By Kirstie McWilliams-Myvett
I don’t recall spending much one-on-one time with my own mother while growing up, but one particular memory is clear as day. I’d written an essay about the importance of mothers and won. The prize was a limousine ride, dinner and tickets to see a play. My mother and I were like two ecstatic teens. It was a nice outing without the distraction of my brother and a day I’ll never forget. Here are some suggestions for you, if you’re wondering what might be a fun idea for an outing with your daughter.
- Vision Board – This is a great project designed to inspire and keep your daughter focused on her future goals. The materials needed are old magazines, scissors, glue sticks, markers and a poster board. (If you’re short on magazines, try freecycle.org). Both mother and daughter should have her own vision boards that reflect their personal hopes and dreams for the future. My vision board includes quotes, motivating words and even a Victorian home I’d like to one day own. Be sure to place the completed board where it can be seen and offer daily inspiration.
- Spa Day ““ We’re not talking the Ritz but a comfy chair or pillows in your home will suffice. Materials needed are pretty polish and nail tools. Now you’re all set to give your baby girl a pampering session. Let your daughter pick out her polish and start with clean trim nails. Many beauty supply stores sell nail stickers with cute designs younger girls like such as butterflies and jewels. Spa Day is the perfect time to talk about both inner and outer beauty with your daughter. Don’t forget to tell her just how beautiful you think she is!
- Do Lunch. Take your daughter to her favorite spot. If it happens to be a burger joint you don’t particularly like you can always order coffee or a salad. The key is to create an atmosphere of conversation. This isn’t a time to lecture or bring up for the hundredth time why she didn’t make up her bed that morning. I have found out many things that I wouldn’t have otherwise over a relaxing meal, with just the two of us, where I purposely listened.
- Exercise. This will enable the both of you to get in shape together. Some suggestions are bike riding, skating or aerobics. When my daughter was around nine or ten we had a blast belly dancing from a video I’d rented at the library. She enjoyed it more than me and it really was funny watching her little non-existent hips move to the beat of Middle Eastern music.
- Give Back ““ Recently my daughter and I baked dozens of cookies with children in a homeless shelter to give to their mother’s as a Christmas gift. I can’t tell you how rewarding that experience was for me in sharing it with my own teenage daughter. Once upon a time we really looked out for one another as a community. My Grandmother told stories of being sent across the street to an elderly neighbor’s house to wash the dishes and clean up because the lady was ill. Just look around you and see the need in your community and neighborhood. It’s important to teach our daughter’s to live conscious, unselfish lives and to look for opportunities to make someone else smile.
These suggestions don’t cost much but the time that you invest in your relationship with your daughter is priceless.
Kirstie McWilliams-Myvett is a wife, mom, and neverending work in progress. She blogs at Doing Me: Mind | Body | Spirit
Ms. Chris says
Let her “do” your hair. My 3-yr-old loves to give me a new hairstyle, that is her time and she brags about it to the whole. Bake cupcakes or cookies, my daughter loves to be my “assistant chef” … that is her time and she loves it. One-on-one time doesn’t have to cost a thing and she talks about it with my husband and her brothers as to say “na na nee boo boo, I spent time with mom” LOL
sunsetssplendor says
That’s so sweet Ms. Chris
BusyMomof4 says
This was a fantastic article! I’m going to incorporate some of these ideas into my parenting!
M. Smith says
What an amazing article! Though I am not a mother, it brought back such beauiful memories of those special one-on-one moments I spent with my mom growing up as a young teen. I’m going to forward this article to my many friends who do have daughters, as I think the ideas shared here by the author are Fantastic!
Anonymous says
Thanks for sharing these ideas. It is so important that we take the time and are intentional about investing in our children.
One thing I like to do with my daughter is play the piano – we duet on Chopsticks. We also play games together, and I have been known to treat us both to pedicures at the local nail shop.
parentstrainup says
I love the article. Children grow up so fast, these moments are gone permanently when they pass us by. Those are great ideas.
Tthomas_attorney says
Wonderful ideas! As the mother of a girl after having 4 boys, I really enjoy the girl time part of this parenting journey. She is a joy and truly changed my life. I was so content with all my boys, I didn’t even realize the other types of joy I could have as a mother of a daughter. I’m glad God saw fit to bless us with her. She changed the WHOLE dynamic of our house…for her dad, for her brothers and certainly for me!