As a mom who has both a teen boy and a teen girl. I have to say girls are MUCH harder. Now, I know this is not always true. Talking to friends, it is about 50/50. So this may be a case-by-case basis…
Regardless, I have never met a mom with a girl who has said the teen years were a breeze. Girls are complicated, as we know. So many emotions, coupled with the raging hormones = you never know what you may get when she wakes up in the morning. We also know the mood can change at the drop of a hat. As a mom, we absorb ALL the emotions. It just feels like we are riding one crazy rollercoaster! Throw puberty and peri-menopause into the mix, and it’s a real bag of fun!
I will say, my mom and I had a great relationship. I can only recount a few instances where I remember being upset with her, or not seeing eye to eye. I know this is pretty abnormal. But I learned a lot from her. My daughter and I have a good relationship, but not as good as my mom and I had it! I feel like my mom was SO low-key; she never got too emotional. She was kind; she was extremely patient. I am NOT that chill or patient. And I have a high-energy, fiery, Aries daughter.
I feel a sense of accomplishment just getting through the middle-school years. As a teenager myself, these were by far the hardest years. We still have high school ahead, which I know can be challenging. But here is what I have learned so far, and passing this along to all of you with younger girls…
Communication-this is the biggest one, IMO. Checking in with her often (without being annoying or pushy about it) will give you a good read on her relationships and how she is feeling. If she doesn’t open up with you, it’s good to plan one-on-one time. Plan a day doing things she loves. I feel like kids open up on car rides, or when you are doing something where they feel less guarded and more comfortable.
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