Think back to when your daughter was born. She was so fragile. You held her head otherwise it bobbled. You watched her every move and listened to her every breath on the baby monitor. You covered up sharp corners and barricaded the stairs. You bought the latest and greatest car seat. You protected her from every foreseen hazard you could imagine. Fast forward to the teen years.
THERE’S NO CHILD PROOFING AVAILABLE.
The potential dangers during the teen years are not so easy to ward off. Toilet locks, booster seats, and video cameras can not protect your daughter from getting hurt at this age. She will experience broken friendships. She will have her heart broken. She will feel excluded. She will fail a test. She will have an awful teacher.
DISCOMFORT IS A GIFT.
By experiencing all of these less than desirable things, your daughter will learn about her capabilities and her character. She will understand that she is capable of surviving disappointment. Your daughter will know that emotions come and go. These difficulties will give her the opportunity to ask for help, to connect to the people around her, to put things into perspective. And, most importantly, she will understand that when life is bumpy, she has the strength and resolve to get through it.
YOUR FEARFUL PROTECTION MAKES YOUR DAUGHTER FEEL INCOMPETENT.
If your daughter feels that you are trying to keep her from experiencing the ups and downs of life, it can have a very profound effect on her. It can make her feel incompetent and unable. Wrapping her with bubble wrap can make her feel as if she is made of porcelain: easily broken and unable to be pieced back together.
SHE IS STRONG AND RESILIENT.
It is not easy to see your daughter struggle. I know because I’ve been there. There were times when I wanted to scream at her peers, her teachers, her coaches, the school. It’s fear that brings out the Mama and Papa Bear instinct. Put that fear on the back burner, though, and recognize the strength that your daughter has within her. When you recognize it and acknowledge it, your daughter will begin to see it too.
THE CHANGE IS IN YOUR REACTION.
How you react to a situation can set the tone for your daughter’s reaction. Talking about unfair things are or how mean people are or how incapable people are doesn’t give your daughter the message that she has any control over the situation. If she feels like you have some control, she can begin to feel powerful and confident and strong. So step back and take a deep breath, and let your daughter know…
YOU ARE STRONG AND CAPABLE. YOU CAN HANDLE THIS.
YOU WILL NOT BREAK.
Your daughter will amaze you with her strength, if you will just give her a chance to show it off.
YOU GOT THIS!
With Heart,
Coach Sheri
Get the latest updates on our Facebook Community, Click HERE to Join.
