Is Raising Your Teen a Piece of Cake?

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A book review of Is Raising Your Teen a Piece of Cake? Expert Advice for Navigating The Teen Years by Gail A. Manahan, MA, LMHC

A book review of Is Raising Your Teen a Piece of Cake? Expert Advice for Navigating The Teen Years by Gail A. Manahan, MA, LMHC

Stars: ****

Gail A. Manahan (2020)
Parenting
210 pages

Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: Gail Manahan, a teen expert with 30-years-experience supporting parents and teens, discusses the most common and unexpected situations parents often face. Even with the best intentions, raising teens can turn challenging and confusing. Parents often blame themselves and don’t know where to turn.

Gail offers helpful insight, depth of experience, research-rich information, and specific answers that will help support and guide you through these tough times without judgement.

Is Raising Your Teen a Piece of Cake? is a must read for parents looking for advice and practical answers. Gail Manahan has supported thousands of parents through the turbulent teen years with expert, down to earth, and stress-relieving guidance.

Is Raising Your Teen a Piece of Cake

I currently have two teenagers at home and a third teenager who visits. That’s 13, 14 and 16. So I was happy to review this book as I’m just getting into the teen years.

The book takes the cake metaphor all the way from front to back. Parenting is described in steps such as those used to bake a cake such as prep work, harmful/secret/special/surprise/lighter ingredients and frosting your cake.

Harmful ingredients includes Rum Cake (alcohol), Brownies (Marijuana and Drug Use) and Devil’s Food Cake (Legal Trouble).

Secret Ingredients include Having Your Cake and Not Eating It Too (Eating Disorders) and Dark Chocolate Cake (Mental Health Issues).

Special Ingredients include Pound Cake (Overweight and Bullied), Rainbow Layered Cake (LGBTQIA Teen), Sponge Cake (Passive Behaviours) and No-Name Cake (Introverted Teen.)

Surprise Ingredients include Upside-Down Cake (Coping with Divorce), Double-Layered Cake (Coping with Stepfamilies) and Cupcakes (Pregnancy.)

Lighter Ingredients include Angel Food (Shining Star) and Carrot Cake (Small Stuff.)

Overall I think the book did a great job of introducing the parent of teens to the things they need to think about so they will be prepared. There is information to help with the prevention as well as what to do if the situation is already happening.

The cake theme makes the book seem lighthearted but its serious as well. It’s well thought out and put together and I recommend it to anyone with preteens or young teens who are just getting started with the teen years.

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About Kathleen

I've been a nonfiction lover for as long as I can remember. I love children's nonfiction as well and love to share my knowledge and the books I gained them from, with the world. I wish more people would give nonfiction a chance.