TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing
By Kathleen Laziza
Now available on Amazon and Kindle
Enclosed
1. Contact information and Links
2. Author’s Biography
3. Press Release
4. Publication Information
5. Table of Contents
6. Sample Chapter
7. Industry and Reader Reviews
8. Micro Museum Testimonials
www.kathleenlaziza.com
1. Contact Information and Links
Kathleen Laziza
123 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
executive@micromuseum.com
718-797-3116 messages only
917-679-9741 cell
Websites
Social Media Links
www.facebook.com/kathleen.laziza
Liberal viewpoint of Kathleen Laziza
www.facebook.com/Micro-Museum-172014866686
Musings from a digital curator
www.facebook.com/promoteartworks
TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS
www.facebook.com/promoteartworksinc
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Kathleen Laziza comments on art and politics
www.instagram.com/lazizakathleen
Local actions in NYC and beyond
www.instagram.com/kathleenlaziza
Micro Museum inner sanctum news
www.instagram.com/promote_art_works
TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS
Brooklyn’s oldest grassroots organization
www.kathleenlaziza.com
2. Kathleen Laziza Biography
Kathleen Laziza is an educator, interdisciplinary artist and writer. She mentored teens and challenged populations for dozens of community social service organizations, and her recently published TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing is the result of her careful interpretation of those interactions as described in the enclosed press release.
Kathleen is the mother of two children who are now successful independent adults with full enterprising lifestyles. She gained the bulk of her expertise by listening to 100s of student’s family dynamic concerns and witnessing her own two sons grow into men in NYC. She helped all of them navigate problems both large and small, like NYC public school systems, medical emergencies, bullying, falling in love, creating opportunities for gainful employment, friendships, and developing a keen interest in personal and community well-being.
Kathleen is the Executive Director of Micro Museum® which she founded in Brooklyn, NY as a grassroots arts organization in 1986 servicing as an imagination hub for performance, video, visual art and educational experiences for all ages and abilities. Under her directorship, Micro Museum built decades-long partnerships with Brooklyn’s social service organizations creating programming in Brooklyn public parks, schools and at Micro Museum. After a few dozen years of teaching budding artists how to create their own business vehicles, training teens for job readiness and producing 1000s of grassroots art shows, public access TV broadcasts and performances, the museum is at its core dedicated to creative lifetime learning.
Her personal story is a message for triumph over learning disabilities and the stick-to-it-ness of owning and operating a small business in New York City. She is a known job creator and master collaborator. Her diverse knowledge and experience as a performance artist makes her an entertaining and skilled public speaker. Ms. Laziza and her husband William reside in Brooklyn, NY and are the parents of two successful adult sons.
Acclaimed for her interdisciplinary art and interactive innovations, Ms. Laziza received numerous features in Time Out NY, Brooklyn Eagle, Courier-Life Publications, Brooklyn Paper, as well as, two major NY Times mentions when Bill Cunningham published over 20 photographs of her wearable art piece “SPRING FEVER” and Micro Museum’s kinetic sculpture was selected as the example of “ART OF THE FUTURE” in their Millennium Section 2000.
Kathleen Laziza Writing History
Kathleen began writing in the 1990s for Dance Giant Step’s Attitude: The Dancer’s Magazine where, for fifteen years, she was a regular contributor reviewing performance art, dance, theater, children and community events. She wrote for Leonardo Magazine: The Journal of the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology where she contributed the article ‘The Intersection of Dance Technology and Performance Art’. For more than three decades she contributed to artist catalogs, wrote public relations and other communication materials that were applied to her not for profit organization Promote Art Works, Inc. and its facilities Micro Museum, as well as writing press materials for other not for profit organizations: K2 Dance and Arts, Inc., Brooklyn’s Cultural Circuit and The Brooklyn Visitors and Tourism Center. She is an aspiring yet enterprising writer and has a number of projects pending.
