And Then I Had Teenagers: Encouragement for Parents of Teens and Preteens

by Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Yates, best-selling author of And Then I Had Kids and How to Like the Ones You Love, now offers encouragement and guidance to parents of teens and preteens. Drawing from her experiences raising five teenagers, she offers parents a unique blend of stories, compassion, and advice. Yates empathizes with parents whose children struggle with communication, peer pressure, and faith--every parent of a teen!--while also considering teenagers' perspectives and needs. Readers who enjoyed And Then I Had Kids will be eager for this sequel as they prepare for the teen years. With a similar style, it demonstrates how Christian values work within the family and the home. Discussion questions for each chapter make it a perfect resource for small groups, Sunday school, or neighborhood outreach. By encouraging readers to "articulate the challenges and then choose to focus on the blessings," And Then I Had Teenagers restores hope during one of the craziest seasons of life.

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Self Help, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Susan Alexander Yates is a popular speaker and the author of several books, including And Then I Had Kids and And Then I Had Teenagers. A regular guest on FamilyLife Today and other national radio programs, she lives with her husband, John, in Falls Church, Virginia. Learn more at www.susanalexanderyates.com.

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful. A must-read if you are headed into the teen years. I plan to read this again quarterly, as things shift with teens quickly and I anticipate finding different parts helpful at different times.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author. It did have a lot of practical advice in it. Because it has a copyright date of 2001, some of the advice was outdated. I liked that it was written with a Christian world view.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice and devotional activities, though some of the info is dated.

[Tiffany Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging Read!

So much information and a huge resource for every parent! The shared stories and how to address hot topics were very helpful. A must read!

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for the parents of both preteens AND teens. I spent so much time reading books when my kids were young that I began to coast these last few years. With my preteen becoming moodier and peer issues coming into our lives more than before, I read this book. Recommended by a wise & wonderful friend.

The book gives a clear picture of many issues and how to handle them. I appreciate that real-life examples of parents who both succeed and fail and then pick up the pieces to keep going with everyday life. Simple read with practical questions at the end of each chapter.

[JLynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical encouragement

This book is full of practical ideas and encouragement to rely on God. I think my biggest takeaway is that raising a teen often puts parents in a position of inconvenience (laying some of our plans and desires on the back burner) but it's a short time in your life and well worth the sacrifice.

[Anne S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wish I had read it a few years earlier, but it still has good tips even for dealing with older teenagers. (She wrote another one - And Then I Had Kids - that is excellent, too. A lot of humor and also very practical.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got through raising one teen and now getting ready to raise 2 more. Thought I would read just in case I forgot something. Lots of helpful information. I will try and remember these in the near future. Highly recommend.

[MD · Rating 2 out of 5]

Put this one down when her son came to her and told her he was lonely and had no friends and she put his arm around him and prayed. Really? I'm thinking a teen wouldn't really go for that. Not really seeing a teen telling his mom he is lonely either.

[Jamie Young-Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good ideas and reassurances! lol

[Jennifer Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently became a licensed foster parent to teens so this was a nice and informative read. I appreciate the author's tone in delivering this information.