The first one is From Diapers to Dating by Debra Haffner. Ms. Haffner is a sexuality educator. This book is the best one I’ve seen on talking to your child about and promoting health sexuality. As the title implies, it covers ages infant to teenage. Ms. Haffner emphasizes the need to talk to our kids from the time they are very young about various topics, starting with the correct name for body parts. She describes the “teachable moment’ when we can capitalize on a question or something that brings up a topic (TV, music) that is important to discuss. In other words, don’t wait for one “Big Talk” when your child is an adolescent to introduce a conversation about puberty, reproduction, relationships, substance abuse, etc. She also discusses how to incorporate your family’s value massages into your conversation and answers to your kids’ questions.
Next is The Female Brain by Nancy Brizendine, M.D. This is a fascinating book about the hormonal and neurological structure and function of the female brain. As most of us have learned over time, it is distinctly different in many ways from the male brain! Sometimes this book is a little heavy on medical terms, but the same ones are used repeatedly, and the author defines them early on. The big picture is easy to understand. This book is organized from adolescence to menopause and details the changes that our brains undergo in these different stages of life. It is fascinating to learn about the biological basis of behavior and thought processes in women. I asked my husband to read it so he would have a better concept of the female brain and why we women think and behave as we do. Now if only someone would write a book on “the male brain” so we could understand men better!
I really like The Care and Keeping of You for preteens and teens. I bought this when my now 12 ½ year old daughter was much younger (around 5 or 6) and she has referenced it from time to time ever since then. It is written in a girly style and covers everything from hair care to periods to nutrition in a positive and upbeat way. I like its emphasis on the facts that everyone’s body is different, girls develop at different rates, and there is a wide range of normal.
That’s if for this column. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that we moved July 1st to a beautiful new office near Far West and Mopac. Access is much easier than at our old hospital campus location, even if the distance is further “as the crow flies” for most people. How does free, surface parking sound? There is a new map and directions here on the website. The building is nicer and newer than our old location. We are still hanging pictures, but the dust is almost settled.
See you there! |
