Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Marc Gellman, a senior rabbi from New York, realized that not many young people can understand "parent speak." If you're wondering what that is, it's only because you didn't know it was called that, because believe me, you've heard it spoken a million times.
"If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you do it, too?" It's okay, you can admit it - you've heard this one before (or at least something really close to it). "I'm not gonna tell you again!" Yep, been there and done that. "Just who do you think you are?" Oh, I can still remember this one (and, just for the record, saying something along the lines of "not you" is really, really, REALLY not the way to go with your parents).
With humor and understanding, Mr. Gellman takes the sayings that everyone has heard a hundred times before and explains the reasoning behind them - the reasoning that, when you're hearing it, doesn't always make sense at the time. I'm not saying that parents always know best, and I don't think the author is, either. But what he stresses is that what doesn't make sense at thirteen can make perfect sense at twenty. What irks you to death at fifteen will be much better understood when you have your own children.
So, as Mr. Gellman says, someday you'll thank me for this. And by this, I mean recommending you to pick up a copy of his book, which is perfect for anyone with parents - which I'm pretty sure is all of us.
Marc Gellman, a senior rabbi from New York, realized that not many young people can understand "parent speak." If you're wondering what that is, it's only because you didn't know it was called that, because believe me, you've heard it spoken a million times.
"If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you do it, too?" It's okay, you can admit it - you've heard this one before (or at least something really close to it). "I'm not gonna tell you again!" Yep, been there and done that. "Just who do you think you are?" Oh, I can still remember this one (and, just for the record, saying something along the lines of "not you" is really, really, REALLY not the way to go with your parents).
With humor and understanding, Mr. Gellman takes the sayings that everyone has heard a hundred times before and explains the reasoning behind them - the reasoning that, when you're hearing it, doesn't always make sense at the time. I'm not saying that parents always know best, and I don't think the author is, either. But what he stresses is that what doesn't make sense at thirteen can make perfect sense at twenty. What irks you to death at fifteen will be much better understood when you have your own children.
So, as Mr. Gellman says, someday you'll thank me for this. And by this, I mean recommending you to pick up a copy of his book, which is perfect for anyone with parents - which I'm pretty sure is all of us.
