Book Review: Tough Guys and Drama Queens by Mark Gregson

I want to preface this review by stating unequivocally that I really wish that I had this book 10 years ago! It would have saved me from some seemingly endless teen drama scenes!

Mark Gregson's Tough Guys and Drama Queens: How to NOT get Blindsided by your Child's Teen Years is a must-read for all parents.  There, I said it! It isn't that I believe all parents must follow Gregson's pattern, as much as reading this constantly pointed me to the the reality that I must stay aware of my child's needs over my own...which is really easy to overlook when we were in "the heat of a problem"! The book is simple, accessible, and spot on target - Gregson loves the children in his care, and this love comes shining through on every page.

In one very touching chapter, Gregson's willingness to walk away for a day or two to regain perspective after a teen kicks his dog and smashes his van - and then to hug this hurting boy, to meet this boy in his pain and to forgive him (with some consequences - this is real life, after all, and bad behavior should have realistic consequences) echoes the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. And it models for parents how we can each handle the various outbursts and disappointments that our teens may or may not deal us. Gregson models and lists explicit examples of how Grace looks in a family, and acknowledges that just because we are the "grownups" doesn't mean we always behave appropriately - but that's OK, because we need Grace, too!

I plan to share my copy with friends of teens and tweens - and I thoroughly recommend it!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trace Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."