The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in that I don't have much time left to spend with her! She's turning 16 in a couple of months, and I know I won't be seeing her much after she gets her driver's license.
It's hard to find things to do with your teenage daughter. You might be busy, they might have better things to do...I encourage you not to let this time slip away from you. Our interests may be very different from theirs, but there's always things you can do to bridge the gap.
If you have more than one daughter, then make sure they each get their special time alone with you. I have found that these activities are also great for bonding with teens you want to reach out to and build relationships with, like a step-daughter.
I've done all of the following activities with my daughter and/or step-daughter and haven't regretted a moment. Someday I will be able to look back and appreciate the moments we shared, and I hope they will too.
1. Take your dog(s) on a walk together.
2. Cook dinner together, letting her choose the menu and help shop for the ingredients.
3. Pick her up from school and take her out to lunch, even if she misses part of a class.
4. Drive to the closest big city for the night, stay in a hotel, and spend all the next day shopping and sightseeing, taking time to stop for lunch at an outdoor cafe.
5. Read the same book together and talk about it when you're done reading it.
6. Do a scriptural book study together.
7. Get up early on a Saturday morning, go get coffee, and spend the morning going to yard sales or looking through thrift shops or dollar stores.
8. Make cookies together to give to a friend.
9. Make holiday gifts together to give to friends and family. Visit http://www.crafty-moms.com for easy craft ideas.
10. Go with your daughter to the concert of her choice.
11. Buy her the materials to start a high school scrapbook. Work on your scrapbooks while she works on hers.
12. Join a local fitness club and work out together. My daughter and I joined a local women's gym that is very inexpensive ($40/month for both of us). We get up at 5:00 a.m. three days a week to go exercise before she goes to school and I go to work.
13. Go to the local video store and rent a couple of "chick flicks" to enjoy together in the comfort of your home. Kick the men out of the house and lounge around in your pajamas.
About The Author
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit her web sites at http://www.crafty-moms.com and http://www.crafty-moms.com
Culver prom limo ..As I sit here and reflect on the past two... Read More
We take it for granted that children know how money... Read More
Public education in the United States has never been equal... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
The key to lifelong learning is reading and writing. When... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
My cousin boasts five names and I confess that when... Read More
Have you made your usual New Year resolutions? You know... Read More
Traditionally, babies have been named at a christening/baptism.... Read More
Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
Just two days ago, another 15-year old child was added... Read More
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
As a step daughter and step grand daughter, I followed... Read More
Back in college, I wrote for a five-day-a-week, award-winning campus... Read More
My son is 6 yrs old. He came home the... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
Saying no to our children is not always easy or... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
I have a bit of a different response than most... Read More
Part of the responsibility of being a father is to... Read More
"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More
Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More
Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
Is there a fathering instinct?Celebrated child development expert Erik Erikson... Read More
What's in a name? Er?well, everything, really! Of course your... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of... Read More
1. STOP focusing on what you are going to make... Read More
Saying no to our children is not always easy or... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Many working families choose a commercial or individual day care... Read More
Often I will hear parents say, "I just ignore Jr.... Read More
Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second... Read More
I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More
In theory, working at home is an ideal situation. But... Read More
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
Article based on a friend's experienceI just wanted to share... Read More
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
How many times have you flipped through the pages of... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for,"... Read More
Home schooling. What is it? What does it mean to... Read More
Baby names are as diverse as the people to whom... Read More
It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More
As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
Parenting |