Growing Pains

Growing Pains advances our understanding of the needs of our young people beyond adult conceptions of how their world is, or should be. Young people want to be happy. They are also searching for meaning and recognition. Key parental goals include helping their offspring to succeed, to mitigate the frustrations of living and to achieve happiness. With much wisdom and practical intergenerational insight, the book closely examines the price of failure in North America and the frustrations and alienations of young people in our rapidly changing world, at the end of each chapter suggesting coping strategies. It emphasizes that young people cannot achieve happiness simply by engaging endlessly in "happy hours," nor in channeling their sumptuous energy into extreme behavior that destroys lives. Their satisfaction in life comes when they resonate from within, recreating themselves in some positive, innovative ways that bolster their self-respect and relevance. The book shows young people how they can find their mission in life.