12 Going on 29

The "tween" years - ages about 9 to 12 - are a time when girls seem to grow astonishingly quickly toward establishing their independence and adult identity. It is a time of testing new feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It can also be a time of testing parents', particularly mothers', patience, persistence, and energy. Motivational speaker/mom Silvana Clark, in concert with her teenage daughter Sondra, confirms in this book the confusion and possible unpleasantness tween girls and their moms around the world face in these sometimes trying years. From cell phones to body piercings, hair dye, seductive clothes, and strange boyfriends, girls want to test the waters. Through surveys and interviews with some 100 mother-daughter pairs, the Clarks show us what preteen girls are thinking and wanting these days, and how mothers can help their daughters navigate these years and guide them successfully to keep their respectful and loving relationships intact.Their findings include the positive suggestion that mothers remain the number one role model for girls at this age. Sondra, now a "spokeschild" for charities working with children in developing countries, shares insights into how preteen girls think today. Her mother shares her own successful approaches and those of dozens of other mothers with tween girls. Step-by-step scripts for handling mother-daughter conflicts are provided, along with tips for communicating with tweens.