As someone who was a teenage girl myself, I must admit that I’m worried about crossing this bridge with my future daughter. After all, karma has a way of coming back around, and I wasn’t exactly an easy kid. However, after talking to many different parents, nannying for teenagers, and going through those awkward teenage years myself, I’ve got some tips to help parents with teenage girls. Ready? Let’s get started.

Keep the lines of communication open

Many of my friends were surprised at how much I shared with my mum while growing up. I had friends who couldn’t tell their parents anything because they were afraid of judgment, or worse, punishment. Here’s the thing, there’s a big difference between being a parent and trying to be a friend to a teenager. Teenagers need boundaries, but there’s no reason why they should be worried to come to you when they have a problem or simply want to talk.

If your teenage daughter has shut down those lines of communication, make sure they have another trusted adult in their lives that they can turn to. This could be an aunt or uncle, family friend, coach, or older sibling.

Be cool with the whole puberty thing

Puberty isn’t fun for anyone- teenagers, parents, and especially teenage girls. Since everyone develops at different times, Knixteen is a great option here, as they can help prevent some of the embarrassment that comes along with that time of the month.

If you find that your daughter is having particularly bad periods, it may be worth talking to her about the pill or another contraception method that may regulate her hormones.

Have the talk

As someone who went to a Catholic all-girls school, I can tell you right now that it’s crucial that you talk to your daughters about the birds and the bees. You simply can’t rely on a school health class or teenage gossip to tell them what they need to know.

While it’s important to explain the facts of life, it’s also crucial that you speak to them about things like peer pressure, consent, and the fact that ‘No’ is a complete sentence.

Consider Self-Defense

As a teenager, I did Tae Kwon Do and karate, and have plans to send my daughter to a self-defense class as well. Not only is this a great way to keep fit and strong, but it helps instill a level of confidence- for both girls and their parents.