My Daughter's Keeper

Let’s face it, the older your daughter becomes, the harder it is to connect with her. Now, trips to the mall are no-longer your time together, but something she wants to do with her friends. And when it comes to guys, I know you’ve heard “mom, you just couldn’t understand.” Well, stop pulling out your hair because we have all you need to reconnect with your daughter.Music has the power to bring all kinds of people together- It has that same ability for family, too. While Lady Gaga’s songs may seem completely different from the music of The Eurythmics and David Bowie . . . they’re actually not. Take the time to listen to her music and play her some of your favorites, too. Compare the outlandish costumes of Bowie to the bizarre ones of Gaga. Or judge current remakes with their original version (“Right Round” from Flo Rida to “You Spin Me Right Round” by Dead or Alive). You’ll both realize your tastes are a lot similar than you thought.According to eHow, laughter really is the best medicine. Worry and concern for your daughter can sometimes keep you focused on her protection. Unwind every once in a while and take time to laugh with each other. But eHow does add a careful reminder: “She’s supersensitive, so don’t laugh at her. Laughing with your teenage daughter puts the two of you in tune, and that’s the warm feeling you want her to remember.”One of the most important things eHow recommends is to be mindful of both your schedules, but perhaps, more so of hers. As a teenager, her focus is spending time with friends, so “make a list of short activities that only take a half-hour to 3 hours” (eHow). The length shows her that you respect her other plans. And if she rejects making plans one week, no worries, there’s always next time.