Includes bibliographical references and index.

What is my son doing behind his constantly-closed door? What's with his curt responses, impulsiveness, newfound obsession with gaming, and... that funky smell? As pediatrician and mother of two teenagers Cara Natterson explains, puberty starts in boys long before any visible signs appear, which causes confusion about their changing temperaments for boys and their parents alike. Often, they also grow quieter as they grow taller, which leads to less parent-child communication. But, as Natterson warns, we respect their increasing "need" for privacy and alone time at their peril. Explaining how modern culture mixes badly
with male adolescent biology, she offers science, strategies, scripts, and tips for getting it right.