Kids who are over-parented have no coping skills, so try your best to back off

Reading a new book on the perennially hot topic of parenting teenage girls, a few things struck me — either (a) I am a bloody good parent or (b) I won the teenage girl lottery or (c) a bit of both.

Because I did not recognise my cool-headed, warm-hearted 15-year-old daughter in the mean, withdrawn, self-harming, narcissistic, insecure, miserable, internet-addled creature who appears again and again in Untangled by American child psychologist Lisa Damour.