Keep Talking - by Jen Shoemaker Davidson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Parenting doesn't come with a manual. But fellow mom Jen Shoemaker Davidson is here to offer straight talk and practical strategies for establishing loving and trusting communication to last a lifetime.

When her own kids entered their teenage years, Jen realized she had important topics she wanted to share with them-but getting them to open up and talk to her would take her full commitment to showing up, even when it was hard. What started as simple "life lesson lunches"-intentional times to sit down and focus on important conversations-became a tried-and-true philosophy for fostering connection throughout their teenage years.

In Keep Talking, Davidson has created a trusted companion for parents navigating the meaningful-and often messy and embarrassing-conversations essential for maintaining open communication with your kids. Through her practical tips and tools, here's just a glimpse of what you'll learn:

• Start and end a conversation
• Be an active and thoughtful listener
• Handle silence when that's their answer
• Be less judgmental and anxious
• Instill confidence and a growth mindset
• Avoid pushing perfection
• Master the art of an apology

With sample conversations to help you get started, Keep Talking offers parents open and honest guidance without judgment, delivered with laughter and love.

Review Quotes

"A lived-in, compassionate guide that feels like a conversation with a trusted friend who's been there, struggled through it, and come out the other side with wisdom to share . . . Keep Talking is both a guide and a comfort. It's for parents who feel ignored, who worry they're losing their kids, and who need a reminder that communication is a long game." -Manhattan Book Review

"For parents and caregivers yearning to improve communication and relationships with their children, Davidson's debut offers practical strategies paired with compassion, respect, and sensitivity . . . Compact, efficient, and down-to-earth, this is a rewarding guide that values human connection as the first step in raising 'independent, resilient, confident, empathic, and responsible children.'" -BookLife Reviews

"Open-minded and innovative . . . Keep Talking is a concise, intentional parenting guide for building connections and sharing wisdom with adolescents and teenagers." -Foreword Clarion Reviews

"[A] parenting guide that leads by example, embeds research studies into its suggestions, offers concrete examples from real-life situations, and helps define and tailor the kinds of conversations which lend to deeper relationships and better understanding . . . Packed with insights and savvy, Keep Talking features the kinds of diverse approaches that can grow beyond family circles and into society as a whole." -Midwest Book Review

"[A] comprehensive guide for parents with tips on how to foster meaningful and productive conversations with their children . . . The author isn't afraid to cover difficult topics head-on and encourage parents to do likewise . . . the book's no-nonsense approach is ultimately helpful and genuinely refreshing." -Kirkus Reviews