5 Minutes for Books – Part 1 – “Here for You”

ByJennifer Donovan Published On: Updated On:

This review is authored by regular contributor Jennifer Donovan, book lover and mother of two of book lovers, who blogs at Snapshot.

This is the first of two reviews today. Click here for the second one, posted by Janice.

This giveaway is part of the Dog Days of Summer hosted by Rocks In My Dryer. To find more fantastic giveaways head over to Rocks In My Dryer. All winners in the giveaway will be announced on Friday, July 27 at the individual blogs. You will find our winner here Friday morning, July 27.

Here for You

If you have a daughter over the age of seven, you’ve probably already begun to wonder when that time is going to come. You know, the time when nothing you say is right and most conversations turn into an argument? The ages of fourteen to twenty are not years that we have to write off as a difficult phase that we simply have to endure. With effort on both the mother’s and the daughter’s part, these years can be the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

Here for You: Creating a Mother-Daughter Bond that Lasts a Lifetime is a perfect resource for you if you want to learn how to create this special bond. It will give you information on the reasons why a mom and daughter have “issues,” as well as steps to overcoming or minimizing them. More importantly, you will learn what steps you and your daughter can take to help insure that a positive relationship develops in these years. The book is written in alternating chapters to mom and to the teen. So even if she doesn’t want to listen to you, she might take the advice to heart if it comes from authors Susie Shellenberger and Kathy Gowler.

One of my favorite parts of the book was reading the simple things that real teens shared. It made me realize how simple it is to create a loving atmosphere that a teen would be happy to be a part of.

I love it when my mom turns up the radio and sings at the top of her lungs–Ellen, 14

I love it when my mom helps me clean my room–Lori, 16

I love it when my mom is just quiet when I’m hurting–Cyrstal, 14

I love it when my mom talks to me honestly about herself–Fran, 18

I love it when my mom tucks me in at night and asks how my day went–Brandi, 17

Other great sidebars at the end of the chapters list such things as

  • Stuff I Wish I Could Tell my Mom
  • Stuff I Wish my Mom Would Tell Me
  • Stuff I Wish my Daughter Would Tell Me
  • Stuff I Could Never Tell my Daughter

As the mother of an 8 1/2 year old daughter, I realize that her teen years are rapidly approaching. Reading this book caused me to resolve to create the kind of environment now that will help us share that kind of bond later. If you want to plan ahead, this is a great read for moms of daughters ages eight to twelve (and even gives some specific pointers to this age group in one chapter). The covenant is really designed to be made with girls from fourteen up to a young adult of twenty or so, and I honestly feel like it is a must read if you have daughters in that age range.

Click here to go to the publisher’s site to find more information on the book, including a hysterical video from the two authors that will not only make you smile, but also will give you a better idea of what is involved in the covenant between mother and daughter. The authors also have a conference called Closer Moms and Daughters (Here for You is only the first in the series of more books to come addressing this topic). You can also purchase a lovely necklace specially made for mothers and daughters as a sign of your covenant to build a strong relationship at that site.

The publisher has donated one copy of this book to a U.S. or Canadian reader. Please leave a comment by Friday to be eligible to win.

Congratulations, Sara at There She Grows, the winner of Mary DeMuth’s new book Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture. If you didn’t win, you can click over through that link and order your own signed copy.

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280 Comments

  1. Pingback: 5 Minutes for Books — Help for the Teen Years

  2. WOW! Sounds like an incredible read!

    I love that you can purchase a mom-daughter necklace. I’m on my way to check out the site!

    Thanks!

    Reply

  6. I have 5 daughters, 7 1/2 yrs. down to 14 month old twin girls (plus a 9 yr. old son), so this sounds interesting! Thanks for entering me!

    Reply

  9. I live overseas and I find it so hard to be a good mom here. I would so enjoy this book. Hope I am not too late with the sign up.

    Reply

  14. oh I’d so love to win this. I have a troubled relationship with my youngest daughter. We are so trying to fix it so any help would be terrific!

    Debi

    Reply

  17. Well, this is the PERFECT giveaway for me…I have 4 beautiful daughters and one on the way soon. My oldest is 13. Yep, I could put this book to GOOD USE! 🙂 Thanks for the chance!

    Reply

  18. What a great giveaway! My daughter is still young and i want to build that mother daughter bond from the very beginning! Please enter me in your contest!

    Reply

  32. I would love to win this book I have two daughters one of them just turned 7 this summer.

    Thanks for the opportunity!

    Reply

  37. I would love this book. My dd is 10, and we are very close, but who knows what lies around the corner….only God does.

    Reply

  43. As a mom of two daughters that arrived after two sons, I can use all the help raising daughters that I can get! Thanks for entering me.

    Reply

  62. I would love to have this. While I am not a mom, yet, I will be soon and I’d love to start out right. Or at least, try to. Thank you for offering up this book, it looks wonderful.

    Reply

  70. Makes my heart happy & sad just reading about that book. My daughter is only 18 months but I love to think about this stuff now!

    Reply

  79. Wow! It’s like Christmas in July! Thanks to all of the wonderful bloggers that are participating in this great give-away!!!

    Reply

  82. Oh, I’d love that book. I have a daughter who is almost 7 and it’s already begun! Yikes…

    Reply

  83. Oh this sounds wonderful! I have two daughters, 3 and 1, so I know I would benefit from this book early in the game. Pick me! Pick me!
    Sarah

    Reply

  84. I have an 8, almost 9 yr old daughter… I soooo understand the rifts. IT’s nuts…. ask her how she is or if she needs help w/ something and get your head bit off. I soooo need this book.

