Parenting: Raising Your Child in Ireland Today "I know of no other task that an adult will undertake in life that is as demanding, challenging, responsible, complicated and never-ending as parenting ... [but], like the vast majority of parents, I had no real preparation for parenthood and received no training or direct help during the whole process." Raising a child is not an easy task, and there is no simple rulebook to follow. The goal of any parent is to guide and nurture their child from babyhood to becoming a mature, capable, independent, responsible and self-sufficient adult, but how do you achieve this, especially during the tricky teenage years? In this thoughtful and compassionate book, John Lonergan shares his own parenting philosophy, developed over twenty years of talking to and with parents and teenagers. He emphasises the importance of communication and consensus, arguing that without good communication you cannot be a successful parent, and tackling subjects like: Developing your parenting objectives The importance of self-esteem Accepting your child for who they are Bullying Underage drinking and drug use Suicide Sex education and sexuality Parenting: Raising Your Child in Ireland Today will help you guide your child in their journey to adulthood. While it is primarily aimed at the parents of pre-teens and teens, it is relevant to children of all ages. It will also prove inspirational to teachers, coaches, youth club leaders, other family members and all those who interact with children on a regular basis. The author's royalties from the sale of this book will go to Barnardos Ireland and Barnardo's Northern Ireland. Barnardos registered charity no. 6015. Barnardo's registered charity no. 216250 and SC037605.