Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, or Questioning Son or Daughter [Paperback]

Kevin Jennings (Author), Pat Shapiro (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: December 24, 2002

The first book to focus on the day-to-day experiences of adolescents dealing with sexual identity issues, Always My Child provides the insights and practical strategies parents need to support their kids and cope themselves.

Parents whose children are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or who are going through a "questioning phase" are often in the dark about what their children face every day. As a result, offering support that will comfort and fortify them feels like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.

In Always My Child, Kevin Jennings supplies the missing pieces by guiding parents through the world their child inhabits. He explains what these teens often encounter -- teasing and harassment -- and offers solutions for parents who want to better understand their LGBTQ children and learn how to protect their self-esteem. He offers advice, including how to:

• Initiate constructive communication with their child

• Respond effectively to frequently asked questions

• Recognize depression and signs of drug abuse and harassment

• Successfully advocate for their child's well-being outside the home

Always My Child makes it possible for parents to create the kind of relationship with their children that allows them to grow into emotionally healthy adults.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Filled with real-life stories, scientific research and practical advice, Jennings' latest (after Becoming Invisible) stresses the importance of family acceptance for a child's self-esteem and the need to create a safe haven at home for GLBTQ teens, who often feel depressed, isolated, and harassed by peers and society at large. Drawing from countless anecdotal stories, as well as his own experiences growing up gay in a disapproving Southern Baptist atmosphere, Jennings encourages parents to understand their children's culture (by watching movies and television, visiting Web sites, and listening to music), recognize the myths of sexual orientation, identify warning signs for drug abuse, depression, eating disorders, and suicide, and learn how they may unwittingly be perpetuating gender stereotypes by facing their own prejudices. Models for coming out, and down-to-earth tips on dealing with the various stages of acceptance are thoroughly explained, and Jennings, writing with Shapiro (A Parent's Guide to Childhood and Adolescent Depression), includes an extensive resource section at the end of the book. He also provides sample conversations to help facilitate open lines of communication with children on every issue. Jennings' attention to the unique religious and cultural difficulties of "double minorities" and his accessible, topic-specific chapters make this a useful guide for both parents and teachers.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Michael Thompson coauthor of Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys Kevin Jennings provides the kind of wise counsel that will help parents preserve their relationships with their children. He helps us to understand the stages of understanding through which all children and families need to pass in order to achieve family peace.

Judy Shepard executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Every parent should read this book. It's a wonderful resource that I wish had been available to me.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (December 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743226496
• ISBN-13: 978-0743226493
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Parenting & Families

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for EVERY parent September 1, 2004

By David N. Parker VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) has co-authored the definitive book on guiding, understanding, and - hopefully - accepting in love your GLBTQ child. It is primarily targeted toward parents struggling to help and deal with their questioning or coming out teenage child.

This book is not specifically about dealing with transgender children, although there are about 30 pages devoted to dealing with issues and problems of Trans teens. It also talks to people of color and includes young peoples' input to parents. Cultural messages of gender and sexuality are discussed and techniques of dealing with these messages are offered for consideration.

Many of the popular myths about homosexuality and transgenderism are analyzed, with facts presented to aid in accepting and understanding. Suggestions are provided for dealing with friends, your teen's friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Signs of trouble are discussed, along with suggestions for helping your teen deal with them.

While the advice is directed toward sexual and gender diversity, the advice applies to dealing with any youth. The principles of dealing with children apply globally.

So what is the secret? The title says it best - "Always My Child." Your child's needs come first, no matter what. Love your child; don't pressure them, but encourage them to discus their feelings, fears, and problems.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Always My Child: A Great Resource March 30, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Always My Child is an incredible book and one that any parent should read not just parents of GLBTQ children. Kevin Jennings provides practical advice to parents in a readable format. He helps parents understand their children without being preachy. A parent could use this book as a resource for how to talk with her child and keep lines of communication open. Teachers and school counselors should read this book and make it available to parents and others. Not only is this book a great read, it is a great resource.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Son or Daughter March 8, 2006

By W. M. WOMACK

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an honest and on the mark book for parents about LGBTQ children and teens. It addresses issues important to the LGBTQ son or daughter and gives practical advice to the parent about acceptance and understanding.