Parents with teenage daughters have to deal with a completely different animal than those with teenage sons. The mother-daughter relationship during those adolescent years is at its most fragile. Fortunately, there is a great deal of advice out there to guide and support you. Here are three new books that might help you better understand and deal with your teenage daughter.

1. My Teenage Were-Wolf by Lauren Kessler (8/5/10) - What's more challenging in the life of a woman - being a teenager, or being the mother of a teenager? (from the inside flap). When Lauren Kessler's daughter went from being a loving child who adored her mom, to a teenage werewolf who was embarrassed to be anywhere near her, Lauren needed to understand more about this relationship. As a reporter, she embedded herself in her daughter's life, in the 7th and 8th grade classrooms, at home, at the mall, at camp, for an 18 month mission to learn more about the culture of the young teenage girl in the twenty-first century.

If you want to understand what is going on with your teenage daughter, there is nothing better than reading My Teenage Were-Wolf. Even though she is exploring a serious subject, Kessler writes in a very light and witty style. I don't even have daughters and I loved this book. If you do have a daughter in or approaching her teen years, then this is a Must Read book.

2. You're Grounded Forever...But First, Let's go Shopping by Susan Shapiro Barash (9/28/10) - The challenges mothers face with their daughters and ten timely solutions (from the cover). This book explores the way that mothers find it so difficult to set limits with their daughters. Some of the issues dealt with in You're Grounded Forever are:

• Indulging daughters with material items
• Over emphasizing beauty and dieting
• Not fostering independence in their daughters
• Loose boundaries and rules
• Making excuses for their daughters
• Why do mothers second guess their mothering abilities?
• Why is the 21st Century mother so invested in her daughter's life?

3. Just Between Us: A No-Stress, No-Rules Journal for Girls and their Moms by Meredith & Sofie Jacobs (3/31/10) - Open this Journal to get to know each other in a whole new way (from the back cover).Meredith and Sofie Jacobs, a mother and daughter, created this journal as an extra tool of communication. They find it useful for sharing thoughts that might be difficult to talk about in person.

The Just Between Us journal is a nice looking hard cover book that includes helpful advice from Meredith and Sofie, writing prompts for discussions, pages for drawing or making lists and plenty of free space for writing anything on your mind. Just Between Us also includes suggested guidelines for you and your daughter to discuss before you begin. After that there is a 20 things about me page to begin the mother daughter connecting.

As a mother of two sons, my only mother/teenage daughter experience was when I was the teenager. Things have certainly changed since then. However, from listening and observing my friends, I am well aware of what it is like to deal with a teenage daughter today. For any mothers of teen or tween girls, I highly recommend My Teenage Were-Wolf, You're Grounded Forever and Just Between Us.

See also:
TEDxWomen - Teenage Girls Harmed by our Culture
Unique Advice Book For Moms of Teenage Daughters
Book Helps Moms and Tween Daughters Bond Over Beauty
Moms and Daughters Share 'Think' by Lisa Bloom
Author of The Available Parent on Connecting With Your Teens
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