What To Do If Your Daughter “Pulls a Britney”
I hope we all realize that no one is so far gone that they cannot be reached. Perhaps the most difficult part of being a parent is knowing when to step in and when to let our daughters learn life’s lessons on their own. Watching your daughter hurt herself is possibly the hardest thing a parent can ever experience, and it is my wish for the entire Spears family that they find love and forgiveness and shelter from the storm they are going through.
That being said, parents, it’s time to step up to the plate. If this type of crisis is happening in your home, it’s crucial to her future well-being that you get a handle on it, starting now.
You want so many of the same things, but she doesn’t understand that yet. She wants to be independent, and beautiful. And you want that for her, too. You also want her to be capable, strong, loving, and viable. She doesn’t even know what that means.
It’s likely that you have no credibility with her right now. Even if she sees you as the most awful, stupid, mean parent… stand your ground! Remember, she’s not done growing yet. She thinks she’s grown, but her brain is not yet fully developed. Whether she likes it or not, she needs your firm, loving guidance.
A daughter in crisis is not going to appreciate the following suggestions, but consider them anyway. She’ll thank you when she’s older. As her parent, you need to know what you’re dealing with so that you can figure out how to proceed. (more…)
