Stress is a common mother-daughter experience

When your teen¡¯s hormone ¨C AND friendship ¨C fluctuations are IN high drive AND your nerves HAVE BEEN sassed AND moped raw, tension, stress AND heated arguments (or staunch silent treatments) are inevitable. You may feel like THE only mom IN THE world with a surly inconsolable daughter, but you aren¡¯t alone ¨C AND deep down you know it. You just wish there was some way TO help your daughter deal with her stress.677

Provide structure, stability AND predictability

Preparing your daughter FOR potentially stressful situations, like a healthcare appointment (particularly her first gynecological visit), will help ease her worries. Also, IN general, make sure she understands your rules AND routines AND sticks TO them ¨C or will HAVE TO deal with THE consequences. Don¡¯t bend or change rules IN stressful situations ¨C it¡¯s wiser FOR her TO prepare herself FOR an upcoming stressful event. By keeping boundaries AND expectations predictable, you actually help lower your daughter¡¯s stress.4975

Listen reflectively

Ask your daughter what¡¯s wrong. Listen calmly AND nonjudgementally, allowing your daughter TO express her opinions. AND ask questions like, ¡°Then what happened?¡± or ¡°How did that make you feel?¡± TO get THE whole story.7391
Rapini AND Sherman say, ¡°Our goal is TO inspire open communication between mothers AND daughters ¨C TO generate memorable conversations AND unforgettable table talks.¡± AND their book Start Talking is an invaluable resource TO do just that. With more than 113 questions commonly asked by moms AND daughters, ranging from periods AND sex TO self-esteem AND dating, Start Talking presents answers, sample conversations AND real-life stories that make touchy topics palpable AND meaningful.143
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Fat Haters Club: Eating disorders AND teens9929
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Notice OUT loud

Casually observe your child¡¯s feelings AND let her know you are interested IN hearing more ¨C without sounding accusatory.2986
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Additional stress-reducing tips

These are just a few OF THE helpful tips Rapini AND Sherman present IN Start Talking. Start here AND then pick up THE book FOR you AND your daughter. Developing good communication skills is only one OF THE outcomes ¨C Start Talking also fosters raising a daughter who is confident, healthy AND happy. That alone can do wonders IN reducing your own stress AND allow you TO BE confident IN your parenting practices as well as healthy AND happy, too.210

Help your child brainstorm a solution

Suggest activities that will help your daughter feel better now while also solving THE problem. Encourage her TO come up with creative solutions on her own ¨C this will help build her self-esteem.9034
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Be organized

Teach your daughter good organizational AND time-management skills early on. This can make homework AND other responsibilities more manageable AND less overwhelming AND stressful. It also helps her gain time TO relax. Easy starting points: suggest she set OUT her clothes AND books THE night before, pack a healthy lunch, write her to-do things down FOR THE day or week.1985

Get professional help

If your daughter¡¯s behavior seems way OUT OF character AND she's having?trouble functioning at school or at home or is?she¡¯s?exhibiting serious anxiety, ask your doctor TO refer you TO a mental health specialist.6364
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Provide realistic expectations

Celebrate your daughter¡¯s successes (even if they aren¡¯t exactly what you¡¯d hoped for) AND let her know you¡¯re proud OF her. Also, share with her that you, too,?feel stressed sometimes AND that occasionally feeling stressed is normal.6430
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More tips TO talking with your teen

Time TO HAVE THE sex talk with your teen7925

Model positive coping skills

If you practice good problem-solving AND coping skills ¨C like exercising, laughing, or taking a break TO reduce your own stress level ¨C your child will learn from you. Don¡¯t criticize yourself or your daughter ¨C ever!8540
Authors Rapini AND Sherman know how difficult it is TO talk TO daughters about ¨C well, anything, but particularly ¨C personal changes ¨C THE two women HAVE daughters OF their own. But they also know how critical it is FOR moms AND daughters TO HAVE an open AND ongoing dialogue TO help moms raise healthy confident daughters AND FOR daughters TO HAVE a safe place TO ask THE growing myriad OF questions about becoming a woman.1384
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Provide emotional support

Don¡¯t criticize or belittle your daughter¡¯s stressful feelings, even if they do appear trivial TO you. Remember that teens don¡¯t HAVE an adult perspective AND issues relating TO relationships AND body image are extremely important TO them.7605
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