Author:Dr Dominique Thompson,Fabienne Vailes
Whether you have a teen who is struggling with exam pressure, a young adult who hasn’t settled into university life or you are curious about what lies ahead for your younger child, How to Grow a Grown Up will help you to build your child's confidence and resilience - so they can become a strong, happy and independent adult.
We’re fast approaching the 3rd decade of the 21st century and it’s a very different world from the one in which parents (and teachers) grew up in. Challenging issues have come together – including cyber bullying, ‘always-on’ culture and ever increasing pressure to do well – to create a perfect storm. The result is that teenagers and young adults are now less prepared for a more challenging world – and if they don’t develop the skills they need to help them thrive they can become easy prey to mental health problems.
In this book Dr Dominique Thompson, the UK’s leading GP on student mental health and educational expert Fabienne Vailes, reveal what exactly parents need to do to help teenagers and young adults in this new world – and how to manage problems along the way. It includes:
*An overview of the pressures and problems facing this generation of young people - why are they increasingly stressed, anxious or suffering from mental health issues
*What exactly parents can do to help their teens and young adults become healthily independent, navigate challenges and flourish in preparation for adult life
*How pastoral care at universities and workplaces is changing, and what a parent’s role could and should be
*Ways to recognise the signs of mental health distress and what to do about it, particularly dealing with problems from a distance
Perry is on the charge to show feminism for the sexy movement it is, and offers it in a hilarious, accessible and completely non-judgemental package.
—— The Evening Standardcheeky, sweet and extremely witty...figures of all shapes and sizes and ages and races (clothed and unclothed) contort and grin and dart across the pages, bringing to vivid life Perry's wisdom about as broad sexual quandaries as libido, trust, faking orgasms, consent, body image, pubic hair, nude photos, porn, ghosting, and virginity....an emotionally intelligent discussion about the climate in which women - but not just women - are navigating relationships
—— The iThank God for Flo Perry
—— The TimesIncluded in 'The best parenting books mums should read in 2020'
—— Mother & BabyGiovanna is a real one
—— Candice BrathwaiteGiovanna is a one-of-a-kind sort of person. She's genuine, talented, and well honestly? I just really like her
—— Rosie RamseyHer trademark humour and honesty remind us that positivity is key to making it as a mum... Giovanna knows there's no perfect way to parent - and that's why we will always love her!
—— OK!Whether you have little ones of your own or not, this honest, touching, wise and at times very funny book from mum, McFly wife and author Gi is a joy. Being this honest takes guts, and she does it with dignity, grace and incredible warmth.
—— HeatHer trademark humour and honesty remind us that positivity is key to making it as a mum... Giovanna knows there's no perfect way to parent - and that's why we will always love her!
—— OK!Whether you have little ones of your own or not, this honest, touching, wise and at times very funny book from mum, McFly wife and author Gi is a joy. Being this honest takes guts, and she does it with dignity, grace and incredible warmth.
—— HeatWhether you’re an avid hiker or simply like to get out and do the school run on foot, this book will make you appreciate the physical, mental and societal benefits of getting outdoors on two feet.
—— Liz Connor , UK Press SyndicationAn informative yet witty book on the importance of walking for our health and wellbeing, and for societies in general
—— Liz Nice , Eastern Daily PressCompelling… A new angle on our favourite pastime
—— Walk MagazineA fascinating read… This informative book…will rouse you from the sofa and make you want to get moving
—— Eastern Daily Press, *Book of the Week*Ebullient, playful and creative... By turns caustic, astute and very, very funny.
—— Tanya Sweeney , Irish IndependentThis is the first time I've read anything about motherhood that didn't bore me... It's all really unconventional but laugh-out-loud funny.
—— Sara Pascoe , ObserverFrank and fearless... a glorious validation to all parents doing it solo.
—— Sarra Manning , RedHits that sweet spot between laugh-out-loud funny, with its accounts of first dates, LA wackiness and personal mishaps, and a lyrical lament for a life of paternity tests, an absent father and the absence of raves.
—— Eithne Farry , Sunday ExpressJoyfully crude and hilarious... Heawood is refreshingly unapologetic.
—— Eleanor Halls , Daily TelegraphAchingly tender and snort-inducingly funny.
—— Sarah Hughes , i, *Summer Reads 2020*Thought-provoking and insightful.
—— MetroUnflinchingly honest, emotionally raw, and surprisingly sweet.
—— SheerLuxeRaw and funny, Heawood’s memoir celebrates the messiness of life and motherhood with boldness, panache, and unexpected moments of real poignancy. An uncensored and eccentric delight.
—— BooklistHeawood writes with warmth and wit about life as a single mother.
—— Rachel Cooke , Observer, *Books to Look Out For in 2020*Rejoice! One of our favourite journalists Sophie Heawood – known for her hilarity and honesty – publishes her first book this year. It's a memoir about being a single mother when you haven't quite worked out how to look after yourself.
—— Arielle Tchiprout , Red *The best books we can't wait to read in 2020*[Heawood] shares her story with huge wit and sharp observation.
—— Hannah Stephenson , Irish Examiner, *12 of the best new reads for summer*A tender and hilarious account of her life as a single mother.
—— Sophie Morris , iThis [is an] incredibly candid and often LOLs memoir about how it feels to raise a baby on your own when you're more into negronis than nappies.
—— CosmopolitanReading Heawood's often outrageous and occasionally undignified anecdotes was the perfect tonic during the second national lockdown. Though hilariously funny, her story of accidental pregnancy is also tender and poignant, with her accounts of motherhood feeling far less common through a single-parent lens.
—— IndependentA tender and funny account of single parenthood
—— GuardianPacked with humour and honesty, it's also tender, moving and relatable, detailing Heawood's own evolution and growth alongside her young daughter's, and the highs and lows of solo parenting.
—— Harpers Bazaar