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Mother/Daughter 101: Smart Tips for Raising Girls

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Let Her Pursue Her Interests

We've all heard the stereotypes: stage mom, soccer mom, dance mom, pageant mom... Mothers who get too pushy or obsessed with their daughter's interests give involved parenting a bad rap. The first step in not becoming one of those moms who lives vicariously through their child is to allow your daughter to choose her own interests, especially by her tween and teen years. The next step is to be an adult and keep a level head as you get more and more involved in the sport or activity — don't make her do hours of dance rehearsal at home and don't "boo" the opposing team at her big game out of your desire for her (and, by association, you) to win. If she tries an activity that is "your thing" for a season and then has a burning desire to quit, don't push her. There's something to be said for sticking with a sport or hobby through a season or trial period, but forcing a child to do something they don't like long-term can backfire. If your daughter is a college-bound teen, know that one or two extracurricular activities that she chooses and really loves can be more of an asset than one (or 10) that Mom and Dad pushed her to do.

Next: Avoid Becoming Her "Fixer"

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