A practical parenting guide for the years when intuitive parenting stops working — written for parents navigating the tween and early-teen years (ages 6–14).
This is On the Glide by Lena Mintz. It treats parenting like a system: assessment, protocols, diagnostics, course corrections. No "trust your instincts." No 10-step listicles. Operational material designed to be applied to specific situations, not read once and forgotten.
WHAT THE BOOK DOES
The years between 6 and 14 are when the parenting model has to change. Old strategies stop working. Kids start asserting autonomy. Control fails. On the Glide gives you a framework for what comes next — how to step from "driver" to "consultant" without crashing the system mid-flight. Why everything that worked before stops working, what to put in its place, and how to recognize the signals that you're slipping back into control mode.
WHAT'S INSIDE (14 CHAPTERS · 4 PARTS)
PART I — THE BASICS
System assessment · why control fails · the gap · reset protocols
PART II — THE MECHANICS
Runtime steering · momentum · social OS · identity & belonging
PART III — THE EXPORT
The long game · self-steering · autonomy under pressure
PART IV — THE ARCHITECTURE
Return architecture · role shift · burnout · the launch
BEST FOR
— Parents of kids ages 6–14, especially during the tween and early-teen transition
— Analytical parents who prefer frameworks to feelings
— Readers tired of generic "be present with your child" advice
— Parents who like to highlight, mark up, and re-reference their tools
FORMAT
Paperback. 330 pages. Printed on quality paper, designed for highlighting, margin notes, and re-reference.
READER BONUS
Inside the book, a code unlocks free access to The Glide Toolkit — a 7-sheet printable companion PDF that distills the book's protocols into operational sheets you can keep where you'll actually need them (kitchen, car, homework station). Available only to book readers as a post-purchase bonus.
COMPANION MATERIALS
— The Glide Toolkit — a 7-sheet printable companion PDF, free for book readers via access code inside the book
— The Family Project Blueprints — printable family activities, sold separately. The first is Blueprint 00: Geodesic Core (a parent-child dome-building activity for ages 7–14)
QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK
Who is this book for?
Parents of kids ages 6–14 — the tween and early-teen years, when intuitive parenting starts to fail and old strategies stop working. Especially analytical parents who prefer frameworks and protocols over generic emotional advice.
How is this different from other parenting books?
On the Glide treats parenting like a system, not a relationship. Every concept is operational — designed to be applied to a specific situation, not read once and forgotten. There is no "trust your instincts" advice in this book.
Do I need to read the chapters in order?
No. The four Parts are sequential (Basics → Mechanics → Export → Architecture), but within each Part, chapters work as modular protocols. Many parents read the Basics straight through, then jump to specific chapters as situations come up.
What's the Glide Toolkit and how do I get it?
The Glide Toolkit is a 7-sheet printable companion PDF — a set of operational sheets that distill the book's core protocols. It's free for readers of On the Glide. Inside the book, you'll find a QR code and a download link. It's not sold separately — it's a post-purchase bonus for book readers.
Will this help if my child is already a teenager (15+)?
Partially. The book covers ages 6–14 in depth. Some Part III material (autonomy, self-steering) applies through later adolescence, but a dedicated volume on the 15+ years is in development.
Is there a Kindle or audiobook version?
Yes — Kindle and Audible editions are both available on Amazon. The paperback edition is sold here on Mr. Mintz — designed for highlighting, margin notes, and easy re-reference, with the Glide Toolkit reader bonus included.