Reader comments
Ann Cannon: Parents need guide for living through puberty

Amen! After living with my first teen son, I decided that whoever said that at 13 a boy should be put in a barrel and educated through the bung hole was right. Also, I contend that at 13 a boy removes his brain and refills the cavity with sawdust. Occasionally he replaces the brain, just to see if it fits, and doesn't leave it there for extended periods until after age 16. How you, or my mother-in-law for that matter, survived 5 boys is amazing. Kudos to you.

How about a guide for parents of girls going through puberty?

* How to keep calm when your daughter has hormonal emotional crying jags every month. ("No, Mom! It is NOT because it is that time of the month!")

* How parents can get to sleep during a 13-year old girl's "slumber" party.

* How to survive reruns of Hannah Montana.

* How to ignore her bizarre new hairstyles, hilarious makeup experiments and unbelievable clothing combinations.

* How to tolerate some of the dopey boys that start hanging around.

* How to survive the obstacle course called her bedroom.

* How to tell whether the clothes on her bedroom floor are hers or her friend's.

* How to get her to realize that a diet Coke and a Twix doesn't constitute lunch.

* How to prepare yourself for the fact that all too soon this phase will be over and she will be married with children of her own.

I have a none year old daughter and let me tell you she is already going through the "puberty attitude" I hope I can survive the next 12 plus years.

I liked your comments as well as Lynettes. My son is six and so far so good not much attitude- guess I have alot to look forwarf to!

Thank you both i enjoyed your responses.

My kuddos for anyone who has raised more than 1 girl and 1 boy.