From Daughter to Woman: Parenting girls safely through their teens

by Kim McCabe

'A refreshingly healthy take on social media and particularly good on body image' Lorraine Candy, Sunday Times

The teen years are tough - for teens and for parents. Many parents dread the moodiness, dishonesty, preference of friends over family, exam stress, and the push for greater independence. Mothers have a pivotal role to play; this is a guidebook for parents and mothers of girls in particular as they navigate the rocky teenage landscape with their daughters aged 8 to 18. It aims to help them embrace the potential of their child's teenage years by marking this time of growing maturity for girls and celebrating it with them. We celebrate birth, marriage and death, but this important life-transition from child to young adult is nowadays rarely acknowledged within an appropriate community.

With mental health issues in young people on the rise, and social media, reality television and smartphone culture serving to exacerbate these problems, it is no surprise that parents are looking for help in raising their daughters through these tricky years. From Daughter to Woman is the indispensable guide to doing just that.

• ISBN10: 140871020X
• ISBN13: 9781408710203
• Publish Date: 18 July 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Little, Brown
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 70000
• Language: English

Reviews

[zooloo1983]

I found this book fascinating. Due to my little lady only being 4, not everything could be applied to her yet as this is mainly from 8 through to womanhood. One thing is I know that this is the type of book I can keep dipping in and out for a long time, becoming a companion of mine.

It’s not telling you that you should be doing this or doing that. But more a woman’s findings on how to help your daughters to find their place in the world. How to build on the foundations and stronghold relationship you already have with your daughter and guide you to maintain a healthy relationship with her.

Due to having a strong-willed 4-year-old, I know this guide is going to be my best friend, reassuring me that I’m not doing a rubbish job but to help understand the pressures of what a girl goes through. What I can do to be there for her whilst growing up. Because let’s face it, it’s much harder than when we were growing up, we didn’t have Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. No iPhones or smartphones. I mean my first phone at 16, was a Nokia no caller I’d and couldn’t send texts! So much easier!

The case studies in each of the chapters, for me especially in the mother-daughter dates chapter, were lovely. Reading how just a simple thing, changed and impacted their lives. I am glad this is one thing that we do every Sunday if it’s sunny and we have not got plans, we go to the beach just the two of us. Make a village in the sand and paddle in the sea. Perfect!

There is even a section in the book called Girl talk, and this not only for you, the mum, but your daughter to read too. Written in a way for them to understand and to discover answers but know that you are there for them as well.

I found it all insightful, without any preachiness. I was reassured from the outset and I find myself welcoming these stages in Alicia’s life as I feel more prepared now then I did before. I still am and will continue to be insecure and unsure about where her life will take her but this book has helped boost my confidence that I am doing a good job to help her (wow I sound preachy!) I can just now just enjoy the journey, with a reference to the book now and again...