Book Projects Currently in the Works:
SPILLING THE BEANS - From a time saving cook
Encyclopedia for the Romantically Inclined
My Little Life in Four Parts:
· Capital T Trouble
· Goodbye My Love
· Dancing for Those Who Can’t
· The Story of Micro Museum: building community where there isn’t any
·
www.kathleenlaziza.com
3. Press Release
For Immediate Release
TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing
Kathleen Laziza is a unique combination of interdisciplinary performance artist, Founder and Executive Director of the 33-year-old Brooklyn arts organization Micro Museum®. She is also a prolific writer and educator specializing in conflict resolution. Kathleen has just published her TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing through Amazon in paperback and Kindle. In Teen Guide, Kathleen approaches the centuries-old situations teens need to resolve by offering a deeper understanding of family members and dynamics. Lighthearted in tone, the book approaches very serious modern-day teen conflicts and offers positive guidance and solutions. In this guidebook, Kathleen shares her expertise which she has honed in her over thirty years’ experience of mentoring teens through her job readiness training programs at Micro Museum.
In Teen Guide, Kathleen approaches teen conflict resolution in a pragmatic manner by leading teens through a discovery of what kind of parent they have so that they can get them to work with them in ways that keep everyone happy. She covers the hard topics; addiction, peer pressure, bullying and how some parents are just not good at parenting, maybe because they had difficult parents too. Kathleen guides the teen to help their parents become better parents by following a few time-honored methods of negotiation. She suggests that parental concern will never go away—on some level the teen will always be a child to them. She advises them to spend their teen years channeling their frustration into a passion or creative skill and to use her conflict resolution techniques to pacify parents. Additionally, teens can apply these newly learned techniques “down the road” with future co-workers and other adults in their lives.
TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing is a book that was nearly 30 years in the making. Kathleen Laziza has incorporated into the “Guide” the best of her know-how having herself raised two sons in New York city, and bringing people together through her programming in the arts to learn how to share. She has combined the best of her teaching of New York city art teachers and students, imparting how to value their creative contributions and create sources of income. Kathleen has directed dance, art and science programs servicing the youngest members of society along with their caregivers and has developed courses giving Brooklyn youth their first job experience. For over three decades, she has partnered with many schools and community organizations and is available for public speaking and book signings.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE KATHLEEN LAZIZA FOR A PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT klaziza8@gmail.com
4. Publication Information
TEEN GUIDE PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing By Kathleen Laziza
Link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733699104
ISBN Numbers: Paperback Book- ISBN number: 1-7336991-0-5
Kindle – ISBN number: 978-0-578-45224-1
Page Count: 135 pages
Prices: Paperback - $12.99
Kindle - $9.99
Genre: Teens, Young Adults, Self-help, Empowerment
www.kathleenlaziza.com
5. Table of Contents
TEEN GUIDE PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing
By Kathleen Laziza
INTRODUCTION:
General Rules And Realities
Of Dealing With Parents……………….....
v
PART I:
What Kind Of Parents
Do You Have?..........................................
1
PART II:
What Makes A Family?............................
34
PART III:
Situations And Solutions……………........
57
PART IV:
The Teen Mindset Forever……………….
68
PART V:
The Golden Rules, Or
Not So Secret Secrets………………........
100
PART VI:
Managing Your Life………………………..
105
PART VII:
Education And Work………………………
109
CONCLUSION: Being The Best You
Can Be…………………………….………..
115
www.kathleenlaziza.com
6. Sample Chapter
TEEN GUIDE PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing
By Kathleen Laziza
INTRODUCTION:
General Rules and Realities of Dealing with Parents
Managing parents takes some work and a lot of tricks. This guide will give you the tools you need for earning and keeping their trust, while maintaining independence. Don’t despair. Social scientists study families professionally and even THEY have trouble understanding what makes THEIR own parents tick! So, don’t take it personally if you don’t understand your parents at first because it can take days or even weeks of observing them to figure how or what makes them act as they do.
