hormones, a suppressed primal desire to stake out their own domain, or a natural and predictable process of growth? To what extent do parents encourage or discourage the storm and stress of adolescence? On Becoming Teenwise looks at the many factors that make living with a teenager a blessing or a curse. It exposes the notions of cultural myth and brings to light the proven how-to applications of building and maintaining healthy relationships with your teens.

For some parents, the biggest challenge is to get their teen to turn off the bedroom light without being reminded. Others are faced with school and peer influences but no serious relational difficulty. Yet, many others are in open war with their teens and are deeply troubled, to the point of despair. They are overwhelmed by the feeling that something has gone dreadfully wrong and are continually berated by an inner voice that relentlessly chants, "You are a failure."