Relationships Australia WA has developed a range of tips to help support you during difficult times. As a free resource, we encourage you to share this with your community.
Many girls yearn for connection with their peer groups, seeking validation, friendship, and a sense of belonging. Mothers play a pivotal role in supporting their daughters during this critical time, nurturing their emotional well-being and equipping them with the tools to navigate the challenges of growing up.
Here is a list of suggestions about how you can support your daughters:
- Acknowledge their emotions
Sometimes, you many need to say no to things they want to do. Understand that not being able to go ahead with planned activities or missing out on social interactions is difficult. Take their feelings seriously and listen with empathy and compassion as they talk about their disappointments. Let them know it is OK to feel upset.
- Keep communication flowing
Your daughters know how to navigate their world, so respect their autonomy and refrain from giving unsolicited advice and trying to solve their problems. Instead ask how you can support them and be there to listen whenever they need to talk.
- Spend quality time together
Make the time to bond over games, movies or learning something new. These shared experiences deepens your understanding of who they are as individuals and fosters a stronger connection.
- Give compliments frequently
Girls often face unrealistic societal expectations, which can lead to self-doubt. from society. Share genuine compliments as often as you can to boost their self-esteem and send of self-worth.
Demonstrate healthy emotional management by openly acknowledging your own anxieties and coping mechanisms. By modelling honesty and resilience, you provide them with the valuable tools to navigate challenges effectively.
If you woul like to devleop your mother-daughter relationship and learn how to be a positive role model for your daughter, our Mums Raising Teenage Girls Workshop could be great for you.