Dr. Duffy provides a clear, straightforward, doable answer for parents: Stay in touch! Research clearly shows that an open, friendly parent-teen relationship is a major factor in protecting kids from harm. The age-old question for parents of teens has always been: ‘How do I relate to these new kids of mine—how should I manage them?’ The Available Parent provides a clear blueprint for a practical and effective response: Manage the problems you have to, but above all else, stay in touch!
Dr. Thomas W. Phelan, best-selling author of 1-2-3 Magic and
Surviving Your Adolescents
Dr. John Duffy’s fresh new concept of Availability in parenting is an idea that meets the moment. With the pace of society constantly accelerating, we need Availability now more than ever! Dr. John’s writing is smart, approachable and right on the mark. His blend of practical ideas and colorful examples delivers great insights. Most importantly, I am a better parent thanks to this book.
Eric Langshur, Founder of CarePages, Inc.
Co-author of We Carry Each Other
When John asked me to read his manuscript, I thought I’d breeze through it, get a rough idea of how much work it needed, and relay the bad news. I was wrong. About everything. The writing was superb. I couldn’t put the book down because I found my inner voice kept saying “Yeah, that’s right!” or “Oh, dang, I wish I had known that when my girls were teens.” When I finished reading, I called my two daughters, now in their twenties, and asked them if my husband and I were Available Parents. They both reassured me that we were–and still are.
John’s a brilliant writer with keen intuition into how kids think and how parents can, sometimes unknowingly, sabotage their relationship. John has used his vast experience to provide parents with the inside dope into how kids view their lives, and what they really need from their parents to make the leap into becoming mentally healthy young adults. Best of all, John relays their amazing stories of growth in smooth, witty, and helpful prose. Any parent with a child–no matter what the age–should read and learn from this book.
Eileen Norris, Contributing writer and editor of the best-selling You: The Smart Patient by Drs. Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, and the upcoming Are You a Smart Parent? by Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, author of Good Kids, Bad Habits
What a true gift. This outstanding book truly gives you a blueprint to fully be available to your teen son or daughter. You will marvel at your teen’s sense of competence, can-do attitude, and improved self-esteem. Teens and parents are both resilient, and with the tools provided in this remarkable book, you and your teenager can both enjoy your new and improved relationship.
Dr. Kate Smart Mursau, co-author of Smart Parenting:
How to Raise Happy, Can-Do Kids
Every parent who wants to give it their best shot in working with, and not in opposition to, their teen, needs to check in with Dr. John Duffy, and apply his “available parent” strategy. As a professional journalist, author, and mom of three teens who writes about parenting, I was so glad to have found Dr. Duffy in time to give me the tools to quickly understand what it means to be an available parent. To my surprise and delight, as I intentionally make myself more available as a mom, my teens are now purposefully reaching out to engage with me!
Dr. Duffy is a trusted guide and cool guy. He truly cares and is all about helping parents and their children find the bright light in each other. He helped to open a whole new channel of communication for me with my teens, and allowed me to appreciate their uniqueness and focus on that, instead of the moments that “challenge.”
Mary Beth Sammons, author of Second Acts That Change Lives:
Making a Difference in the World
John Duffy has written one of the most eye-opening parenting books around, an inspiring, important tool for all parents. From his expertise and experience working with teens, John gives us the key ingredient for a healthy, successful parent-teen relationship…. being an available parent. What a simple yet profound title, and what a rude awakening for me! John masterfully defines available parenting and helps parents stop the unhealthy dance with their kids. He gives excellent insight, advice and approaches to become the effective parent we desire to be. And throughout the book, he uses real life excerpts from teens discussing their issues so parents can understand what is really going on in their world. This is a must-read and is essential to building a healthy relationship with your teen.
Megan Walls, CEC, ACC
Founder, Conscious Connections Coaching