Rules for Living with a Teenage Daughter {printable}
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As both of our daughters are becoming young adults right before our eyes, I’m reminded of the piece of paper I’ve had hanging on our fridge for the last 12+ years. Rules for Living with a Teenage Daughter. Successfully raising a teen is no simple task. It’s something that requires, patience, time and attention. Plus, as a parent, you often don’t know if you’ve done a good job until your teen is grown.
We only have 2 years left and we will no longer have a teenage daughter, but I’m happy to say, my husband and I have very happy, loving and close relationships with both of our daughters and I have to think if we made it that way thru the teen years, the rest should be a piece of cake…..right? lol
I think it’s fair to say, most parents want to raise a happy young adult who is capable of having the best that life offers them. So learning a few rules for living with a teenage daughter can help ease the power struggles and keep the doors of communication open.
CLICK to DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE Rules for Living with a Teenage Daughter
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If you’d like a copy of the Rules for Living with a Teenage Daughter for your fridge, I’ve made a printable version you can download and print to frame or hang on your fridge.
if you are raising a teen boy, Amy has a list of 5 things Teen Boys want from Moms
I’d love to hear what advice you might have for raising teenagers in the comments
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Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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Great tips! I need a post about living with a newborn and toddler:)
I remember when my daughter was a newborn listening to a program on a talk show about the perilous relationship between teen girls and their mothers. They cited two books, both of which I ordered immediately, one called something like ‘I Hate You But Will You Drive Pam and I to the Mall?’ I’ve been fortunate with my now 15 year old to never have any issues or conflict (and have loaned out those books but never cracked them for my own need). I agree with this list. Who doesn’t want to feel like they have been heard? I know you have such a great relationship with your girls, and they are lucky to have you as their Mom! Have you asked them what they think of ‘the list’? Wonder if they agree!
Great list. I have five kids, 3 boys and 2 girls. My daughters are 13 and 18 years old and they both have very different personalities. Still, they need the same things from me. I’m fortunate to be close to both my girls but my older daughter and I had a few bumps along the way. These rules are great reminders for not only daughters but sons too.
Just wanted to say you have beautiful daughters. My husband and I raised 2 daughters ourselves and the above rules are awesome. I often told my girls “I love you and will always love you but I don’t like you very much right now!” I do have to say that these rules also apply to living with mothers because sometimes it was me that had these issues and my girls handled me very well.
These are great, I am pretty lucky to have a very sensible daughter (who’s 17) and rarely gives me any issues. Two things I would add for raising a teenage daughter –
Spend time with her – even though they’re out with their friends or working or doing a sport, sometimes they just want some time with you (even though they may not say it). Because most of the time you’re the person they trust the most. They know you will always be there for them.
Don’t be afraid to let them fail and learn from their mistakes (my biggest weakness) – they have to learn just like you did and as much as I would like to surround my daughter in bubblewrap and keep her glued to my side, you are preparing her basically her whole life to go out on her own.
Such great words. We’ll have our first teenage daughter in a number of months!
Yes! I love this on all levels! Sometimes it’s so hard with a teenager daughter trying to figure out good boundaries and staying calm but I thank GOD for her every day!
These rules also apply to 4 year olds who think they’re 14. I’ve said countless times, “I love you too much to allow you to behave this way. Let me love you.” I think its essential that dad’s show their daughters an abundance of affection. I truly believe if she is looking for the comfort and affection of a man, it should be her dad and if she’s getting that, she won’t need so much from boys. While my daughters are still toddlers, these rules are truly foundational skills that I’m hoping to have mastered by the time their teens (I certainly don’t have anything mastered yet!”
Where can I find the download for the frig size printable?? Thank you so much
right in the post where it says “CLICK to DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE Rules for Living with a Teenage Daughter”
My daughter and I fight all the time. She is 13 going on 14 and she argues about everything, she is irrational, self absorbed, entitled, and absolutely refuses to do what I ask of her even when I get really upset she wont back down. She spends every other weekend with her dad and she gets all the fun stuff over there. He spoils her put also puts pressure on her about school constantly through text ect. I feel like its causes her to act out more because she cared more about school and was a productive independent student before he got involved about a year ago. I Love her and I want to make things better but at the same time she is ungrateful and mean each comment out of her mouth is more hurtful then the last. What should I do she makes my life so incredibly stressful and it affects the other siblings as well. Help
I’m just curios, did things get any better for you and your daughter? I’m going through the same thing with my almost 13 year old. She is always so angry and mean, but we love her so much and she has a good life. I don’t know what to do.
You shared great advice to parents. It’s never gonna be easy at first, but eventually they will tame and be the best person they can be growing up. All because you admitted you are not a perfect parent and you need to seek out help to be a better mom or dad out of love for your children. Beautiful blog by the way!
As a 15 year old some of these tips r not okay. For me having some space reduces stress and if I’m by myself I certainly don’t want my personal bubble to be popped: it is a simple way of saying I’m not in a mood to be touched nor have a conversation. If I want affection I will chose to spend time with my parents , talking in a civilised way, also, if I want to have a deep conversation I expect my parents to realise, try to sit down with me and look at me whilst I am talking. Parents need to sence different emotions and take actions to deal with them, because most of the time teens like me don’t know what their feeling and need some guidance- we’re not adults yet!! It should,definitely, not be a competition between mom and daughter – therefore NO ONE should feel defeated- I need know that if I need my mum she will be there, through silly and serious, and to feel a challenging vibe does NOT ALWAYS help (school is enough). If I’m angry and screaming I may target whatever’s trying to suppress my anger (unfortualy) most mums (including mine) try to suppress the anger; it is important to let ur child know what their full rage is otherwise they won’t know their limits. U as a parent need to guide your child through it; whether that’s telling them you’ll talk about it when ur both calmer or put them in a quiet room and just be there, to let them know your there though everything. I know it’s a lot (sorry) but I feel it should be said. ? xx ps. This -I-believe- should work on most girls. I’m not sure on boys.
I was just spending time with my friend’s two step-daughters, and they really bonded with me in just one day because I actually spent time with them and asked them questions about their life.
I think many parents forget how important just listening and being interested is. All you have to do is make your kids feel like they’re really important and be interested in their lives.
A great way to bond is by learning together too…
Whispering when you are angry ? Invading personal space with physical contact?
Eek! These things would have inflamed me further as a teen. My mum is still doing them now and they are really unpleasant when you feel legitimately angry.