Loving Hard When They're Hard to Love - by Whitney Fleming (Paperback)

About the Book

Blogger Whitney Fleming shares her favorite essays about raising three teenagers in today's chaotic world. Written from the perspective of a fellow parent, each story will leave you with tears in your eyes and hope in your heart.

Book Synopsis

It's easy to feel that every other mom seems to have it all together while you cry yourself to sleep. Self-proclaimed experts give contradictory information that is irrelevant when your teenager acts like a different person each day. And we don't want to admit that we are worried we're not doing it right, that we don't know what we're doing, or that there are times we don't want to do it at all.

As parents of teens, we ask ourselves: "Am I the only one who feels this way?

As children grow up, parents stop talking about their struggles, and many feel completely alone and overwhelmed with the challenges facing today's adolescents. Desperate to maintain a connection to their evolving child, we often don't need advice as much as someone who encourages them to keep going-and reassures them it will be okay.

In Loving Hard When They're Hard to Love, blogger Whitney Fleming shares her favorite essays about raising three teenagers in today's chaotic world. Written from the perspective of a fellow parent, each story will leave you with tears in your eyes and hope in your heart because someone else is saying exactly what's been going through your mind.

The book covers the challenging parts of parenting adolescents, such as managing big emotions, navigating school and social issues, and learning to let go, but also the beautiful things simultaneously occurring, like watching them find their passions, take charge of their newfound independence, and move on to the next chapter.

It's a must-read for anyone who wants to feel less alone in their parenting journey.

Review Quotes

The minute I started reading this book, I started getting teary. Whitney has an amazing way of making all of her essays feel universal. It's like she's living in my house, living every interaction that I have with my son, even though she has girls!

- Jen Kehl

If you need an encouraging book and you have a teenager/s and always wondering AM I THE ONLY ONE !! trust me YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! I am so grateful i found Whitney thru facebook and boy am so glad she have this book. It helps me to understand "that" feeling of having teenagers. Do yourself a huge favor and get this for yourself or for someone you know who needs it.

- Monet

Friend, you need this book in your life. If you parent teens, you want to know that you're not alone in #allthethings. Whitney Fleming is the real deal, and she's using her power and platform for the good of people and parents everywhere. Do yourself a favor, buy this book, sit with it, and be in community with Midlifers and parents of teens everywhere face-palming our way through these crazy awesome (and just plain crazy) years.

- Neil Westbrook

I've been saving Whitney's posts for years knowing her wisdom will come in handy when my kids reach the tween years. Having them all in one book on my shelf is amazing! I recognize so many of my favorite essays and love how easy it is to relate to Whitney and her family. It's a must read for parents!

- Christine D.

I really enjoy the author's writing style. She is informative without being preachy and her stories feel authentic and relatable. This book is full of thoughtful and insightful essays about parenting that helped me as I parent my own teens.

- Margaret Seehorn