Promise You Won't Freak Out: A Teenager Tells Her Mom the Truth About Boys, Booze, Body Piercing and Other Touchy Topics (Paperback)

by Doris A. Fuller (Author), Natalie Fuller (Author) "Secrets may be the biggest growth industry of the teen years-a product kids manufacture around the clock, often from little but the raw material of..." (more)
Key Phrases: boy craziness, teen parties, browser history, Star Trek, Best Buy, Restrictive Mom

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
When teens misbehave, sometimes they break the law, but every time, they break your heart. Among other horrors, Doris Fuller has lived to tell the story of her daughter Natalie crossing state lines to attend a keg party at the house of an older boy she hardly knew--after lying by saying she'd be at a sleepover. Fortunately, this was during Natalie's self-described "wild" phase, which petered out after a couple of unpleasant binge-drinking episodes during her sophomore year of high school. For any parent wishing their teen's hedonistic phase would fade away--or parents in such denial that they don't think their kid is capable of being wild--Promise Me will provide much guidance for navigating the emotional quagmire of adolescence.

Doris and Natalie provide mother-and-daughter perspectives on school, friends, dating, drug use, and sex, revealing an inherited self-deprecating sense of humor as well as a remarkable relationship that eventually came to be centered on mutual trust. Unlike some parents she knows, Doris doesn't depend on spy-ware, snooping, or diary reading to find out what Natalie's up to. Instead, she taps her journalism background to ask oblique questions that tend to get Natalie talking, not rolling her eyes or running to her room. Doris's list of useful questions for each topic may be too effective; she admits it was nearly impossible to act nonchalant when Natalie confessed that a 14-year-old friend had been experimenting with oral sex. (She also provides a helpful glossary of slang sexual expressions).

When Natalie does push the limits, Doris (generally) implements appropriate consequences for her to face. In the case of the out-of-state kegger, that meant no more car privileges for two months. (It's likely there's a copy of Parenting with Love and Logic on the bookshelf at their house.) Some of the most comically eye-opening passages in Promise Me feature tales of teens whose parents were extremely strict, only to find that their teen went to great lengths to hide hell-raising behavior from them (as in the case of the nerdy reverend's daughter who gets pregnant). Fuller's found the recipe for building trust and respect from teenagers, and parents would do well to heed her hard-earned advice. -- Erica Jorgensen

Product Description
In this honest and insightful she said/she said guide, sixteen-year-old Natalie Fuller tells all about her adventures and misadventures from ages thirteen through sixteen. Her brother, Greg, fills in on the later teen years. And Doris, the questioning, caring (and occasionally shell-shocked) mom offers her take on such mildly eye-opening and downright life-threatening topics as...

alcohol and other drugs * sex and dating * school * appearances * partying * stealing * obsessions * secrets * lying

Promise You Won't Freak Out gives parents a complete picture of how teens really think, feel, and act. And it gives kids a better understanding of why this picture freaks their parents out. For both, it offers some very helpful information-and an inspiring example of successful parent/teen communication.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425195910
• ISBN-13: 978-0425195918
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #818,094 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening and Educational!, July 10, 2004

By	Patti Hathaway (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

I don't typically leave feedback on books I read but I found this book simply outstanding. I read a lot of parenting books but I found the approach of parent and kids responding very refreshing and enlightening. I learned a ton, was shocked a lot, but feel better prepared to deal with my 2 sons (ages 12 and 14). I loved Doris' questions at the end of every chapter and have used several with success. Even though it is co-authored by a girl, it was very applicable to those of us who only have sons. Thanks for an excellent book and innovative approach to a topic every parent with teens needs to know.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Frank and Fascinating, May 22, 2004

By A Customer

Written with a fine sense of humor and remarkable candor, "Promise You Won't Freak Out" provides entertaining and informative reading. The writing is wonderful, crisp and clear; the information, though sometimes frightening, is priceless for parents and useful for the rising teen; and the illustration of communication between teen and parent is heartwarming and encouraging.

The authors skillfully hide sound, sage advice and information in delightful anecdotes that depict a teen's mindset and a parent's ability to survive it. At the end of each chapter, Doris and Natalie offer "Conversation Starters," questions to help parent or child broach subjects such as sex, booze, drugs, etc. Doris (the mom) occasionally weighs in with secrets of how she acts as a "guerilla mom" to break the teen code of silence.

A few parents may choose not to believe the frank description of some actions and thoughts of today's teens while some teens may wish that their parents hadn't read it at all! But parents and teens alike will find "Promise" an unforgettable, sometimes hilarious, and always enjoyable adventure.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book!, May 21, 2004

By	Lizwin (Arlington, MA United States) - See all my reviews

As the mother of two teen girls and reader of many "advice to moms" books, I have to say this is one of the best. The "mom wisdom" of Doris Fuller is balanced by the engaging teen voice of Natalie. So that's what teens think when they're about to ...(fill in the blank)! Older son Greg Fuller also adds an interesting dimension. While one book can't possibly cover all the issues parents of teens might face, this one handles some of the major ones with frankness, wit and insightful, practical advice.
It's also just a fun read! If you've been looking for a new perspective on raising a teen daughter, definitely buy this book.