Basically, your parents actually need your help. It is hard to be a good parent. They are only human, and like most humans can have trouble communicating clearly or they pretend they’re in control when they aren’t. They have problems that may have nothing to do with you but can accidentally take it out on you. Sometimes their frustration comes out in negative ways and it can affect you. Chances are, your parent is doing the best he or she can, and you have no other options but to work with what you have. Adults can seem remote and unapproachable, but they were teenagers once. If you practice your intuitive and empathetic skills, you can find ways to move seamlessly through various problem areas in your relationship. Things will get better eventually, and your parents will see how AMAZING you really are: just be extra patient with them because they have a lot of learning to do too.
You need to figure out what kind of parent you have so that you can get them to work with you and for you in ways that keep everyone happy. Some parents don’t know how to manage themselves because they were raised by difficult parents themselves. You might also worry that getting them to cooperate is hard because they are older, and have more money and skills, but you’d be surprised how much you can get them to do without them even realizing. It is up to you to help them become better parents by following a few time-honored methods of negotiation.
The big picture matters. You might not always agree with your parents, accept them or even like them but right now you have no alternative but to work with them—if you are reading this guide, it is because you are still too young to move into a fabulous apartment with your friends. Your best advantage is that your parents really do love and admire you. And they want to help and support you. This means you should do your very best to keep a long-term perspective: taking the time to be patient with your parents will be worth it when you need help paying for college, or a car, or even a house! Your parents will buy you all kinds of cool stuff—especially computers and phones because they want to see you succeed. And, you are too young to think about having kids now, but if you choose to have children in the future, your parents will be there to help. Being a teen is difficult. You are not old enough to be a full adult, but you aren’t a child anymore either. You might have many accomplishments already or might be curious about new experiences. You are probably frustrated because you feel like your parents are holding you back and treating you like a child and not a young adult. This is normal. It is also normal for parents to freak out while watching you ride on life’s rollercoaster. Parental concern will never go away—on some level you will always be a child to them. But, while you are waiting to become a fully-fledged adult, plan to spend your teen years channeling your frustration into a passion or creative skill and take advantage of not having to worry about paying for health insurance, housing and food. My grandfather used to say, “It doesn’t exactly matter what you do, just be excellent at one thing”. This time of your life is a window of opportunity to develop skills and talents that you will find useful in your adult life.
Take care of the basics. You must take care of your surroundings and your possessions. Your routine household chores matter. Few people enjoy housework, but no one likes living in a mess, with dirty dishes stacked and piles of laundry all over. It is best to get it done as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality. Set a timer and commit to a minimum 10 minutes. You will be surprised how effective an energetic 10-minute clean up can be on everyone’s disposition. You don’t want to find yourself buying new underwear because you did not find time to do laundry. This is bad for your budget and bad for the planet. The good news is that when you get to be a successful adult you can hire other people (maybe even a teen like you looking for cash) to do all of the things you don’t want to do. Until that day comes…just get it done quickly.
www.kathleenlaziza.com
7. Industry and Reader Reviews
TEEN GUIDE TO PARENTS - How to Manipulate Without Them Knowing
By Kathleen Laziza
Book Review
Readers’ Favorite
K.C. Finn
Teen Guide To Parents: How To Manipulate Without Them Knowing is a work of non-fiction aimed at young adults, and was penned by author Kathleen Laziza. Both humorous and serious in its approach to social issues, this concise volume of situational advice seeks to take the negative associations away from the word ‘manipulation’. In the volume, teens are encouraged to carefully assess their social relationships with parents, teachers and other people immediate to their lives, and adapt their behaviors and thinking slightly to more easily avoid the typical struggles of clashing personalities, and develop their own sense of emotional agency.
In life, we all learn to get along with difficult people as we are socialized into the world, and this new volume of self-help by author Kathleen Laziza unlocks the key to that learning for young adults in difficult situations. The advice within is universal, setting down strategies that can be used in troubled family life, which also build skills to cope with the emotional struggles of the wider world in later life. Laziza’s narrative style is friendly, quirky and fun, but also realistic and down to earth in a way that is sure to resonate with her intended YA audience, and indeed beyond into adulthood. The volume is well presented and well organized, allowing readers to refer back and easily find strategies and contexts that they wish to repeat. Overall, Teen Guide To Parents is insightful and essential reading for any young adult looking to understand the social world better.