    Reply

  88. My little girl is seven now, and I am already wondering where my baby has gone!! I would love to win this!!

    Reply

  90. Anyone reading my blog know how I’m struggling with my daughter, so this book would be ideal. Pls enter me.

    Reply

  137. I’d love to win this, having four daughters. If I don’t I think I’ll purchase this one, looks great.

    Reply

  146. My oldest daughter is almost 11. I feel like I could’ve used this a couple years ago! Better late than never I suppose.

    Reply

  147. This sounds like such a wonderful book. I would love to read this as my eldest is just a few years away from those teen years. Thanks so much!

    Reply

  148. I have two daughters (ages 3 & 7). I would love this book!
    Blessings-Andie
    PS…check out my giveaway!

    Reply

  157. My daughter is only 8 months, but it’s never too early to start cultivating a special relationship!

    Reply

  161. Out of my 6 children, one is a girl LOL, so I’d love to win this book. Thank you for the opportunity! 🙂

    Reply

  167. Wow, I would love to read that book, I have 3 daughters, and it is difficult to get your teen to trust you enough to share thier life with you.

    Reply

  170. I worry so much about “losing” my daughters – not having that connection that endures especially during those turbulent teen years. This book sounds like a real treasure!

    Reply

  172. Please count me in as well. I have a daughter of my own and anything to help prepare me for this time would be awesome!

    Reply

  179. Oh! *sniff* This sounds like a WONDERFUL book! As a mom to a teen girl, there are some rough patches for a year or so. (Mom had a bit of growing–and learning to let go in stages.) Now, at 16-going-on-17, things are lovely, tumultuous, joyous, frustrating, endearing, confusing, and a tremendous blessing all around. I have two more to go through (a boy and another girl) and there will be challenges–with different triumphs and pitfalls throughout–but with God I pray my children will grow into servants and leaders. 🙂

    I would love to be in the drawing for this book!

    Thanks,
    Jenn in AZ

    Reply

  182. As a mother of 2 girls (5 1/2 and a just turned 13 year old), I would love this book! Count me in please. Thanks.

    Reply

  192. This sounds like an awesome book. My daughter will be 10 in a week and I am completely lost. She is the only girl we have. Our three boys, I can relate too, but she is so opposite of me, that I just don’t know what to do most days. Please add me to the contest.

    Reply

  193. I would love to have this book! I have a daughter and this topic really interests me. Thanks so much!

    Reply

  196. i have a daughter. i also had a rocky relationship with my mother. maybe this would prepare me for my own battles with my children.

    Reply

  197. Enter me, I have two girls. One just turned 6 & the other one is about to be 10, so I can already see it happening, lol.

    Reply

  205. Oh my gosh! This would be an invaluable addition to my library of treasured books. Please enter me into the contest!

    Reply

  207. Ok, my daughter just turned 8 and is already in the stage of “nothing you say is right.” 🙂 It sounds like I definitely should read this book!

    Reply

  220. I have had a stuggle with my 10 year old daughter lately . I have been luck with my 14 yr. old but the younger is going to be a challenge. would love to read this book.

    Nikki

    Reply

  226. As a mom who is struggling with her own mother-daughter relationship, and the mom of twin girls, I NEED this book. Thank you so much for telling us about it. Win it or not, I’m getting it! Lucky for me, I have some time.

    Reply

  227. This sounds like a fabulous resource! If I’m not the winner, it will be on my wish list, and I think it may be included in Christmas gifts for my “mom friends”. 🙂 Thanks for introducing so many of us to this book.

    Reply

  242. Sounds like a great book… I think my SIL would love it, since she has 2 girls. Sign me up (on her behalf 🙂

    Also, I posted a link to your giveaway on my post, too!

    Reply

  245. My 17yr old DD and I have been bumping heads a lot lately. This sounds like the perfect book to help us have a good relationship during this rocky time. Thanks for this giveaway!

    Reply

  246. Okay, so I’m sure no one else here has a daughter so I should definitely win this one. Please? 🙂

    Reply

  257. Sounds like a wonderful book! I’m a momma to identical twin girls and am always looking for books about moms & daughters! Count me in!

    Kim

    Reply

  258. As the mother of a daughter, and the daughter of a mother, this would be a treasure to have.

    Reply

  264. I’m inspired. Would love a chance to win the book. I have a seven year old daughter and I can already feel the indifference between us. Please count me in. Thank you.

    Reply

  265. Oh I could definitely use a book like this. I have a 13 (almost 14) DD and I feel like we are going more our separate ways every day.

    Reply

  266. What a positive book for a mom. As a mother of a 4 year old, my sister in law would really love this.

    Reply

  267. I have a 9 year old daughter. This book sounds like a fantastic resource! Count me in!

    Reply

  270. Oh my!!! Would I not LOVE and cherish this book!! This looks so good and the video was such a trip!!

    This Here for You book looks great!! THanks for the contest!!

    Reply

  273. How precious!! I wish my mom had this book when I was little. Our relationship was so difficult, but Praise God that NOW we are best friends.

    Steph

    Reply

  275. Ive heard of this book, i would love to be included in the drawing. I have three girls and i think we could all benefit from it.

    Reply

  280. This book looks wonderful! My Julz is only 5, but it’s definitely good to be prepared!!

    Reply

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