Communication Skills for Building Positive Mother ~ Daughter Relationships
One of the most important, and most challenging, aspects of raising healthy daughters is finding the best ways to foster open, honest discussions about health, beauty and self-esteem. Our daily exposure to multi-media messages about how women should look and act might not align with our personal values. Our girls want to have regular talks with us; however, they may need us to initiate these important conversations about growing up and becoming healthy young women.
Here are some helpful hints:
Tell the girl or teen in your life about living healthy and feeling good
Take note of the changes she is going through and celebrate her new self
Let her know you want to help her make safe and healthy choices
Be a role model: Make a commitment to your own health and self-esteem
Show an active interest in learning about "her" world:
Explore her girl / teen world. Listen to her music, read magazines and watch television shows
Make time to listen to her radio stations, read her girl/teen magazines, and watch some of her favorite TV programs
Take a look at the websites she visits
Invite her friends over and provide a safe place for them to "hang-out"
Dont insert yourself into conversations, however become a reliable source of trustworthy information for your daughter and her friends.
Talk about the images she sees in magazine, videos, TV
Ask her how she feels about the images she sees
Point out that a lot of media images are retouched or altered with computer programs
Help her combat unrealistic images and body types
Together look for positive images and models of healthy living for her to look up to
In the midst of our busy lives, make it a priority to spend time together. Let your daughter know that you were her age once and can relate to some of her feelings and pressures. Stay calm about the subjects she wants to discuss. End your discussions with positive comments about her abilities and future potential. You might write her a letter or share a special day together. Celebrate your relationship! You will both learn benefit.
