Welcome to the World of Teenage Drama & Post Childhood Management! As a post father of three (two girls & one boy), it's probably one of the most challenging & impressionable periods of their lives (and yours) you'll be exposed to. A few ground rules before we get started:
1) You're the Parent. Be prepared for "tough love" baby....
2) Every move you make, WILL be used later by the adolescent... Chose wisely
3) Don't meddle; but maintain prudent oversight.
4) Get all the facts first and DON'T assume anything before drawing your conclusions
5) Maintain communications with ALCON! This is a must, once communication is lost, it is extremely hard to re-establish.
6) Trust. It's all about trust. Once it's compromised, it too is hard to gain back (on both sides of the issue).
7) Ask questions; but don't interrogate. It's OK to know what's going on.
8) Eat at the Dinner table (if you're not already). It's a good forum for idle "chit - chat".
9) It's OK to say NO.
10) You're the Parent.
OK, with all that said, talk and don't hold conversations behind the scenes. Gain your daughter's trust by hearing her out, without judgement. Set some agreed upon ground rules.
These simple rules worked for my kids & I. We have a strong relationship to this day. Sure we both made mistakes. As I told EACH of my kids: It's not the mistake; but the recovery that makes a person.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!
