FREE! Daughters Community Forum
Share your concerns and advice about the challenges of raising a daughter with other parents and experts. The topics range from cliques to body issues to dating.

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March/April 2008

Interview: John Badalament on modeling healthy relationships
We want our daughters to believe they will be able to “have it all” as they grow up, finding fulfilling work, contributing to the world, and above all, enjoying healthy relationships. Yet in the everyday world of parenting, it’s easy to fall into the familiar, stereotypical roles where moms shoulder the majority of day-to-day child-related tasks as well as become the family’s emotional switchboard. Learn how to transform the powerful parental modeling our girl sees into happier, healthier ways to live from John Badalament, author of The Modern Dads Handbook (Cole Valley Mill, 2007).

January/February 2008

Consider This: How to be your daughter's best friend--and parent by Lauren Szmak
Can we play the role of our daughter's parent or step-parent--and be best friends too? This daughter thinks so, and outlines key strategies for communication and decision-making that will allow a parent-daughter friendship to blossom.

September/October 2007

Our “middle school” life lesson by Michael Campbell
What can middle-school girls teach parents? Plenty, says this dad, who with his daughters discovered lots of parallels between office politics and middle-school social drama. These and other aspects of a girl’s daily life can provide excellent springboards to discussions that get parent and daughter learning life lessons and growing closer.

May/June 2007

Interview: Joe Kelly on the value of play
What do dads and daughters gain through play? Plenty, says Joe Kelly, author of The Dads & Daughters Playbook: 54 Fun Activities for Fathers and Daughters (Broadway, 2007) and dad of two daughters. Dad-daughter play time deepens bonds and creates treasured memories, plus it can teach skills such as creativity and risk-taking. Learn about loads of ways to playfully connect with a daughter (even when a girl’s schedule amps up as she gets older) in this inspirational guide from Kelly, cofounder of the nonprofit Dads & Daughters.

Savor the moments that are slipping away by Karen Stabiner
When our girls are younger, it’s easy to slip into thinking that we always have time to work on our relationship; that things will “work themselves out.” Sometimes they do…or sometimes time slips away and we have regrets of things we can’t redo. This mom of a daughter ready to leave for college reflects on how to “bank the good times” and deal better with the less-than-good times.

The "purposeful parenting" of stepparents by Galen Guengerich
For many of our girls, the primary parenting role is assumed not by their biological parents, but by a stepparent. Yet this reality of American life isn’t often reflected in our cultural images of “parents” and “family,” and especially not in iconic moments such as Mother’s Day, writes Galen Guengerich, a minister and co-parent of a teen daughter along with her mom and stepmom. All of us can learn much from those who cannot take their parental role for granted; who must daily "put their love on the line" through the gifts of time, attention, kindness, and care that characterize the most meaningful parenting.

January/February 2007

The Monday afternoon ice cream ritual by Eve Barker
With most girls dashing around with a challenging school and extracurriculars schedule, it’s hard to find the time and create the space to connect. Dependable rituals can provide the welcoming space that girls crave, discovered this mom of a 12-year-old girl, who can count on a weekly dish of peanut-butter-and-chocolate as well as a link to her daughter’s busy life.

November/December 2006

Creating more connection time with her by Michelle Leise
More and more parents are rearranging their work schedules to be at home when their tween or teen is at home, such as after-school hours. The payoff is a deepened sense of her life, and closer communication. Get tips on why time helps, and how to get more of it to spend with your girl.

September/October 2006

The unexpected upside to my unexpected single fathering by Don Barlow
When this dad became the sole parent of two daughters after his wife’s death, he was thrown into a challenging world of raising girls. Barlow offers insights about his wish that more fathers could experience the advantages of single parenting without enduring the loss of a spouse. His every-day parenting let him truly know his daughters and their lives, with bonds that lent endless rewards to his fathering experience.

November/December 2005

Is She Pulling Away From Dad? by Linda Nielsen
Girls and dads often lose the closeness of earlier years at puberty, when Dad might think it inappropriate to hug and daily parenting work falls more on Mom. With honest talk and rearranged priorities, dads, moms, and daughters can restore the closeness.

Mom, Am I OK? When Her Concerns Become Obsessions
It's not surprising that many girls obsess about possible health problems around the tween and teen years—after all, their bodies are changing rapidly and uncontrollably. This mom learned how to calm fears and keep her confident about her health.

Quizzes: Fun Self-Discovery for Her—and You
Lots of girls love taking quizzes in magazines to find out who they “really” are. The problem with many quizzes is that the shallow questions don't give any real insights. Learn about some great quizzes that actually help girls, and sample a few to do together at the Daughters Community Forum (www.daughters.com) Lifeskills section.

September/October 2005

Is Her Self-Esteem Authentic?
When we heap praise on girls for accomplishments they know aren’t worthy of praise, we can lower, not raise, a girl’s self-esteem. Riera, who’s a dad of a daughter and author of five books on raising children and teens, advises on how to use praise to affirm a girl’s true sense of worth.

March/April 2005

Creating Time Together With Her
As girls grow older, they want different family activities and kinds of parental attention from when they were littler. Here's how to recognize her changing needs, and negotiate regular special time and attention for her even when siblings vie for attention.

Passing Her Your Real Heritage
Sometimes it's hard to admit if you'd ever wished for a son, or wanted the family name to be passed on. But passing on a memorably heritage goes far beyond a child's gender and last names, and happens with the connections of everyday life.

May/June 2004

Carol Eagle on the Brother Factor
A Psychologist, Carol Eagle discusses the benefits-demystifying men, learning to compete and work with men, and other pluses--for girls of having brothers.

The Importance of Real Work
Though many educators discourage work for kids, there are many advantages to giving a girl real, important work to do.

November/December 2003

Are You Buying Her Too Much?
The dark side of overindulging your daughter, and how you can help her learn to manage her money.

July/August 2003

Is She Too Rude? 
All adolescents get a bit surly, but if she¹s gone over the edge on rudeness, you shouldn¹t have to take it any more. How parents can handle this problem and tips for improving it.

March/April 2003

Charlene Giannetti on Girls and Adoption
Most adolescents think their parents are aliens, and are nothing at all like them. But adopted children usually think that their adoption is the reason they feel disconnected from their parents. Charlene Giannette, an adolescent parenting expert, discusses how to handle the questions and feelings that arise with adopted children.

Toward a Family-Work Balance for Dads by Joe Kelly
How many 17-year-old girls say they want to spend more time with their fathers? It can be hard for dads to see what’s important when we strive to balance the demands of paid work and fatherhood. Fortunately, work-family balance is getting some new fatherly attention.

September/October 2002

Helping Her Live with Stepparents
When our daughters are adolescents, adapting to family changes can be even more painful and slow. Fortunately, there’s a lot you ca do to help your daughter through on of the most difficult transitions in her life.