Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers (Paperback)

by Michael Riera (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Michael Riera is the high school counselor many of us wish we'd had: he's smart, non-judgmental, and respectful of kids. This excellent book is chock full o' advice for parents that sometimes goes against the established grain but makes utter sense. For example, don't give advice even when asked, embrace estrangement (it's part of your teenager's development), and take a demotion and move from "manager" to "consultant." Uncommon Sense is an excellent book for any parent of an older child or teenager.

Product Description
This question-and-answer book helps parents understand and cope with issues of modern teenage life: alcohol, drugs, and parties; academics; sex; eating disorders; homosexuality; divorce and remarriage - while encouraging parents to move from being their child's manager to being their consultant. The author's upbeat, unpatronizing approach to teenagers promotes true communication and understanding between parents and teens.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Celestial Arts (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890877491
• ISBN-13: 978-0890877494
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #227,502 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST book out there on communicating with teenagers., March 17, 1999

By A Customer

I have purchased and read many of the books out there on raising teenagers. Many of them promise a lot, but deliver very little, so I buy another and another. This book covers it all. The author knows what parents want, but also gets inside the heads of our teenagers and explains what they want, and more importantly, how they perceive our rules, desires, and opinions of them. It took away some of the fear I had about going through this phase of life as a parent. It allowed me to more clearly understand exactly what my son was trying to say, even when he didn't use the exact words I would have expected. Consequently, our discussions have been much more fruitful. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making sense of it all, June 16, 2000

By	Charlie Ridlon (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

Most of us spend our entire adult life trying to figure out our own childhood, so it's no wonder that raising a child can seem confusing, challenging and at times scary. This book saved me. It taught me (or at least reminded me) that all teenagers go through enormous physical, psychological and social change in the high school years. While the specific behaviors will vary from child to child, there is a common thread running through it all -- and it makes sense. This book reassured me that my child wasn't abnormal, that I was right in being confused and sometimes appalled by their behavior. And it let me take a step back and not take it so personally. After reading this book, I bought a dozen copies to give to friends and business associates who were struggling with teenagers (or soon would be). Read this and both you and your child will benefit.

67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncommon Understanding!, November 20, 1999

By	J. Archipley ([e-mail]) (Northern California) - See all my reviews

From a teenager who has read more than his fair share of parenting books, this one tops them off. On average, this book covers exactly what these types of books should. It doesn't just tell the parent to "talk more" with their teenager, it actually goes in depth about how the teenager thinks and feels. And, for the first time in my experience, it actually gets close! If you have teens, you should have this book.