Promise You Won't Freak Out: A Teenager Tells Her Mom the Truth about Boys, Booze, Body Piercing and Other..

I don't typically leave feedback on books I read but I found this book simply outstanding. I read a lot of parenting books but I found the approach of parent and kids responding very refreshing and enlightening. I learned a ton, was shocked a lot, but feel better prepared to deal with my 2 sons (ages 12 and 14). I loved Doris' questions at the end of every chapter and have used several with success. Even though it is co-authored by a girl, it was very applicable to those of us who only have sons. Thanks for an excellent book and innovative approach to a topic every parent with teens needs to know.

Written with a fine sense of humor and remarkable candor, "Promise You Won't Freak Out" provides entertaining and informative reading. The writing is wonderful, crisp and clear; the information, though sometimes frightening, is priceless for parents and useful for the rising teen; and the illustration of communication between teen and parent is heartwarming and encouraging.The authors skillfully hide sound, sage advice and information in delightful anecdotes that depict a teen's mindset and a parent's ability to survive it. At the end of each chapter, Doris and Natalie offer "Conversation Starters," questions to help parent or child broach subjects such as sex, booze, drugs, etc. Doris (the mom) occasionally weighs in with secrets of how she acts as a "guerilla mom" to break the teen code of silence.A few parents may choose not to believe the frank description of some actions and thoughts of today's teens while some teens may wish that their parents hadn't read it at all! But parents and teens alike will find "Promise" an unforgettable, sometimes hilarious, and always enjoyable adventure.

As the mother of two teen girls and reader of many "advice to moms" books, I have to say this is one of the best. The "mom wisdom" of Doris Fuller is balanced by the engaging teen voice of Natalie. So that's what teens think when they're about to ...(fill in the blank)! Older son Greg Fuller also adds an interesting dimension. While one book can't possibly cover all the issues parents of teens might face, this one handles some of the major ones with frankness, wit and insightful, practical advice. It's also just a fun read! If you've been looking for a new perspective on raising a teen daughter, definitely buy this book.

This is a commonsense yet fresh (and sometimes shocking) book about one family's experience raising a teenager. Teen Natalie and her mom Doris take turns weighing in on subjects like partying, friends, school, divorce, sex, and lying. The book is a page-turner and stays lively all the way through. Natalie's older brother, age twenty and living away, adds his insights and by the end of the book we feel we know the family well and we like them. Throughout, Doris is a picture of a reasonable parent yet not so superlative that anyone won't feel incapable of trying out her methods. Natalie's take on things is very perceptive and candid.If only for the sections called CONVERSATION STARTERS near the end of each chapter, this book is worth buying if you want help. "Anytime I head into uncharted conversational territory with my teens, I try to start by asking what they think rather than telling them what I think. After all, I already know what I think, it's them I'm trying to keep up with," Doris writes in the chapter entitled "Sex, Period." Good advice for any relationship.

This book is terrific. Fascinating, provocative, funny, entertaining, wise. I couldn't put it down. The alternating voices of mother and daughter give it a liveliness and an energy that captivated me utterly. This is stuff for which all moms (in particular) should have an inexhaustible appetite. The authors do a sensitive and compelling job of communicating the drawbacks of many of the questionable behaviors that are discussed. Any parent who shares it with their teen will send a clear signal about the value of open communication,