GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO
Reflections on Your Earliest Beginnings to Your late Teenage Years
By Jay Spence, MD
Illustrations by Ian Baker
(FriesenPress, November 3, 2017)
Growing Up is Hard to Do, yet there are very few comprehensive “how to” manuals for young people, to help them negotiate and understand what momentous changes occur on the winding road between infancy and adulthood.
In this helpful, highly readable manual, Dr. Spence, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, with sub-specialty training in Pediatric Gynecology, examines each stage of development, pointing out the many difficulties that may be encountered along the way.
He tackles the issues head-on: conception, the early years, off to school with potential bullying, childhood sexual abuse and what happens during puberty. In warm, empathetic, and accessible language, concerns like sex, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and gender issues are discussed. In addition, he delves into subjects such as smoking, alcohol, marijuana, illicit drug use and the risks of the Internet and teenage driving. Nutrition, obesity, anorexia and exercise are highlighted. The last chapter comments on the value of completing one’s education and choosing an appropriate career.
In treating young people for over forty years, Dr. Spence has seen many teenagers and their families suffer the tragic consequences of poor or uninformed choices. He wrote Growing Up is Hard to Do to provide honest, unfiltered information in the hope of helping young readers avoid many of the “potholes” of early life. Though the book is written specifically for young people negotiating growing up, parents and caregivers will also find it very helpful in providing information and context for further discussion.
By Jay Spence, MD
Illustrations by Ian Baker
(FriesenPress, November 3, 2017)
Growing Up is Hard to Do, yet there are very few comprehensive “how to” manuals for young people, to help them negotiate and understand what momentous changes occur on the winding road between infancy and adulthood.
In this helpful, highly readable manual, Dr. Spence, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, with sub-specialty training in Pediatric Gynecology, examines each stage of development, pointing out the many difficulties that may be encountered along the way.
He tackles the issues head-on: conception, the early years, off to school with potential bullying, childhood sexual abuse and what happens during puberty. In warm, empathetic, and accessible language, concerns like sex, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and gender issues are discussed. In addition, he delves into subjects such as smoking, alcohol, marijuana, illicit drug use and the risks of the Internet and teenage driving. Nutrition, obesity, anorexia and exercise are highlighted. The last chapter comments on the value of completing one’s education and choosing an appropriate career.
In treating young people for over forty years, Dr. Spence has seen many teenagers and their families suffer the tragic consequences of poor or uninformed choices. He wrote Growing Up is Hard to Do to provide honest, unfiltered information in the hope of helping young readers avoid many of the “potholes” of early life. Though the book is written specifically for young people negotiating growing up, parents and caregivers will also find it very helpful in providing information and context for further discussion.
Reviews
"Growing Up Is Hard to Do is an excellent guide to the first two decades of life. It offers both factual material and gentle guidance in text augmented by UK cartoonist Ian Baker’s superbly appropriate illustrations. This is a book that adolescents would find helpful and reassuring during the turbulence of growing up, and hopefully, one which parents and teachers would endorse."
-Foreword Clarion Review (5 out of 5 stars)
(read the full review)
-Foreword Clarion Review (5 out of 5 stars)
(read the full review)
Table of Contents
Introduction
SECTION ONE: GROWING UP
Chapter One: The Beginnings: Intrauterine Life
“Where did I come from?”
Genetics: “Nature’s Blueprint for Me.”
Intrauterine Growth: “In My Mummy’s Tummy.”
Labour and Delivery: “Here I Come!”
Chapter Two: Early Childhood
Newborn to Age Five
Infancy: Newborn to Age One: “It’s All about Me!”
Toddler: Age One to Two: “Becoming Me.”
Terrible Twos!: “Here I Am!”
Energizer Bunny: Age Three to Four: “Want to Play with Me?”
Youngster: Age Four to Five: “Out on My Own.”
Chapter Three: School Age: Age Five to Ten
“I’m off to school!”
School: “I don’t want to go!”
My Social Life: “I like you.”
Bullies: “Get out of my way!”
Childhood Responsibilities: “Who, Me—Work?”
Chapter Four: Puberty: Age Ten to Fifteen
“Wow! What’s Happening to Me?”
Physical Changes
Female Development
Male Development
Chapter Five: Adolescence: Age Twelve to Eighteen
“I Feel Different!”
