults or virtues, the authors cite case histories to amplify an important point: parents must rid themselves of guilt before they can deal positively with rebellious, selfish, or abusive offspring. There are tests by which parents can judge their efficacy in handling troubles caused by teenagers' peer pressures, family divorce, sibling jealousy, etc. Although the authors acknowledge that their suggestions for guiding young adults with loving discipline are hard to put into practice, the results, they rightly add, can be effective. (March)