Get Out of My Life

Teenagers are difficult people, and anyone who has their own needs help. Witty, pleasant and truly insightful, "Get Out of My Life" is now aware of how to deal with everything from social media to online threats and porn, and also addresses all the complex issues of parenting teenagers, school, sex, drugs and more. But it is the title of the second chapter, "What They Do and Why," that best captures the spirit and technique of the book, explaining how to translate adolescent behavior into its true, often less complex meaning. For example, one of the key mistakes is that you get involved in win-win conflicts instead of having the wisdom to shut up when shutting up would be the most effective, though least satisfying, solution. It's another thing to be offended when a teenager thinks you, an adult, are an idiot. And there are tips on what to do when that happens.