Raising a daughter can be a difficult task for anyone. The times have changed from when you were an adolescent, and your daughter is probably facing challenges that you never even knew existed at that age.
The common misconception among young girls is love. Several teen age girls, or even younger, mistake acts of sex for love. Recently a study was done among girls ages twelve to fifteen about love. An astonishing fifty percent of these girls reported they had engaged in sexual relations by the age of thirteen! Most of the sexual relations they had were oral sex. When asked why they are performing oral sex at such a young age the common response from these girls was “so the boys will like us”. Several young girls felt that the attention they received in response for performing oral sex on a boy was love. Sadly, many of these girls are on the path to heartache as they learn that this is not love. Teenage pregnancy is also on the rise. Several adolescents are engaging in sexual relations without protection or thinking of the long term consequences of their actions.
As a parent, how do you talk to your child about the dangers of sexual relations? Several parents avoid the issue altogether and their child is left confused and experimenting on their own. The best thing you can do is listen to your daughter when she begins asking questions about sex and love. Discuss what love means to you and why sexual relations should not be an option until she is at a stage in her life where she truly understands it.
In our society, modesty is an issue that is simply swept under the door. As a parent you should discuss modesty with your daughter and how she can attract unwanted attention from the clothes she is wearing. Adolescent boys are dealing with growing hormones that they do not understand, however they are not the only ones who notice young girls. Unfortunately some adults have serious lust problems and an immodestly dressed young girl could cause them to sexually abuse this girl.
Teach your daughter about modesty and that how she dresses will impact the type of individuals she attracts. Discuss what type of boys she likes to be around and why dressing immodestly could lead to problems like rape or an unplanned pregnancy.
It is also vitally important to teach your daughter how to have a good self esteem. Studies have shown that teenage girls with high self esteems do not suffer from depression, self doubt, fear, or anxiety like other girls their age. By listening to your daughter, you will learn how to help her build a good self esteem and self worth. She needs this confidence as she embarks upon not only her schooling now, but her future schooling, career, and family.
Build your daughter’s relationship with both parents. Many times, fathers take a back seat to their daughters and allow the mother to be the only parent. Even if you absolutely despise shopping, spending this time with your daughter will greatly impact her. Many teenage girls have stated that their father’s approval matters highly in their eyes. As a father, you should speak softly to your daughter during times when you are upset with her. You should never want your daughter to fear you. It is also important for fathers to tell their daughters that they love them and that they are beautiful. Most young girls want to date or marry a man who is like their father, at least that is what a recent study stated! Be a good example to your daughter and never abuse your relationship with her.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to