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