Untangled summary

The second stage in the transition to adulthood is when a girl starts spending less time with her parents and more time with her other friends – her “tribe.”

Again, the desire to be part of a teenage tribe is a very natural part of the maturing process, but it still comes with certain drawbacks.

As teens seek out a tribe on their quest for acceptance and social status, there are some things parents and teachers should keep an eye out for, because girls can gain a “frenemy” just as easily as a BFF.

It’s not uncommon for members of a tribe to have personality clashes and instances of peer pressure that can lead to teens developing a frenemy relationship – one that blurs the line between friend and enemy.

If you’ve ever had a peaceful breakfast with your daughter only to have her screaming at you 15 minutes later because her favorite jeans didn’t get washed, then you’ve experienced a typical stage-three scenario. This is when girls begin to go through dramatic emotional highs and lows.

These mood swings are due to a very natural restructuring that happens in a teenage brain.

If you’ve ever been in a classroom with a teenage girl who’s sporting a mohawk or sat at a dinner table with your daughter wearing black lipstick, then you’re familiar with the fourth stage of adolescence: testing authority.

If you’re the proud parent of an authority-testing daughter, don’t worry; it’s another natural development that, in this case, is associated with her growing capacity for abstract thought.

As a teenager, you probably did something you knew was “wrong.” Perhaps you were pressured into it or maybe it merely gave you a thrill. This leads us to the fifth transition: acting out and learning about consequences.

Remember, acting out is one way that teenagers establish their independence. That said, parents are responsible for preventing their teen from acting in ways that could harm her future.

For years, girls will often think of boys as those gross creatures they put up with at school. And then one day, they’re suddenly talking about going on a date.

Romance is the sixth stage on the path to adulthood, yet getting romantic ideas about boys can actually happen before a girl turns ten.

The seventh and final part of a girl’s transition into womanhood is all about her ability to take care of herself. This means having a basic understanding of how to stay healthy and safe – and the skills to do so.

It starts with two fundamentals that often go undiscussed: a healthy diet and sleep.