Re: okay daughter just turned 15.......

HI French.. you posted a reply to one of my posts in the relationship forum and I just recognised yours so I thought I take the time to answer..... Firstly, I know NOTHING about being a parent and the prospect of ever having a teenage girl scares me big time. I know they can be unbearable...havent we all been? What sometimes strikes me that (understandibly)parents can be so annoyed and worked up with the situation that its easy to forget how hard life must be for these teenagers. Nature provides these massive moodswings, you are constantly unhappy with everything, you dont like yourself or your body one bit and you have no clue how life is going on. Also nature makes sure the little bird starts hating everything that mom loves so that the natural process of detachment can go its natural and painful way. Its not her choice to be like that - she is following the flow of nature...so she can leave the nest one day and be an individual...it is meant to be like that. For a while everything you say or do is stupid and they will test and provoke whenever they can. That doesnt mean what she does is right...but you are the smarter one, you are the adult. You keep your loving eyes on her and recognise that conflict cannot be avoided and its noones fault. If you show her some compassion for recognising that her life is tough (God, I'm so happy I dont have to be a teenager right now!)maybe she can accept that and trust you a little and by the time she is twenty she will be your friend! I hope that works.