When you can't help but regard a day as something special because you and your teenage daughter did not quarrel, then you do need some help. Some parents manage to stay close to their teenage daughters, and you might need to know their secrets.
In an article published by She Knows, Dr. Lisa Damour, Laurel School's Center for Research on Girls' Director said that the tension experienced between parents and their teenage daughters comes from parents and not on the latter.
She said, "We know from research that teens live up to expectations and down to them, too." She added, "Parents who expect their teenagers to be difficult and immune to adult influence are more likely to have teens who go on to match those expectations while parents who hold generally positive views of adolescents tend to have teens they enjoy."
According to the good doctor, one thing that many parents must avoid is the top-down approach when trying to help teenage daughters in taking care of themselves. It's better to be an ally, instead of being the aggressor.
"We want our daughters to be safe and we worry about the risks they face, especially as they encounter temptations such as drinking, sexual activity or drug use," said Dr. Damour.
She emphasized on this by comparing two sentences. There's a lot of difference between, "Don't let me catch you drinking," and "I really care about you and would hate to see you get hurt."
If in the process of gently telling her, she would lose it and snap, try to remember that she doesn't necessarily hate you. Many girls would like to have their mothers when they need them, albeit, they're not so expressive about it.
Family Circle has also provided some ways on how you can stay close to your teenage daughter. It stated that you must give your teenager some room. Allow her to feel that she is in control for as long as you don't fail to monitor her.
Another way is to avoid giving your teenage daughter hugs whenever she's with peers. These are acts that can make teenagers feel really embarrassed, and you will just drive her away when you embarrass them among their peers.
These are some of the secrets of parents who stay close to their teenage daughters. If you try following these, you might be surprised to wake up one day, finding breakfast ready for you, courtesy of your lovely teen daughter.
