The Sacred Flight of the Teenager: A Parent's Guide to Stepping Back and Letting Go

Dr. Susan Smith Kuczmarski is a social scientist who has spent twenty-five years as an educator, lecturer, and authority on family culture. The great thing about THE SACRED FLIGHT OF THE TEENAGER is that, unlike so many other educational guidebooks out there, Dr. Kuczmarski doesn't dwell on dysfunctional families, but those normal parents and teens working together to survive adolescence. The book is divided into the follow categories and sub-categories: Part 1--Letting Go: The Sacred Step; Pain; The Art of Argument; Tai Chi; On Stepping in and Stepping Back; A Feast of Laughter; Superteen Takes Flight; and Turtle Medicine. Part 2--Keeping in Touch: The Wisdom of Goats; Values; Changing Values; Hello in There; Tips for Talking to Teens; Letting Feelings Out; The Judge and the Detective; and Buried Treasure. Part 3--Exploring: Surfing Life; Rude and Cantankerous; Fending for Themselves; Gunny Sacks; Freedom; Nourishing Mistakes and Hard-Won Lessons; Primer on Drugs; and Ground Rules. Part 4--Acquiring Skills: A Boat on the Water; Maneuvering in the Adult World; Behind the Wheel; Work Discoveries; The Spirit of Giving; Relationships; Singing Heart--First Love, Passion, and Sex; and Looking Ahead Together. Part 5--Connecting: Witches, Aunties, and Guides; Play and Nourishment; Creating Families of Their Own; Becoming a Group Member; Learning Leadership; Beach Glass and Exploring; Mental Shift; and Self-Acceptance. I have always been a big believer that it is my job, as a parent, to help my children develop strong morals and values that they can take with them when it's time to go out on their own. Dr. Kuczmarski reiterates those beliefs, and then provides practical advice on how to go about letting your teenager take off into the world. This is the perfect book for parents struggling to find a balance between being helpful and being overprotective and judgmental, and for teens wanting to gain knowledge on how to interact with their parents. Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

What an exceptional blend of empathy, creativity, and good old-fashioned common sense for the contemporary parent. The author obviously had children of her own--chapters are written in short, conversational passages that can be read 5 minutes at a time--a near necessity for today's time-starved parent.One of the experts who reviewed this book said that she "wished she had had it when raising their children." I can't do better than that, but I can second the statement.