Adolescence is a time of confusion and contradictions for teens and parents alike. Dozens of organizations are devoted to the problems of dysfunctional families and adolescents...as they should be. But few resources are avialable for parents struggling to proactively deal with the everyday problem of raising teenagers. "The Sacred Flight of the Teenager" provides the gentle, yet enthusiastic support parents need to help their teenagers develop strength, become independent, and grow into responsible adults. This book is filled with practical guidance on how to nurture a teen's confidence within a loving, supportive family environment. Though based on sound theory, formed in the author's 30 years' experience as an authority on family culture, this book doesn't dwell in abstraction. Interviews with more than 100 "veteran" parents and with teens who earned their wings by meeting the daily challenges of real-life flight---as well as anecdotes from her own home front---all combine to infuse the book with a sense of reality and relatability that can only come from voices out of the "front lines."
This book gives its profound insights and down-to-earth tools in short, easy-to-read vignettes that illuminate the "sacred flight"---the life journey every child takes through adolescence and into adulthood. Written with kindliness, empathy, and good humor, in prose that speaks to the heart and gets to the heart of the matter, "The Sacred Flight of the Teenager" will be a wise an supportive guide to every parent who reads it.
Dr. Susan Smith Kuczmarski is an educator who teaches teachers, a cultural anthropologist who studies family culture, a sociologist who views families as small interactive groups, and a parent who has experienced families firsthand. She has done extensive research directly related to how children learn social skills and how teens become leaders. She holds a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University in New York City, where she was named an International Fellow. Over the last thirty years, she has conducted lectures, workshops, and seminars on teens, family togetherness, and learning leadership. She is a frequent radio and television guest, holds two additional master's degrees from Columbia University, and has been listed in "Who s Who in the World" for twelve years. She was recently selected for inclusion in "Outstanding People of the 21st Century," "500 Leaders of World Influence," and "2000 Outstanding Writers of the 20th Century."
Dr. Kuczmarski has taught at seven universities, worked in three non-profit educational organizations, including the United Nations, and co-founded an innovation consulting firm, Kuczmarski & Associates, in Chicago. She is the author of three additional books: Values-Based Leadership, The Family Bond: Inspiring Tips for Creating a Closer Family, and Apples Are Square: Thinking Differently About Leadership (Kaplan Publishing, Summer 2007). Both parenting books received the prestigious Seal of Approval award from the National Parenting Center.
She serves as a Family and Teen Expert for www.clubmom.com. In addition, she is a member of the Advisory Board of www.leanforwardmedia.com and www.choosemovie.com. During the course of a career spanning almost three decades, she has given presentations to teachers, parents, teens, and social service agencies, as well as corporate and civic groups.
