Help, My Little Girl's Growing Up: Guiding Your Daughter Through Her Physical and Emotional Changes [Paperback]

Annette Gail Smith (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736902791
• ISBN-13: 978-0736902793
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,764,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy the Journey, May 26, 2001

By 

"bdwm" (Jellico, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Help, My Little Girl's Growing Up: Guiding Your Daughter Through Her Physical and Emotional Changes (Paperback)

As a small town family doctor I sometimes get the feeling that 'adolescence' and 'tragedy' are linked words. Annette Smith offers a hopeful and enjoyable antidote to the angst that, perhaps not unjustly, grips many parents wishing the best for their daughters in an age so often unfriendly and even exploitive of their particular vunerabilities. Approaching her subject with the hands of an experienced nurse, the voice of an experienced mother, the heart of a pastor, and the eye of a writer she offers what I would like to prescribe to my patients parenting teen girls - practical advice on how to enjoy the relationship of focused, yet not overbearing, intentional parenting. Not another 'parent guilt' book but rather a timely and reassuring answer to the "what now?" raised by teen culture analyses like 'Reviving Ophelia'.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, July 5, 2011

By 

Carolyn Brown (CLEBURNE, TX, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Help, My Little Girl's Growing Up: Guiding Your Daughter Through Her Physical and Emotional Changes (Paperback)

I bought this book for my son who recently went through a divorce and has 2 little girls. I think it will be a big help to him.

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, December 19, 2010

By 

Jenny Rose (Lantana, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Help, My Little Girl's Growing Up: Guiding Your Daughter Through Her Physical and Emotional Changes (Paperback)

Help! My Little Girl's Growing Up by Annette Smith

Overall this is a good book with good information for a mother whose daughter is heading into the preteen years. Author Annette Smith gives some good tips on encouraging mothers to let their daughters discover and appreciate their own individuality. Smith warns that this involves mom letting go or holding back certain feelings and opinions--as long as the daughter is safe. Some of these moments include choosing an activity, a hobby, an outfit, and even goals. The interactive suggestions at the end of the chapters can be helpful.

However, I found this book a little long on anecdotes (perhaps Smith prefers writing fiction over nonfiction?). Yes, there are many helpful examples; but there were times when I found the stories didn't quite fit. A few stories I felt were left unresolved. Such as the time when Jennifer and Tracy had a fight, Smith does not say what the fight was about, how it was resolved or could have been resolved. In fact she says, "If their mothers knew what I know, they would ... leave well enough alone and be thankful for the way it all happened." Really? Couldn't you at least tell us in general terms what the fight was about? How are we supposed to apply this situation to our own lives? Or the time when Jacie turned twelve and her father quit taking her on errands--she still carries the scars but no solution to this problem is offered by the author. A few times, Smith implies that mothers are the experts on their daughter's changes and should explain them to the husbands. I think every daughter grows up differently (different parents, different time period, different circumstances) and there may be times when mom is not the expert and may have no clue. It should not be assumed that fathers are clueless when it comes to raising daughters, especially if he grew up with a good mother and at least one sister.

I did like the Christian perspective and I do plan on referring back to the book. I would recommend this to those who prefer reading anecdotes to just straight facts.