Mom, I'm Not a Kid Anymore

June 10, 2013
The preteen years can be especially harrowing for mothers of girls, as mom Sanders demonstrates in her sharp collection of stories and essays. Organized around hot-button questions brought up by her own preteen daughter, the author tackles a diverse set of issues with a distinctive narrative. Negotiating with herself about behaviors she will accept in her daughter, Sanders brings up many important points as she explores her own past. How do you set boundaries if you have never experienced any? How do you convince your daughter to avoid the same mistakes you once made? A product of a family in which very little was discussed, Sanders is determined to maintain her role as her daughter's friend and confidante. She addresses the nature of family, spirituality, preteen slang, and the age-old issue of "mean girls"; topics broached in more communicative households. Sanders's memoir of parenting her daughter through a rather happy childhood is standout work with true depth, and she carefully reminds readers that parenting on autopilot doesn't work. However, this is not a book of parenting advice; it is a book about what to expect if you're doing it right.