You Have to Say I'm Pretty : How We Can Help Our Daughters Learn to Love Their Bodies and Themselves

by Stephanie; Cohen Phyllis L. Pierson

At a time when it's never been more difficult to get from twelve to twenty in one sane, self-confident piece, this book provides explanations, straightforward advice and strategies, even a script, to help parents cope with their daughters' body image problems. This is the truly practical book, Stephanie Pierson looked for in vain when her own daughter developed anorexia and body image problems. Written with Phyllis Cohen, a psychotherapist with 30 years of experience of adolescent problems, there are chapters on why daughters have negative body images and how mothers can prevent this, staying connected with your daughter, communicating, daughter's viewpoint, sex, developing a realistic sense of self, problems of coloured teenagers, health and nutrition. It provides the warning signs of changes in sleep patterns, appetite, eating patterns, lethargy, social withdrawal, irritability; and the danger suicidal thoughts, drug or alcohol use, self-mutilation, anorexia and bulimia.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2003

Reviews

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, but not earth-shattering. The big insight for me was her comment, "Fat is a code word for an emotion, not a number on a scale."