Got Any Tips for Raising a Teenage Daughter?

So it’s official: I now am the proud father of a teenager.  It all went down yesterday.  Should I be elated that it’s one step closer to her spreading her wings and flying off on her own or should I simply give in to the fact that it’s the beginning of an uphill climb?  It also means I’m getting older.  I realize now that none of those thoughts strike me as a positive, yet.

Sure, I want to see my daughter grow up to be a responsible, independent woman who is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but it also means that I’m kind of losing a piece of myself.  Don’t get me wrong, I love that she’s older because even though we lock horns, we also talk about grown up stuff a little more.  Some of my favorite times are when Dad has to pick her up after a school function and it’s just the two of us in the car.  You’d be surprised how much you’ll learn during the ride.

My daughter’s words yesterday?  “This is the best birthday, ever!!”  As a parent I love hearing that.  The reason, I’m guessing, is because she finally got a cell phone.  Not an expensive phone that can program the space station, but a simple one that will allow her to call her parents when she needs a ride.  This is what I keep telling myself over and over and over.  I mean, she doesn’t have any friends with cell phones – right?  What have I done?

If you have any tips for raising a teenage daughter please leave a comment on our Facebook page.