You Have To Say I’m Pretty, You’re My Mother

At a time when it’s never been more difficult to get from twelve to twenty in one sane, self-confident piece, this book provides explanations, straightforward advice and strategies, even a script, to help parents cope with their daughters’ body image problems. This is the truly practical book, Stephanie Pierson looked for in vain when her own daughter developed anorexia and body image problems. Written with Phyllis Cohen, a psychotherapist with 30 years of experience of adolescent problems, there are chapters on why daughters have negative body images and how mothers can prevent this, staying connected with your daughter, communicating, daughter’s viewpoint, sex, developing a realistic sense of self, problems of coloured teenagers, health and nutrition. It provides the warning signs of depression: changes in sleep patterns, appetite, eating patterns, lethargy, social withdrawal, irritability; and the danger signs: suicidal thoughts, drug or alcohol use, self-mutilation, anorexia and bulimia.