What's normal? Just about everything! Nipple hair, uneven testicles or breasts, breast development in boys, itchy underarms as the hair begins to grow-they are all nothing unusual. Remember that there is no set-in-stone schedule for puberty and development, and there is a wide range of ages for puberty to kick in. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if you're noticing signs of early or late puberty (for girls, before age 8 or after age 13; for boys, before age 9 or later than 14), check with your family doctor.

Emotional outbursts can be challenging too. They are absolutely normal, as your child copes with hormones and significant changes, but you can help him or her express those emotions appropriately. For example, Maude and her husband work with their 11-year-old to deal with volatile feelings. "We help him identify early on why he is acting this way, in part because he sometimes becomes aggressive with others. By doing so, we hope he will be able to spot his "danger zone" before he gets there." Likewise, Anguzza and his wife help their child, who is in a new "boy-girl" relationship. "We talk about relationships, and wanting to spend all your time with that person, and priorities. When puberty kicks in, school is often not a priority and we want to counter that."

In the end, love and understanding are key. As Maude says, "We want our children to be comfortable and to understand their own body's language. We want them to feel secure and safe knowing who they are and that they are beautiful, inside and out. We want them to be joyful in their bodies, enjoying the gifts of life and love and pleasure responsibly."