At my grandma's funeral an older cousin gave me some advice for raising my girls. She knew the treacherous teen years were coming. She knew that no matter the depth of our parental love and effort, it might not be enough to survive the valleys. Her advice? Foster 5 relationships between your daughter and other adults you trust. Relating with parents who impose all the rules is a tightrope walk for teenagers. Sometimes resting under the rope in the trampoline with another adult makes the performance easier. And certainly we want our little performers learning the answers that plague their muddle their brain from wise adults rather than internet forums.
Why 5? Why not? Currently I struggling to think of three adults who regularly interact with my girls in an invested way. And every person exposes my girls to new strengths and weaknesses. I might not be able to comfort my daughters sometimes, but my neighbor might.
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| An ink drawing Bug made when she was seven while spending time with my friend. |
