The Available Parent

Expert Advice for Raising Successful and Resilient Teens and Tweens

By: John Duffy

Narrated by: David Colacci

We have a tendency today to over-parent, micromanage, and underappreciate our adolescents. Dr. John Duffy's The Available Parent is a revolutionary approach to taking care of teens and tweens.

Teenagers are often left feeling unheard and misunderstood, and parents are left feeling bewildered by the changes in their child at adolescence and by their sudden lack of effectiveness as parents. The parent has become unavailable, the teen responds in kind, and a negative, often destructive cycle of communication begins. The available parent of a teenager is open to discussion, offering advice and solutions but not insisting on them. He allows his child to make some mistakes, setting limits, primarily where health and safety are concerned. He never lectures - he is available but not controlling. He is neither cruel nor dismissive, ever. The available parent is fun and funny and can bring levity to the most stressful situation. All of that is to say, there are no conditions to his availability - it is absolute.

©2014 John Duffy (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

good book

So many parents are making mistakes without even knowing.. This book clearly lays them out and offers great advice!

Loved it!

Enjoyed the different approaches to dealing with teens and to learn how to be more available. learning that physically being there, same place as child, is not the same as being there emotionally. The broader aspect of being available.

Wonderful, Invaluable Book for Parents of Teens

I am a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and, more importantly, a father of 2 teenagers (girl and boy). I have found this book eminently helpful. I am listening to it for the 2nd time. It is hopeful, encouraging, wise, directive, supportive and unusually humane - it presents a caring and kind way to understand and approach children, including our own children. It is by far my favorite book on parenting. I also list it as a resource on my psychiatric practice website.

Excellent Informative Book for Parents!

I have listened to this book 3 times and will continue to listen to it over and over during my boy's teenage years!

Invaluable parenting guidance

I wish I read this book 5 years ago...but it's not too late. I've already implemented many of the suggestions and parenting concepts taught by Mr. Duffy (with my three sons 14 - 19 years old.) Now I will pray my husband will listen as well.
Narration was easy to listen to and follow.
I highly recommend this book!