Bøker av Fiona Spargo-Mabbs

In January 2014 sixteen year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs - a popular, big-hearted prom king - took a fatal overdose of MDMA. Her determination to make sure that other parents are better prepared to protect their children from harm has driven every word in Fiona Spargo-Mabbs' compelling, life-changing and life-saving book about teenagers and drugs.

'When Dan died, there was so much I wished I'd known. I'll never know whether knowing any of the things I didn't know, or doing any of the things I didn't do, would have been enough to keep Dan safe in that moment of decision, but if in reading this book my gaps are filled for you, and a difference is made for your children, then that will be more than good enough for me.'When Daniel Spargo-Mabbs was 16, he went to a party and never came home. The party was an illegal rave and Daniel - a bright, popular, big-hearted prom king - died from a fatally strong overdose of MDMA.I Wish I'd Known is the book Dan's mother Fiona - co-founder of the leading drug education charity the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation - wishes she'd had as her intelligent, inquisitive child entered his teenage years. Because however you parent, and whatever you do, your child is very likely to be at some time or other in a situation where they have to make a decision about drugs. What if that decision is 'yes'? Do they know what the risks are? Do they have practical strategies they can bring to bear if things go wrong?Use of illegal drugs is on the rise among teenagers, and accessing advice and support to help navigate this landscape is critical not just for them, but for you as a parent. I Wish I'd Known explores the risks and effects of the substances young people are most likely to encounter, and the legal pitfalls that may leave their own lasting legacy. It explains the way the adolescent brain makes decisions and manages risk, and gives insight into how to manage important conversations through these often tricky years. There are practical strategies for staying safe, information on reducing harm, and 'talking points' providing ideas for things to do, to talk about, look at, look up or consider.Throughout the book, Daniel's story - his life, his death, and what happened afterwards - not only provides a compelling reminder of the importance of those conversations, but also serves as a beautiful, unforgettable eulogy to a son, brother, boyfriend and friend whose life continues to touch, and perhaps even save, those of other young people.

"e;They've always wanted me to be open and honest with them, I've spent years explaining stuff to them, and sometimes they still don't understand everything"e; - Milly, 16"e;Your parents aren't actually hatching a plan to ruin your life..."e; Jim, 52From minor matters (tidiness, homework, sleep) to big and important ones (relationships, mental ill health, drugs and alcohol), teenagers and their parents often struggle to talk to each other - and talking is key if your young person is facing new challenges as they leave childhood behind. A well-timed conversation, a listening ear, a non-judgemental and receptive attitude - all these can make an enormous and lasting impact on how safely and happily a teenager navigates this crucial stage of their development.Oh, if only it were that easy.It's not always easy to talk to your teenager, or for them to talk to you, but it is critical and may even be life-saving. This book draws extensively on hundreds of conversations that Fiona Spargo-Mabbs has conducted with young people and parents in focus groups and school and college workshops, to give a framework for tackling tough conversations about difficult things, without judgement or anger. It gives context and insight, based on the latest neuroscience findings on the teenage brain and, importantly, it gives hundreds of prompts and plenty of practical suggestions and strategies to make communication between parents and young people a two-way street that builds the foundations for a strong relationship with your adult child. Covering everything from the small stuff, like curfews and screen time, to the tough stuff of sex, self-harm and suicide, this is a warm, compassionate and important book that draws on lived experience and the lives of young people as they are, not as we think they might, or should, be.