3 Ways to Connect with Your Daughter
One of my favorite events of the year is a Mother + Daughter wellness retreat I plan with friend and personal trainer Jayne Chapuis. It is called Inside & Out and it is a great opportunity for mothers and daughters to bond, learn about their own unique personalities and ways to live a healthy lifestyle. It is such a gift to see moms and their tween and teen daughters connect and grow, away from the hurry and chaos of their regular lives.
I feel the time with my own daughter slipping away. Now that she is in high school, I see college on the horizon, and I know I am losing time with her by the minute. During these precious years, I desperately want to connect with her, but sometimes it is difficult to know how.
Do you ever feel this way about your tween or teen daughter?
I want to encourage those of you with young women at home to invest in your relationship. Create moments now. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
#1: Take time away with her.
Get out of the busyness, the rush, and the hurry. Get unplugged and away from the constant barrage of texts and social media. Your girl needs to know that you see her. Go to the beach. Go to the mountains. Head to a spa or a cabin. Go anywhere you can focus on each other instead of being hounded by the “tyranny of the urgent,” as Charles Hummel describes it.
#2: Understand how she is created.
God wired us all with our own unique temperaments. Some of us love being around people. Some of us need to recharge in peace and quiet. Some of us want to take on the world. Others are content letting someone else lead. Who is your girl? What are her strengths? What are her hopes? What are her dreams? When I lead mothers and daughters in activities that highlight their own unique personalities, we uncover ways to connect on a deeper level.
#3: Validate and listen to her.
She is worthy. She is chosen. She is unique. These are truths girls need to hear from their moms. Ask her questions and really listen. You might be surprised what she shares when she knows your attention is only on her. Express your unconditional love for her. Let her know that you won the mom lottery. Make her believe that she matters, is seen, and is loved.
Whatever age our girls are, they need to know that we see them. They need to know they are loved. They need to know we believe they have superpowers and can’t wait to watch them fly!
You are amazing! Now start living like it!
