When Your Teenager Stops Talking: How Do You Learn What's Going On? (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780961451967)

This excerpt from the revised and updated edition of Teenagers & Parents: 12 Steps to a Better Relationship by award-winning author Dr. Roger McIntire focuses on communication at the moment a parent hears "Mom [Dad], can we talk?" Listening skills are not always natural skills for parents. Examples include everyday parent-teen conversations that go awry and how to get them back on track. The book is approved by the Parents' Choice Foundation.

This practical guide for parents is written from the point of view of a behavior analyst with numerous examples and conversations of family life from the author's counseling experiences and home life with three daughters. Questions and solutions raised in this book come from both parents and teens who were clients, regular readers of my column, or website visitors. Common quesitons from the kids were reported by the parents: "Can we talk," "Can I quit school?" "What birth control is best." Parental questions range from "How can I deal with her tantrums?" "What about his computer addiction, her Facebook obsession, and their questions about alcohol, drugs, and sex?"

Many parents have called Dr. McIntire's books "life-savers" in helping them build better relationships with their children. His books are published worldwide in eight other languages and receive excellent reviews.

Dr. McIntire is professor emeritus of psychology (ret.) at the University of Maryland. He served 32 years as teacher, associate dean of undergraduates and research director.

Sections in this excerpt include: "What are you saying about me?" "Careful when teaching lessons and fixing blame." "Beware of arguments for entertainment's sake." "One-ups and put-downs of Shortcut parenting." "I always felt I was not good enough."