Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Son or Daughter

by Kevin Jennings

Book Overview

The first book to focus on the day-to-day experiences of adolescents dealing with sexual identity issues, Always My Child provides the insights and practical strategies parents need to support their kids and cope themselves.

Parents whose children are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or who are going through a "questioning phase" are often in the dark about what their children face every day. As a result, offering support that will...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743226496
• ISBN13: 9780743226493
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent resource book

This book is a very important resource and source of information for a parent of a LGBT child. It provides insight and "answers" to many questions parents overwhelmingly have when told that their child is LGBT. It is an excellent book for both the parent and son/daughter to read. Thoughtfully presented and well written.

Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Que

This is an honest and on the mark book for parents about LGBTQ children and teens. It addresses issues important to the LGBTQ son or daughter and gives practical advice to the parent about acceptance and understanding.

Excellent guide for EVERY parent

Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) has co-authored the definitive book on guiding, understanding, and - hopefully - accepting in love your GLBTQ child. It is primarily targeted toward parents struggling to help and deal with their questioning or coming out teenage child. This book is not specifically about dealing with transgender children, although there are about 30 pages devoted to dealing with issues and problems of Trans teens. It also talks to people of color and includes young peoples' input to parents. Cultural messages of gender and sexuality are discussed and techniques of dealing with these messages are offered for consideration. Many of the popular myths about homosexuality and transgenderism are analyzed, with facts presented to aid in accepting and understanding. Suggestions are provided for dealing with friends, your teen's friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Signs of trouble are discussed, along with suggestions for helping your teen deal with them. While the advice is directed toward sexual and gender diversity, the advice applies to dealing with any youth. The principles of dealing with children apply globally. So what is the secret? The title says it best - "Always My Child." Your child's needs come first, no matter what. Love your child; don't pressure them, but encourage them to discus their feelings, fears, and problems.

An outstanding resource

This amazing guide will help parents navigate the challenges of connecting with a GLBTQ child and becoming an integral and supportive part of that child's life. With chapters on school harassment, drug abuse, and depression, this book also addresses the negative and sometimes self-destructive behaviors of our youth, but gives hope and tools to help heal these wounds. "Always My Child" is especially notable for its chapters on transgender issues and multicultural issues that previous guides didn't include. I was also excited about the chapter on youth questioning their sexuality (straight and gay and in-between), and how parents can be supportive in that as well, because this isn't something many acknowledge. Jennings and Shapiro have created a marvelous resource that will help not only parents, but anyone interested in helping our youth, both queer and nongay, create positive lives.

Always My Child: A Great Resource

Always My Child is an incredible book and one that any parent should read not just parents of GLBTQ children. Kevin Jennings provides practical advice to parents in a readable format. He helps parents understand their children without being preachy. A parent could use this book as a resource for how to talk with her child and keep lines of communication open. Teachers and school counselors should read this book and make it available to parents and others. Not only is this book a great read, it is a great resource.