CANDY WASHINGTON

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Parents: 6 Things Your Teenage Daughter Needs to Hear From You

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Hi lovelies,

When you’re the parent of a girl, you will see firsthand how she blossoms from a baby into a young adult. It’s both an exciting and scary time for your daughter, but she knows that she’ll get through the good times and bad because you are there for her.

Though, there are some things that your daughter needs to hear from you every so often - especially during her teenage years. As her parent, you should remind your daughter about the following statements, so she knows just how much you care:

1. I Love You
You obviously love your daughter more than life itself, but how often do you tell her that? The sad truth is some daughters reach adulthood, and when they start families of their own, they reflect on how little their mothers said to them that they loved them.

Don’t make your daughter doubt that you love her. There is nothing wrong with telling her that you love her, especially on a daily basis, because it’s true. When coupled with loving actions, those three words will go a long way to affirming the bond you have with her.

2. I'm Proud of You
The next statement you should tell your daughter regularly is that you’re very proud of her. You don’t need to wait for her to pass an exam or do something specific to warrant such a statement; you should just tell her.

Children often crave the approval of their parents, even if it’s by doing something that you might find insignificant to your life. It’s important to tell your daughter that you’re proud of her and also proud of how she offers her personal best at anything she sets her mind to doing.

3. I'm Here for You
Growing up in an adult-dominated world can be pretty confusing, frustrating, scary, and even anxiety-inducing for teenagers at the best of times. Teens have to cope with changing hormones, peer pressure and learn about stuff like relationships.

Sometimes, your teenage daughter might feel lonely in the big wide world, even though she lives at home with you and is part of a family unit. That’s why it’s crucial to remind her that you’re there for her.

Being there for your daughter can be as simple as hugging her if she’s feeling blue or helping her look for prom dresses if she’s going to graduate from high school soon. Your daughter needs to know and feel that she can depend on you to back her up.

4. Tell Me What's on Your Mind
You will undoubtedly have the best idea of noticing when your daughter seems preoccupied and may appear to struggle with internal conflict or thoughts. Sometimes, there are thoughts or worries that your daughter might feel like she can’t share with someone other than you.

Be there for your daughter and ask her to tell you what’s on her mind. Be the support that she needs, and guide her to making the right choices and decisions. Even when she reaches full adulthood, she’ll still turn to you for moral support.

5. I’m Sorry
Children often see their parents as the font of all knowledge. While it’s true that parents have gone through many experiences in their lives, no one is perfect. Sometimes, parents get things wrong just like teenagers.

It’s for that reason you need to recognize when you’ve said or done something wrong and apologize for your actions (or lack of them). Show your daughter that you didn’t mean to hurt her feelings or cause any sorrow and pain.

Sorry is a simple word in the English language; yet, it’s a word that some people find hard to use.

6. Would You Like Some Help
As mentioned earlier, teenagers typically want to gain their parents’ approval on many things, and to achieve that goal, they will try to figure out certain things for themselves. The trouble is, some parents aren’t quick to offer any help if they see their daughters struggling.

Even if you can’t help with certain situations, you can assist by finding other people that can help. Your daughter shouldn’t feel like she’s alone, especially concerning matters relating to school or friendships.

Sometimes, you can help by simply offering a friendly ear to listen to her concerns (see point four).

Final Thoughts
As a parent, you might sometimes feel like your daughter is driving you crazy. But, you should always remember that she’s still finding her way in the world, even though she might be doing well academically and have lots of friends, for example.

Telling her a few simple phrases or asking questions shows (and reminds) your daughter how much you care for and love her.

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