We’re definitely of the view that parenting is a skill. It’s something you can get better at. So every year we read a book on parenting together, and try to improve ourselves so we can have an easier and more effective experience with the short people in our lives.

This is part of our 100 Things in 2018 challenge. Make sure to click on the photos!

This year we chose Untangled, which focuses on the experience of parenting a girl going through teenagerhood. We’re not quite there (Lucy is 10), but we’re on the cusp, and we had been bracing ourselves for the worst. Having read this, however, it doesn’t seem quite so terrifying.

One of the best metaphors in the book is the swimming pool of adulthood. As a child, you stick to the side, maybe only put your toes in. As a teenager, you push out into the deep end every now and again to see what it’s like, but then you’ll come back. As parents, we’re the side of the pool, and we’re going to get pushed away every now and again, only to get warm hugs again the next day.

We’d definitely recommend this book, and not just to parents of girls. Much of the advice in here applies equally to boys, but it’s also important to help boys grow up into men who respect women. Having this empathy with the women in your son’s life can help you help him navigate that situation.

Parenting is hard. We’re happy to accept help, and this book was very helpful. A+.