The Whipped Parent

Hope for Parents Raising an Out-of-Control Teen

Why is my child acting this way? 

Where did I go wrong?

How can I take back control of my home and my life? 

A practical, realistic and easy-to-understand resource to help parents deal with out-of-control adolescents’ frustrating behaviors — behaviors that can leave even the most experienced parents “whipped.” It is written in everyday language, with humor and hope. Provides answers to help parents meet the challenge of raising an out-of-control teen.  It helps parents

• Stop blaming themselves and their adolescents, so they can move forward.
• Handle disappointment from expectations their adolescents have not or will not meet.
• Recognize how society has placed unreasonable expectations on today’s parents, leaving them emotionally drained and sick.
• Work with community resources, like the courts and schools, when responding to their adolescents’ behavior.
• Appreciate the humor (yes, humor) that goes along with raising an out-of-control teen.

Out-of-control teens include those who are described by mental health professionals as being oppositional-defiant and conduct disordered. Oppositional-defiant kids are negative, defiant, disobedient and hostile toward authority figures. They lose their tempers, argue and refuse to comply with the requests of parents, teachers, therapists, even the local librarian. Any adult who tries to set a limit is fair game. This type of adolescent is often angry, resentful, spiteful and vindictive. They deliberately annoy people and blame others for their poor choices and negative behavior.

Conduct disordered kids are all of the above and then some. They engage in severely dangerous and illegal behaviors. They are often the school bullies, threatening peers and adults. They fight, carry weapons and do drugs. They lie, steal, set fires and deliberately destroy other people’s property. They are often truant from school, stay out past curfew and run away from home, despite their parents’ efforts to stop them. These teens consistently and seriously violate the rules and laws of society.

Includes appendixes, worksheets, suggested reading and an index.

About the Authors--

Kimberly Abraham began her career as an Early Childhood educator, working with children and families in the Flint, Michigan-area schools. She went on to receive her Master of Social Work Degree from Wayne State University, with a concentration in Family, Youth & Children. She has been certified as an Infant Mental Health Specialist and provided social work services to children in Flint-area schools. Kim has spent years providing services to youth in the city of Flint, Michigan, working closely with systems such as REACH, Flint Schools and the Genesee Circuit Family Court. She specializes in treating children & adolescents diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder and Substance Abuse. 
In 2003, Kim co-authored The Whipped Parent: Hope for Parents Raising an Out-of-Control Teen (Rainbow Books, Inc) with her colleague and business partner, Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW. The book is based on Kim’s personal experience raising an ODD son, as well as professional knowledge and techniques field-tested with parents individually and in group settings. In 2011, Kim and Marney went on to create Life Over The Influence (Legacy Publishing Company), a CD self-help program for those who love someone who has an addiction or abuses substances. The Oppositional Defiant Disorder Lifeline (Legacy Publishing Company), released in January 2012, is a self-help program for parents of behavior-disordered children based on Kim’s unique, specialized parenting approach for that population. 

Kim is a national speaker on the topics of childhood behavior disorders and is frequently a media consultant on topics including: bullying, divorce issues, trauma, surviving a loved one’s addiction, grandparents raising grandchildren and the increasing epidemic of adult children living at home (Failure to Launch). 

Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW, received her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University in 1997 with a specialty in Children and Families. She has spent most of her career serving children and families in the Child Welfare and Community Mental Health systems. She is trained in the evidence-based practice of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) and has supervisory experience in the CMH system. Marney specializes in the treatment of children with emotional and behavioral issues and adults experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues.  Marney is the parent of a biological daughter and has both professional and personal experience in blended families, having raised three step-children through adolescence and into adulthood. 

Kathryn O’Dea was an author and ordained minister who passed away in 2006. Kathryn’s organizational skills and support were instrumental in the publication of The Whipped Parent. She is dearly missed.