Parenting + Supporting PreTeen + Teen Girls

Friendship Truths For Our Girls

Friendships change.

Friendships take skills and people develop those skills at different rates.

You will not always be liked by everybody and you will not like everyone you meet.

You will not always be invited and that is okay.

From Cat + Jessica’s Episode

Written by Rebecca

Affirmation - “When you’re in a tough situation - don’t cower, don’t puff up, stand your ground. You have every right to be here and you are worthy."
Jessica Speer


As mothers of young girls, we loved being introduced to Cat and her podcast, Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them. The conversations and guests offer a look into what we might expect as our girls grow and support for navigating the unknown that parenting during the pre-teen/teen years brings.

I will admit that my own thoughts of motherhood stopped short. I wonder if maybe that is normal? All the reading and preparation and ideas were of our daughter as a baby–you know they will become their own person, but I don’t know how you prepare for the day they are on their own, whether preschool or adulthood. It feels as though part of your heart is living outside of your body and finding the appropriate distance between holding and independence is a moving target. You realize that you cannot anticipate how to forever keep them safe or from experiencing difficulty, but forming a community of support and resources as they grow may get you closer to the target.

This season we featured an episode from Cat’s podcast featuring Jessica Speer, award-winning author, whose work and writing explore the tricky social stuff that peaks during adolescence. While we have not yet rounded the corner to this phase with our own girls, we are excited that some amazing resources are available. Here are some to consider:

Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them by Carmelita Tiu
Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them empowers mindful moms raising girls, especially girls in the pre-tween to mid-teens phase. We provide information, cultivate inspiration, and foster connection, so you can be, and raise, strong women.


BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? A Girl’s Guide to Happy Friendships and Middle School – Safety Goggles Advised. by Jessica Speer
If you’re interested in social-emotional development, friendship and parenting topics, Jessica has a free monthly eNewsletter and a blog with content for children ages 4-13+. Signup on her website, www.JessicaSpeer.com. New subscribers receive a PDF of the Friendship Pyramid from BFF or NRF as well as social emotional resources.


Anyway
Anyway is a new, honest magazine for curious tweens. Their goal is to make the totally awkward totally awesome, with stories that help young people know that their own feelings and experiences are normal.


Girlology (+ Guyology)
Puberty is tough. Give her the tools to make it easier & fun with simple grade by grade video on-demand puberty program.


GALS Institute
If you are looking to find outside support for your child or family, the GALS Institute is a recommendation from a mama in our community. They offer therapy (Southeastern WI) as well as a GALS on the Go Worksop Box: Calm, Cool, Capable is a self-directed interactive, hands-on FREE 6-week workshop delivered to your door. This workshop will help girls and boys entering grades 4-7 build resiliency, self-esteem and learn healthy coping strategies. *$20.00 shipping and handling.


Have other resources you would like to share with our community? Message us!