Any parent of a teenager who would like pragmatic tips on how to build a positive relationship with their child should read this book. Parents of teens know that in today's environment, being a good parent is a greater challenge than ever. In 35 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You, So I Will, Ellen Pober Rittberg offers insight on how to connect, react, instill responsibility, and even discipline your teen to help foster a positive parent-child relationship. This pragmatic yet humorous insight
When published self-help author and award-winning journalist Ellen Pober Rittberg moved in to help her aging mother for a temporary stay that lasted six years, she readily admits she was clueless despite having represented senior citizens for years. In an upbeat, breezy you-can-do-this tone, Why is Grandma Naked? Caring for an Aging Parent describes the most common scenarios, stresses, weirdness and joys of caregiving an aging parent. Her A to Z chapters include: incontinence and learning the skill of timely getting a parent's "rump on the (toilet seat) hump"; how to avoid having shopping excursions turn into shoplifting forays; why declining parents no longer give a fig about being clothed or following any of the rules of civilized behavior; their fascination with, the insides of their noses and their radically-changing taste (in her mother's case, her new-found obsession with the Progressive Insurance Lady and silly commercials). Rittberg encourages others to undertake the rewarding and transforming journey of caregiving a loved one, which she describes as a blessing. Rittberg's first humorous self-help book, 35 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You, So I Will, about raising three close in age kids and maintaining her sanity contains similar belly laughs and self-revelations. Her poetry book, He is Walking Wider, will be published by Kelsay Books in June,2021.
Ellen Pober Rittberg is an award-winning journalist, attorney and humorous self-help author whose newest book, Why is Grandma Naked? Caring for Your Aging Parent is coming out in March. When Ellen moved in temporarily with her mother after her mom returned from a rehabilitation center stay after a fall, Ellen ended up staying six years. She shares all the many satisfying, stressful and laugh-out-loud weird experiences and encourages others to take on the task, which she describes as life-changing (for the better). Part cheerleader, part humorous honest memoirist, she talks among other things, about the in's and out's of toileting, parents' etiquette challenges and some elderly parents' innocent desire to pilfer when they decline and begin to suffer from dementia. Ellen's first humorous self-help book, 35 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You, So I Will tells how she raised three now-adult kids born within three years of each other and stayed sane and didn't do their laundry. Ellen served as a law guardian for hundreds of children for 13 years, but none of her book contain legal advice. Her humorous essays and features have been published in the NY Times, HuffPost, Reader's Digest , Newsday and other large platforms. She hosted and produced a live cable t. v. show, "The Changing Family," for which he won a major award. Her upcoming poetry book, He is Walking Wider is due out in June, 2021 from Kelsay Books.
With humor and fun, Ellen provides excellent tips for parents of teenagers to help navigate through challenging and critical years for their parent-child relationships.
Today’s world demands a more challenging approach to raising teens. In the past, we gave our children the benefit of the doubt. We were wrong. Ellen Pober Rittberg gives good sound advice by showing how to cope and direct the teenager of today. Her perspectives are invaluable in relation to the inner life of a teen and their bizarre behavior. She sets out in clear detail, with a whole lot of humor, “35 Things Your Teen Won’t Tell You So I Will.” Rittberg is a knowledgeable mother who has raised three children very close in age. She says, “you are never alone and there is definitely intelligent life out there…”
Parents want to be successful in rearing their children. Rittberg calls attention to the facts that a “positive mental attitude….” together with “good values, common sense, a well-developed sense of responsibility…” and most important, “a sense of humor…” are needed. And, do not try to sleep during those teenage years, as a watchful eye is needed at all times. In her book, she indicates that one of the most significant factors in building a good child-parent relationship is to know your teen’s friends. One way to get to know your child’s friends is to carpool. Surprisingly, a great deal of information can be obtained about other teens, as many teenagers love to gossip about each other. So, the more they gossip, the more you will know. Also, get to know your child’s friends’ parents. Networking with them is a means to know where your child is, as teens are “always on the move”.
Rittberg goes on to discuss with conviction, that parents should never, ever, let teens have a party when you are not home. Parents need to be there, and when they are, this gives teens a feeling of comfort. This is a perfect opportunity to circulate, meet and observe your child’s friends. Encouraging parties at home will discourage teens from going elsewhere where alcohol might be present. Parents, who think their teens don’t drink, oftentimes, find they do drink. They seem to always be seeking places to party. Teenagers respect parents who show concern and have rules which are enforced.
Rittberg discusses teens and working. “Work gives them a sense of responsibility and keeps them out of trouble.” However, to be a responsible parent, you will need to be sure they do not work too late while in school and that they work in a safe place.
Be prepared, Rittberg advises, that almost all teenagers lie. Yes, they lie to avoid detection and generally will not tell on their friends. This, she says, will only lead to bad behavior. Unless you deal with lying immediately, they may become dishonest adults. She believes in grounding and taking away privileges as a means of punishment for lying.
Ellen Pober Rittberg is a mom, a writer, attorney, an award-winning journalist, and a law guardian in family, supreme, and surrogate’s court. She writes with an attitude, having great wisdom and personal insight. She says, her book does not contain any guaranties.
Parents don’t give up on your teens! There is hope for you. Every chapter in this book is informative by teaching 35 valuable lessons. All parents raising teenagers should read this book!