Parenting teen girls is no easy task. This image here offers the perfect metaphor for parenting. Think of books as your maps. Maybe your map started out with the classic “What To Expect When You’re Expecting.” Then moved to parenting books like “Love and Logic.” Now that she’s in the tween/teen years, any of Lisa Damour’s amazing writings can be a valuable guide. Books are great maps through an ever changing landscape of child development.
While books are wonderful resources, like the photograph here, the landscape to your daughter can appear to have no entry point even with the best of books in hand. The brush is thick, you can’t find a path, and you are not sure what direction to go. It might feel like this terrain when your daughter’s door is closed with her face buried in her phone. Furthermore, maybe it feels like impenetrable territory when she’s in the kitchen ranting about how much she hates school, teachers, or life. You can’t find a way into reach her and might be wondering what to do.
Remember Parenting Teen Girls Isn’t Easy But…
Here’s what I have to offer you. I want you to remember you have a compass inside of you. You’ve been using it the whole time. As a parent, you have an inner wisdom to take care of your girl. You know her best, even when it might feel like you don’t. You’ve been leading her through all sorts of landscapes and even the best of mountaineers can feel lost and hopeless only to find their way again. Maybe an alternate route. Even letting someone else take lead. Remember, parenting teens girls is no easy task. But we find our way, whether climbing mountains, hiking through the unknown, or raising our girls. In closing, read your books. Trust your compass. Know you and your girl will make it through.
Resources for Parents With Teen Girls
There are many wonderful resources for parents when it feels like your map is inadequate or your compass isn’t working. Wise Girl Workshops parenting workshops to help parents get on track and find there way. Please check our upcoming workshops to see what’s available now. Or join our mailing list to see what’s to come.
Here’s to growing Wise Girls!
