About the Author

Debra W. Haffner has been a parenting educator for more than twenty-five years and works with hundreds of parent groups around the country. She speaks regularly about parenting issues, is a contributor to "The Huffington Post," has written for "WebMD," "iVillage," and "DrSpock.com," and has been featured on "Oprah," "The View," "Today," and in "Time," "Newsweek," "USA Today," and "U.S. News & World Report." She holds a master's in public health from Yale University School of Medicine and a master of divinity from Union Theological Seminary. Currently the director of the Religious Institute, she is also an ordained minister with the Unitarian Church in Westport, Connecticut. She and her husband are the parents of two children, a young adult daughter and a teenage son.

Reviews

"Debra Haffner shows terrific sensitivity to the developmental needs of teens and the anxieties of parents with adolescents." --John Santelli, M.D., Chair, Dept. of Population and Family Health, Columbia University School of Public Health

"Haffner encourages modern parents...Reading this book made me feel better about the choices I've made as a mom." --Lisa Birnbach, radio show host, author of "1,003 Great Things About Kids" and "The Official Preppy Handbook"

"Parents could not ask for a better guide...Will help families understand what works best to keep children safe and strong." --Nell Minow, "The Movie Mom," Beliefnet.com

"Smart, compassionate, practical...This essential guide pulls no punches about the difficulties and joys of parenting today." --Jane Fonda

"This book empowers parents [with] buckets of practical advice from child development research, public health, faith traditions, and sexuality education." --Karen Hein, M.D., Former President, William T. Grant Foundation

"Will appeal to all parents, whether conservative or liberal. No-nonsense advice will help parents give their values to their children." --Rev. Bob Edgar, President of Common Cause, Former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches