I don't have children of my own but work with the junior high youth group at our church. I know they can be a handful in just the short time we have with them One minute they are acting like five year olds and the next minute trying to act like adults. Since we aren't their parents - we try to just listen and steer them in the right direction. It's hard at times when the parents are absentee parents. I will keep you in my prayers and in time this too shall pass.
Catkins, if she is sneaking out of the window, try planting a rose bush, or a bush with thorns under the window, that helped with Sarah.
Thanks for all your posts guys, it really does help to hear other peoples views and experiences. We had a quality day together yesterday, my daughter choose some paint for her bedroom and we spent the day decorating her room together.I explained to her that i understand she is growing up and that while i may be overprotective ( her words) its only because i want the best for her, i told her that her teenage years are a learning process for us both as i have never done this before and there are no rule books to help me.I admit i am a bit over protective, but my girls didnt have the best start and i just want to be able to give them my all.Its so difficult being a mum isnt it? I also told her i am proud of the way she has grown up and i really meant that, she is a beautiful young lady, with all the chances i never had as a child.I think i am partly to blame, maybe in a way, because she is my first born and i find it hard to let go but i think she understands me a bit more now, time will tell. Thanks again xxx catkins
Glad you hear you trying so hard to work this out with her. I dont know how many teenage girls have gone through my house to live because their moms didnt want to deal with them or in several cases, didnt know how. Because of my little sister living with me from 16 to 18, because her and my mom were going at it like cats and dogs, her friends would end up at my house so everyone could have a break. I think thats the reason I remember being a teenager so well. While I dont have any childern, in a sense I did at one time or another. I just dealt with them the way noone did with me. It seemed to work. Im always happy to hear that a mother is trying. You would be surprised how many out there dont.
I to was an over protective parent as I had reasons .My first born Randy was a preemie and lived only 18 1/2 hours .My second son Dennis was almost 10 years old and was run over on his bike and killed .Kevin was 2 1/2 at that time so I really was over protective with him.He was also spoiled rotten ,I blame my self for the things he has done He is doing better now as he is married and is 35 years old .I pray daily for him. He was 4 1/2 years old when Heather was born .
I dont blame you for being overprotective, you have good reason.I dont know how you coped with all that, it pales my problems into insignificance. Catkins xx
You know God gave me the strength to continue .If he hadn't I would not have made it . It was so hard to go on but God had give me Kevin and without him I would have blew my head off.I know thats sounds bad but at that point I thought of Kevin and then I thought of the others these deaths had hurt and I knew I couldn't put them through anymore pain than they had already.I started praying and that calmed me down so I went on with life.
Its wonderful that your faith gets you through, i really admire you, thanks for the kind words you have given me, it has really helped.I have sat back and taken a good look at my relationship with my daughter, i know there are things i have done the wrong way, from now on, i am trying to find a balance and see things from her point of view, after all i was once a teenager ( i think i can just about remember that far back lol) Catkins