Guidebook to Raising Teenagers

Someone please tell me where the guidebook is for raising teenagers. I am trying so hard. I remember how difficult it was to be a teen, to try to fit it, to have your body change before your eyes; but I think DD, thinks that I have no idea what it is like.

We tried the mall again this weekend and then they came back to the house to hang out. I could tell you the good and the bad parts of the day, but suffice it to say there was a few times that I spoke to them and apparently in doing so completely embarrassed DD. After they left, she broke down in tears. My heart broke for her and I apologized for her being embarrassed, but refused to retract or promise not to do anything I did. Trying to maneuver our way through this time is going to be very difficult.

I welcome all advice, especially from those of you who have been through this and endured.

She is such a smart, interesting, creative girl. I don’t want her to shortchange herself. I wish that we could offer her so much more, but we do the best we can. I hope the one thing that she knows is that we love her with all our heart.