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/teen-guide-to-parents
Reader Testimonials
“Teen Guide To Parents had a lot of good information that really helped me not get angry like I used to be all the time “Denise- Age 16
“After reading Teen Guide To Parents I see my parents differently. I now have a few tips to chill them. This is our little secret right?” Freddie- Age 14
“My parents require good verbal defense. Teen Guide to Parents gave me a few clever tricks.” Omar- Age 17
“She is a one of a kind Educator. I learned so much from her strong example. She is a spirited advocate for helping me to find my own creativity by showing me how to understand history and my future place in it. I often ask myself What would Kathleen do? The answer is to always use my best ideas and don’t be afraid to learn from my own mistakes. Successfully navigating personal pitfalls means re-imaging words and deeds. It is about taking action by weighing out our options. If she could help me understand more about myself, she will for you too.
Hiberia, Former Student, Current NYC Public School Teacher
Developed from 20 years of teaching/mentoring teens through her community-based arts organization, Micro Museum, (sic) Kathleen Laziza has written a comprehensive guide. A serious (and humorous) book – It is engaging and sound, written with warmth, generosity, acceptance and love. She provides great advice for all. – M. Petit
“This book was a very enjoyable read. I found it both informative and funny. It offers some really good advice on how to create good relationships and does not only resonate with teens and parents. I ‘m a mom but my child is not a teen yet and I still found this to be a useful and entertaining read. A fun and clever book for sure!” – A. Hirsch
“This is a great book for teens! I have two. I recommend this one to drop into their Kindles. It is a clear and engaging read that helps teens manage their closest relationships. It offers useful strategies that they can leverage to turn around challenging situations which may be getting in the way of a happy and successful life. Good humor and compassion, making it an easy, enjoyable and useful read.” – C. Giugni
“I have known this educator’s work for many years and admired her ability to communicate. This witty book is a breezy read at about two hours or so. The author offers some really good ideas to navigate the pitfalls of being a teen. I wish I had this book when I was a teen.” – Amazon Customer
“This book offers a myriad of highly effective ways for teens to cope with difficult issues that shape their lives and futures. Teen Guide to Parents is geared to help students as young as Junior High school navigate their personal relationships. It poses a positive message rather than becoming self-destructive. It is much better to channel ones anger into applying smart rules of human engagement to shape the outcome of a bad situation to one’s advantage.” – L. Locarno
“This is a very entertaining savvy guide that teenagers and their parents will love to read. If you don’t have your own teenagers, do your friends a favor and loan it to theirs’.- Helen. F
“This go to hand book for teens is insightful reading but not to be shared with adults otherwise risk the reveal of how the techniques are working on every level. – DdR in NY
“If you have a teen, I highly recommend this book. The approach is spot on, and the sense of humor really keeps you turning the pages. This is a very unique approach for managing the ever-mysterious teenager. – T. Riley
www.kathleenlaziza.com
8. Selected Testimonials – Micro Museum
Tymberly Canale, Award Winning Dance Artist & Parent
I spent many years in the 1990's developing and rehearsing work at Micro Museum with the Obie and Bessie award winning company Big Dance Theater. The space was affordable and we could store our props there. Working there influenced our work in many ways. It is vitally important that organizations like Micro Museum are not only recognized for the important contribution they provide to artists, but that they are celebrated for their achievements and acknowledged for the important role they provide to the community.
Pamela Sneed, Writer, Performer, Artist, Online Faculty/School of the Art Institute of Chicago
It is with great pleasure and honor that I write this letter on behalf of Kathleen Laziza and Micro Museum. As a professional artist a poet, performer, visual artist, also a College Professor and long-time resident of Cobble Hill Brooklyn, I can attest to the magnificent work and importance of Micro Museum. The Museum has served as a vital part of our community and is a resource not just for artists, but everyone. It has been a place for community gathering, exhibitions, performance, music, food and brought much needed culture and multi/disciplinary art including technology to the neighborhood. For many, this is an important educational resource as well. Micro Museum has also been successful in bringing together people from all races and backgrounds. It has been far ahead of its time in offering services to the community. Many artists including myself, have been offered free and low cost rehearsal space, resources, and ongoing support in their practices. I cannot offer enough praise for this institution and the importance of its presence and work in our neighborhood.
