Brandon Twp.- The teen years are often looked upon by both parents and children as a trial to get through, but Lynne Kishel Huff promotes it as a time to celebrate in her new book.
The township resident draws on 16 years experience as a youth minister, including an 11-year stint at St. Anne Catholic Church here, in offering advice in Thank You For All You’ve Done For Me, a book for parents of teens that she subtitles ‘A Compassionate Approach to Parenting Teens, Changing What Some Have Labeled as Troubled Times into Times of Celebration.?
‘As a youth minister, with all my experiences, I came to realize that sometimes the teenager years are looked at as a challenging time for parents,? said Huff. ‘My experience taught me that there are ways for families to embrace the teenage years in a positive way. I learned that it’s an energizing and exciting adventure for young people and their families.?
Huff, 55, and her husband of 34 years, Bill, raised two daughters, Heather and Dana. Lynne Huff served as youth minister at St. Anne from 1991 to 2002 and also served as youth minister at Christ Redeemer Church in Lake Orion from about 1999 until 2007. She now works at Youthville Detroit, mostly in administration at the youth development center, but was also the project manager for Global Youth Service Day, in which 3000 youth from both the city and suburbs participated in service projects.
The book was a personal project for Huff that was 8 years in the making. The 200-page tome grew out of a desire to impact a greater number of people and give parents a tool to help them through these times by viewing them in a new way.
‘The teenager is seeing the world in a new perspective,? Huff explained. ‘If the family engages with the teen, they can be part of this exciting time. Look at it as an adventure.?
In ‘Thank You For All You’ve Done For Me,? each chapter begins with a short story and addresses topics including teen development, at-risk behaviors, and life skills. Huff advocates celebrating events in the life of a teen as rites of passage. For example, when a child is learning to drive, it shouldn’t be treated as a chore, but as a special experience. Parents can use the time to plan trips, educating their teen about gas, mileage and routes, making it fun and positive.
‘Through the eyes of the teenager, their number one problem is that no one listens to them,? said Huff. ‘They talk and parents hear them on the surface, but they don’t listen to the words and hear what is under the surface. When you stop and engage them in an intellectual conversation, they are transformed, as well as you.?
Huff will sign copies of ‘Thank You For All You’ve Done For Me,? at 1 p.m., May 8, at Borders book store in Auburn Hills. Her book, self-published through AuthorHouse, is also available on amazon.com.