Always My Child: A Parent's Guide To Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Or Questioning Son Or Daughter

Offers Advice And Support For Parents With Adolescents Dealing With Sexual Identity, Personal Confusion, Bigotry, Tension, And Other Challenges Of Being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Or Transgendered. Introduction -- You And Your Teen: Understanding Your Issues, Making Your Home A Safe Harbor -- Your Teen And Sexuality: A Frank Look At The World Of Today's Teen -- Your Teen And Society: How Cultural Messages About Gender And Sexuality Affect Your Teen -- Lgbtq Teens And Their Friends -- The Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Teen -- The Transgendered Teen -- The Questioning Teen -- Lgbtq Youth Of Color -- Outside The Home: Advocating For Your Lgbtq Teen At School -- Depression, Drug Abuse, And Suicide: Recognizing Signs Of Trouble -- Young People Speak To Parents -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Guidelines For Taking Legal Action. Kevin Jennings With Pat Shapiro. A Skylight Press Book. A Fireside Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Author : Jennings, Kevin , 1963-

Publisher : Simon & Schuster

Published Year : 2002

Format : print - Paperback, 336 pages

Subject : Gay teenagers--Social conditions, Gay teenagers--Family relationships, Parents of sexual minority youth, Parent and teenager, HQ76.25 .J37 2003, 305.235

Language : English

Dimensions : vii, 323 p. ; 22 cm.

ISBN : 0743226496

ISBN13 : 9780743226493

Overview :

The first book to focus on the day-to-day experiences of adolescents dealing with sexual identity issues, Always My Child provides the insights and practical strategies parents need to support their kids and cope themselves.

Parents whose children are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or who are going through a "questioning phase" are often in the dark about what their children face every day. As a result, offering support that will comfort and fortify them feels like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.

In Always My Child, Kevin Jennings supplies the missing pieces by guiding parents through the world their child inhabits. He explains what these teens often encounter — teasing and harassment — and offers solutions for parents who want to better understand their LGBTQ children and learn how to protect their self-esteem. He offers advice, including how to:

• Initiate constructive communication with their child
• Respond effectively to frequently asked questions
• Recognize depression and signs of drug abuse and harassment
• Successfully advocate for their child's well-being outside the home

Always My Child makes it possible for parents to create the kind of relationship with their children that allows them to grow into emotionally healthy adults.