Lucien Zayan, Director Invisible Dog Art Center
My name is Lucien Zayan, I'm the Director Founder of the Invisible Dog Art Center, opened on Bergen street in October 2009. I had the chance to witness and be inspired by the Micro Museum, its essential place in Brooklyn artistic community, its role in the education of hundreds of us. Kathleen Laziza, and Micro Museum deserve full support and I’m honored to join the vocal forces for this historic organization.
Brett Henderson a/k/a Muffinhead, Performance Artist and Fashion Icon
Micro Museum is one of the last remaining hubs in the city aiding and assisting the visions of emerging artists with a palpable sense of creative wonder. Serving as both community meeting place and art venue, it provides a true ladder to artists realizing their own value and possibilities.
Marianne Petit, Interactive Media Arts Program (IMA), NYU Shanghai
Micro Museum is a Brooklyn art treasure. I have followed the work of the Micro Museum and its Founders, Kathleen and William Laziza for more than 25 years. In that time, they have worked tirelessly to bring art and community together into a welcoming and experimental center. People of all ages and backgrounds can be found here. Losing the Micro Museum would be a loss not only to the neighborhood but to the City at large.
Shari Polis, Dance Instructor and Parent
Micro Museum is one of the most unique creative spaces in NYC. It was at the forefront of the Brooklyn artist movement - it was there inspiring artists to make unusual and thought-provoking installations before anyone else was. Kathleen and Micro Museum rented their studios to our children's dance company for nearly a decade, supporting children in the community and their families for years. Kathleen and William are wonderful neighbors, artists, and true Brooklynites!
Carrie Gavigan, Teacher at Edward Morrow Brooklyn
I wanted to say how great of an experience it was working with Micro Museum as a neighborhood kid way back in the day. As Kathleen Laziza partnered with the schools in after school programs giving kids the opportunity to work on art was truly amazing. It made my desire to become an educator stronger. I always think back and apply those skills learned. Having been able to see all of the different artists and dancers that had the opportunity to use space made available to them was a great contribution to the neighborhood. Not to mention the great art that was in the museum, like The BIG Chair, Phone-i-ture and so much more. I especially love seeing it on the NYC channel where I can be proud of the owners and as a former employee. Micro Museum is a staple of the Carroll Gardens/ Boerum Hill neighborhood. There's no place like it! Best wishes! Love you guys. Thank you for everything you have done for me, all of the wonderful fun and opportunity to work with Kathleen Laziza. Never forgotten.
Cynthia Terri, Writer and Educator
Micro Museum provided affordable rehearsal studio space to local artists that help ease the burden on productions with small budgets. This dynamic couple (Kathleen and William Laziza) also produced a public access TV show called SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION where I was featured performing a live installation for their museum/ art gallery. This was wonderful exposure for me at that time. They cared about promoting their neighborhood artists.
Marilyn Lucchi, Actress and Educator
Micro Museum has always impressed me as being one of the most creative, accessible and innovative museums. Its charm had been in its interactive style as well as its professional quality. Aside from its artistic bent, it has managed to draw a diverse and interesting community.
Allison Twyford, Beauty Expert and Parent
Micro Museum has served the community of downtown Brooklyn and enriching the lives of many through art education for decades. In addition to their interactive art installations, the museum has also reached art lovers both young and old through programs such as art in the park. Under Kathleen Laziza's direction and innovation, I have assisted in after school art instruction at our local public school and at Pierrepont Park for 24 summers. These services were free for children and available to all. I have seen so many happy children creating art year after year through these programs that Micro Museum has offered and I am proud to have been a part of it. Thank you Micro Museum for spreading your passion for art, promoting creativity and for encouraging children in the arts.