Sexual, Emotional, and Intellectual
Development
Early Adolescence
Late AdolescenceSECTION TWO: THE HARD-TO-DO
Chapter Six: Sex
Sexual Identity
Female
Male
The Birds and the Bees
Chapter Seven: Sexual Issues
Early Human Sexuality
Sexual Abuse
Pornography and Children
Sexting
Early Sexual Experimentation
Chapter Eight: The Candy Generation
Cultural Challenges
Sex Drive
Male
Female
Chapter Nine: Unwanted Pregnancy
Startling Facts
Teenage Mom
Teenage Abortion
Chapter Ten: Alternate Sexual Behaviours
Homosexuality
LGBTQ Community
Of Real Concern
Abusive Sex
Teenage Prostitution
Chapter Eleven: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Genital Herpes
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Chlamydia
Trichomonas (TRICH)
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
HIV-AIDS
Chapter Twelve: Risky Behaviour
Smoking
Alcohol
Marijuana
Chapter Thirteen: Destructive Behaviour
Illicit Drug Use
Cocaine
Opioids
Stimulants
Hallucinogens
Inhalants
Suicide Attempts
Chapter Fourteen: Lifestyle Choices
Diet and Nutrition
Teenage Obesity
Anorexia
Bulimia
Exercise
Chapter Fifteen: Internet and the Teenage Driver
The Internet, Social Media, and Gaming
Wheels: Risks and Concerns
Some Startling Facts
Risk Factors
Chapter Sixteen: Becoming an Adult
Eighteen Plus
Higher Education
Final Thoughts
Acknowledgements
About the Author
About the Illustrator
SECTION ONE: GROWING UP
Chapter One: The Beginnings: Intrauterine Life
“Where did I come from?”
Genetics: “Nature’s Blueprint for Me.”
Intrauterine Growth: “In My Mummy’s Tummy.”
Labour and Delivery: “Here I Come!”
Chapter Two: Early Childhood
Newborn to Age Five
Infancy: Newborn to Age One: “It’s All about Me!”
Toddler: Age One to Two: “Becoming Me.”
Terrible Twos!: “Here I Am!”
Energizer Bunny: Age Three to Four: “Want to Play with Me?”
Youngster: Age Four to Five: “Out on My Own.”
Chapter Three: School Age: Age Five to Ten
“I’m off to school!”
School: “I don’t want to go!”
My Social Life: “I like you.”
Bullies: “Get out of my way!”
Childhood Responsibilities: “Who, Me—Work?”
Chapter Four: Puberty: Age Ten to Fifteen
“Wow! What’s Happening to Me?”
Physical Changes
Female Development
Male Development
Chapter Five: Adolescence: Age Twelve to Eighteen
“I Feel Different!”
Sexual, Emotional, and Intellectual
Development
Early Adolescence
Late AdolescenceSECTION TWO: THE HARD-TO-DO
Chapter Six: Sex
Sexual Identity
Female
Male
The Birds and the Bees
Chapter Seven: Sexual Issues
Early Human Sexuality
Sexual Abuse
Pornography and Children
Sexting
Early Sexual Experimentation
Chapter Eight: The Candy Generation
Cultural Challenges
Sex Drive
Male
Female
Chapter Nine: Unwanted Pregnancy
Startling Facts
Teenage Mom
Teenage Abortion
Chapter Ten: Alternate Sexual Behaviours
Homosexuality
LGBTQ Community
Of Real Concern
Abusive Sex
Teenage Prostitution
Chapter Eleven: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Genital Herpes
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Chlamydia
Trichomonas (TRICH)
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
HIV-AIDS
Chapter Twelve: Risky Behaviour
Smoking
Alcohol
Marijuana
Chapter Thirteen: Destructive Behaviour
Illicit Drug Use
Cocaine
Opioids
Stimulants
Hallucinogens
Inhalants
Suicide Attempts
Chapter Fourteen: Lifestyle Choices
Diet and Nutrition
Teenage Obesity
Anorexia
Bulimia
Exercise
Chapter Fifteen: Internet and the Teenage Driver
The Internet, Social Media, and Gaming
Wheels: Risks and Concerns
Some Startling Facts
Risk Factors
Chapter Sixteen: Becoming an Adult
Eighteen Plus
Higher Education
Final Thoughts
Acknowledgements
About the Author
About the Illustrator
