There is nothing in the world that compares to the life of a modern teen female. They are constantly bombarded with images of impossibly thin young women who are taunted as the perfect woman before their bodies are even finished with the growth cycle.
This leads many of them to try and fit into the mold that has been set before and above them.
If you are a parent with a daughter who is less than happy with her body, then there are a few things you can do to help her get through the awkward and confusing years to come.
The most important thing you can do is to be an emotionally supportive parent and be there when she needs you most.
Allowing her to know that she can turn to you when she feels the need without the fear that you will be judgmental or trivialize her feelings will go a long way in building a trusting relationship.
One of the hang-ups that parents and their teens get caught up in is the type of clothes that your teen wants to wear.
During the teenage years, clothes are a way for teens to express themselves. If you are too critical of the clothing she wears, she may get the wrong idea, and believe that it is her that you disapprove of, and not the clothes.
This does not mean that you have to let your child wear inappropriate clothing. What it does mean is that when it comes to clothes, if they are clean and the child is not inappropriately exposed, allow your teen some leeway in what she would like to wear.
Compromise is very important in any relationship, and you can help your teen earn this important skill early if you exhibit the willingness to do so.
If you want them to wear a certain type of clothing to church or other functions, then let your teen wear something they like when it really isn’t an issue.
If you have more than one child, you must be very careful never to compare one to the other.
Remember that we are each different no matter how closely related we may be. Everything from eating habits to the way we react to certain circumstances will be different from one another.
If you compare one child to another, you are giving that child a feeling of not measuring up to her sibling, which is not emotionally healthy.
If your daughter has a tendency to do things you do not allow, explain it to her in clear and non-judgmental terms instead of saying anything about (or comparing her to) her siblings.
One of the things that parents are always concerned about is the food that our children consume.
Be aware that your child will go through eating phases that you may not particularly care for, but it is completely normal.
When it comes to food, the best thing that you can do is to offer healthy food at mealtime and provide snacks that are not junk food.
Be certain that you maintain a healthy eating regimen as well, for you can bet that your teen will take notice of your eating habits.
Lastly, be sure to provide your family with plenty of exercises by scheduling regular family activities.
By teaching your teen to stay active, you can help her stay healthier. Swimming, biking, skating, and tennis are excellent exercise activities.
Try to pick some activities that are available year-round so that during the winter months your family still gets their exercise.
