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
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
When a parent is deployed with the military it can... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
What parents of a teen haven't wondered where their sweet... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
Though you can cover even very long distances by car... Read More
In the last few years, parents started getting more and... Read More
It is so important to create an environment that promotes... Read More
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The... Read More
What's hard for teenagersHaving people who don't understand you trying... Read More
Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of... Read More
Why do some children still do best after divorce and... Read More
A study done by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found... Read More
You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More
The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More
She slipped her small, soft eight-year-old hand into mine. Her... Read More
'And all because of a damned cat! It's only a... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
When a child wets the bed they worry. Children tend... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
What parent hasn't gone into a son's or daughter's room... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
When a parent is deployed with the military it can... Read More
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a... Read More
"Walk through any toy store and you will see walls... Read More
The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More
It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
One of the biggest milestones in our children's education is... Read More
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way... Read More
One of the most difficult parts of being a father... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More
Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on... Read More
It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
Raising a pre-teen or teenage daughter (or son) is not... Read More
Home schooling. What is it? What does it mean to... Read More
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
Every week I write something about the stock market -... Read More
Predicament:My son is 4 1/2 years old. His younger brother... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
When you talk about multiply your child's intelligence, you can't... Read More
For many adults, reading a book or newspaper seems effortless.... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
Parenting |