Ross Ryman, Actor
As an actor and native Brooklynite, I am someone who understands the importance of a free or low cost venue that offers performance space or even just a supportive place to show your artwork. In an ever changing landscape of high rises, high rents and uber expensive venues, places like Micro Museum are the fabric of what keeps Brooklyn real and creative, by inspiring its people to grow and play. I had the opportunity to perform with Micro Museum at the Easter parade a few years back. While at the parade, I met many other interesting people representing the museum. Not only did it serve as a great networking opportunity but I was photographed by the late great Bill Cunningham. A moment I will cherish forever.
Simon Morris, Business Owner & Parent
Since discovering the wonders of the Micro Museum 4 years ago it’s become a must-go-to venue for a visit each time I return to New York from London. It’s a unique and a hidden gem and a bit like stepping into an Aladdin’s Cave designed by David Lynch – it makes you feel like you’re stepping into the great American art psyche. Because of this I regularly recommend people to visit, both those I know in NY, and those visiting from the UK. Brooklyn has changed so much recently but it’s great to know a place like Micro Museum is keeping the fire burning for small galleries and community art spaces. Keep up the art.
Reva Cooper, Certified NYC Tour Guide
William and Kathleen Laziza's Micro Museum has been of invaluable service to their community for more than 30 years. As the first museum of art in Cobble Hill, their space has given important exposure to many artists, and started the neighborhood's importance as an art district, as several galleries have since opened up. Micro Museum has also brought thousands of visitors to New York City to Smith Street, who knew about the museum and otherwise wouldn't have been in Cobble Hill. In addition, the Lazizas created the annual renowned Bastille Day celebration in July, now produced by Bar Tabac and have produced wonderfully imaginative and fun free events for the community. They have given their space, much of which has also been used for performing and visual arts classes, for important community meetings. The Lazizas themselves are gifted artists, and Kathleen Laziza's clothing creations SPRING FEVER were given a lavish spread in the New York Times by the legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham two years ago in a feature about New York City's Easter Parade. Micro Museum is totally unique and I always look forward to seeing what they will do next.
Flash Light, Arts and Science Collaboration Inc.
I've been a fan of Micro Museum since it opened over 30 years ago. It features wonderful interactive electronic art that can't be seen anywhere else, such as “Videoscopo,” a video based kaleidoscope, “Videograph,” an interactive video display which the NY Times called “Art of the Future,” “Phone-i-ture” and “Octophone,” which are interactive telephone pieces that encourage participation and communication, “The Lumiano,” a piano which produces both music and a light display, “Blabbermouth,” a furniture sculpture that reads famous quotations at the touch of a keyboard, and “Lightlines,” a sculpture that causes neon lights to respond to sounds. In an age when businesses are urging schools to teach the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Micro Museum is a terrific resource for encouraging kids to see the STEM subjects as fun and entertaining, and the city should be encouraging schools to book tours of Micro Museum as field trips.
Anthon Santella, PhD
I am happy to have this opportunity to recommend the work done by Micro Museum. Their dedication to the arts, artists and the community has had a significant impact on my career as a visual artist and I am sure impacting many others. They gave me my first solo show in New York in 2006 and I exhibited with them again in a group show later that year. Their generosity and openness to artists is a welcome antidote to the profit driven NYC art scene and they are a true asset to the community.
Mollie McClelland Morris, Business Owner & Parent
I support Micro Museum, for all it has done and continues to do for its community. Some of the many contributions the Micro Museum has made include: educating children in school groups and the local area, supporting creativity and expression in young people, job opportunities and work experience for teenagers and young adults (myself included), non-commercial community gathering space, showcasing of local art and artists, space for social events, music lessons, dance classes and rehearsals. I currently live in London and send visitors to Micro Museum when we know they are visiting New York. We have heard several reports of people sticking around on Smith street, shopping or having dinner in the neighborhood. The foresight to build Micro Museum on Smith Street was part of what changed the neighborhood into the fashionable, family centered and tourist friendly destination it now is. With so many unique businesses and community spaces priced out, or shut down, having Micro Museum in the neighborhood keeps alive an authentic, unique, artistic and unconventional community space for young people, families, locals and tourists alike.