I am a mother of five--four girls and one boy.. Girls do stuff like this. Next time, go with her! Say, "Hey, let's go on a midnight walk!" (I'm not kidding, I loved it when my mom tried to join my world a little, once we went around a graveyard and scared each other, just for fun!) After that, I just adored my mother. There was no "pulling away---regular teen-age stuff", we were just bonded and friends! Work on your own mother-daughter bonding. Don't make home life unbearable, just work for understanding and FUN between the two of you! These are hard years, and they need all the parental LOVE AND SUPPORT that they can get; and contrary to what the media and others might tell you, kids really DO want their parents support and they care what they think. Of course you worry about her safety, every parent does. But don't ground her and make her feel that she has to defy you to "have a little fun" because that is what this age wants...a chance to spread their wings and "experience life", so you as a parent need to give her those opportunities. Their are excellent youth programs in most churches --the Latter-Day Saint church has an excellent young women's program if you want to get her involved in something like this. Group sports are good, it gives girls focus and puts them together with other girls their age and gives them something good to work towards (sport skills, winning, teamwork, etc.) If you will work on positively helping her spread her wings, then you will both be a lot happier. Sometimes you will NOT be able to keep an eye on her, that is just how life is at this age. You need to TEACH her your values, then EXPECT her to follow your rules, and LOVE HER and TRUST HER. Say, I know you have many choices, I know I can trust you to make the rights ones. If she breaks that trust, start over and have a little pow-wow, but always let her know of your love. Good luck and God bless.
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I am a mother of five--four girls and one boy.. Girls do stuff like this. Next time, go with her! Say, "Hey, let's go on a midnight walk!" (I'm not kidding, I loved it when my mom tried to join my world a little, once we went around a graveyard and scared each other, just for fun!) After that, I just adored my mother. There was no "pulling away---regular teen-age stuff", we were just bonded and friends! Work on your own mother-daughter bonding. Don't make home life unbearable, just work for understanding and FUN between the two of you! These are hard years, and they need all the parental LOVE AND SUPPORT that they can get; and contrary to what the media and others might tell you, kids really DO want their parents support and they care what they think. Of course you worry about her safety, every parent does. But don't ground her and make her feel that she has to defy you to "have a little fun" because that is what this age wants...a chance to spread their wings and "experience life", so you as a parent need to give her those opportunities. Their are excellent youth programs in most churches --the Latter-Day Saint church has an excellent young women's program if you want to get her involved in something like this. Group sports are good, it gives girls focus and puts them together with other girls their age and gives them something good to work towards (sport skills, winning, teamwork, etc.) If you will work on positively helping her spread her wings, then you will both be a lot happier. Sometimes you will NOT be able to keep an eye on her, that is just how life is at this age. You need to TEACH her your values, then EXPECT her to follow your rules, and LOVE HER and TRUST HER. Say, I know you have many choices, I know I can trust you to make the rights ones. If she breaks that trust, start over and have a little pow-wow, but always let her know of your love. Good luck and God bless.