10 Ways to Raise a Daughter Who’s F.A.B. (Focused, Authentic & Brave)

I talk a lot on the blog about the role fathers play in teen girls' lives.

There's no question that girls who have a healthy relationship with their fathers reap the "(DAD)vantages."

But today, I want to focus on the role mothers play in teen girls' lives.

Because girls who have a healthy relationship with their mothers enjoy (MOM)entum in life. (I know it's cheesy but work with me here). wink

Remember at the beginning of this school year, when I shared the 10 things every teen girl needed for Back2School (and for life), that you wouldn't find on a supply list?

I even included a special download for your daughter called 10 Things Every Teen Girl Needs to be F.A.B. (Focused, Authentic & Brave).

Today, in honor of Mother's Day, I have something just for you!

10 Ways to Raise a Daughter Who's F.A.B. (Focused, Authentic & Brave):

[Read more…]

How to Help Your Daughter Live a Purpose, NOT Pleasure-Driven Life

You're probably familiar with Burger King's slogan, "Have it Your Way."

I believe it sums up today's culture perfectly.

It's all about chasing after what you want.

Doing what makes you "feel good."

And teens are certainly not immune.

That sense of pleasure so many of our teens crave?

We both know it's NOT sustainable.

And what happens when the "thrill is gone?"

They're left unfulfilled and yearning for something or someone greater to provide meaning to their life.

In honor of Good Friday and Holy Week, today's post is about helping your daughter find that greater meaning to her life, outside of pleasure.

From the time we were born, we were taught to chase the momentary satisfaction. We were taught to find the largest high to fulfill our greatest lows and for me, that was sex. I gained my ultimate satisfaction from the opinion of man. It wasn’t until I discovered that a righteous, pure, just man died for me, that I found my true value and worth, Jesus Christ. Now I no longer have to chase the momentary satisfaction because I’ve found a permanent one. Thank you for planting a seed in all of our lives Ms. Jackie. What you do matters.

Like the young lady above, many girls turn to sex thinking it will make them "feel good."

[Read more…]

How to Bridge the Communication Gap Between You and Your Teen!

woman-59963556

Teaching teens about making healthy choices is not just about me giving teens information.

It's also about the information I get from them.

And boy do I learn a lot!

My goal is to take what they teach me and share it with parents like you.

Why?

To help bridge the communication gap between parents and teens.

And ultimately help you build a closer relationship with your daughter.

I start by asking girls in my class to share what they don’t understand about their parents.

And what they don’t think their parents understand about them.

Today I want to talk about two of their responses that come up in almost every class.

[Read more…]

The Perfect Valentine’s Gift for You and Your Teen Daughter

The best Valentine’s Day gift you and your daughter could give each other?

For her to love herself.

Why? Because girls who love themselves are F. A.B. (Focused, Authentic & Brave).

These girls also make better choices.

When girls make better choices, parenting them becomes so much more enjoyable.

It's the gift that keeps on giving…to both you and your daughter.

There is less conflict between the two of you.

You don’t have to stay on top of her about her grades/schoolwork.

And you don't have to worry about her seeking validation from her relationship status.

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Relationships

[Read more…]

2017 in Review: The Year of the Parent

Happy New Year!

I hope your 2018 is off to a great start!

I've already had two assemblies and taught four classes each day for two days.

After a much-needed break, it was great to get back to what I love.

As I mentioned last week, this is the time of year when I do my annual review.

And let me tell you, 2017 was amazing! laugh

2017_ReviewA Year of Many Firsts

I alone cannot change the world; but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. ~Mother Theresa

My goal every year is to create more ripples.

Check out the timeline below to see how I was able to do just that in 2017.

[Read more…]

5 Things You Want Your Teen Daughter to Leave Behind in 2017

Untitled designFor many adults, this is the time of year when we conduct an annual review of our own lives over the past 365 days.

We anticipate what we'd like to accomplish and who we want to be in the new year by first reflecting over the one we've just had—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I believe it's a good idea for teens to do the same.

So, I encourage you to help your daughter take a personal inventory of what worked well and what didn't this year. 

That way, she'll know what to carry over from 2017. And more importantly what NOT to carry over into 2018.

Forgetting those things which lay behind…

To get the ball rolling, here are five things I believe every teen girl should leave behind in 2017:

1.  The need to please. So many girls tell me they have sex because they want to make their boyfriends happy. As if making their boyfriends happy is their sole purpose in life. It's heartbreaking to witness. That's why it's so important that you remind your daughter often that she is NOT responsible for any guy's happiness. Only her own, which is more than enough.

[Read more…]

I Count You Among My Many Blessings!

thanksgt_tpi

Can you believe 2017 is almost over?? I can't! Once again, the year has flown by and here we are about to celebrate another Thanksgiving. 

In honor of this special time of year, I would like to share with you a few of the things I’m thankful for.

Of course, I’m always thankful for that which is so easy to take for granted—my health, family, and friends.

I’m humbled that God would trust me to be one of His vessels bringing hope and healing to a generation of youth so desperate for TRUTH. And grateful that He continues to guide me in the best way to do so.

 A Plan for Parents

I realized in 2017 that one of the best ways to help teens make good choices is to utilize technology to equip their parents via online trainings.

[Read more…]

What Teen Guys “Get” About Commitment That Teen Girls Don’t!

People in love with african little girl and boy holding hands in park. Cropped view

In last week’s post, I talked about how girls view sex as “forever,” and guys do not.  It is the same thing with commitment. Teen girls imagine a “happily ever after” while guys think “we’re monogamous for now.”

And you know what? I can’t be mad at guys for that.

What Guys “Get” that Girls Don’t

Here’s why I think guys get commitment right, and I wish girls would take a page out of their book:

After a girl in class complained about boys being unable to commit in a relationship, a young man who had admitted earlier to being sexually active commented, 

Why do girls expect long-term commitments at our age? We are too immature to commit. We don’t really know who we are yet, and the person I am now is probably different than the person I’ll be later. If I don’t even know who I’m going to be in 5 years, why do they expect us to know who we want to be with in 5 years?

“We are too immature…We don’t really know who we are yet…”

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Read more…]

Three #Back2School Conversations You NEED to Have With Your Daughter!

teen daughter and mother talking

Welcome back to my #Back2School with Jackie B blog post series. I hope you’ve found the first two posts to be helpful for both you and your daughter as she kicks off a new school year.

You especially want to make sure your daughter has her copy of my FREE Checklist, 10 Things Every Teen Girl Needs to be F.A.B.. Go here to download it today!

In part three of the series, I would like to share three conversations I believe every parent of a teen daughter needs to have to prepare her for a successful and stress-free new school year.

Obviously, there are countless conversations that can and should be had with your daughter over the course of this school year. (The more the merrier if you ask me).

But these are three that routinely come up with girls in my classroom, that I think would have a far greater impact with your daughter if initiated by you at home.

1. "I expect you to do your best, not be 'the best.'"

One of the complaints I continue to hear from teen girls, particularly 8th graders, is that they are under constant pressure to be perfect.

[Read more…]

10 Things Every Girl Needs for #Back2School You Won’t Find on a Supply List

Welcome back to the second post of my #Back2School with Jackie B. series. If you live in the Southeast like I do, you’re probably cart-deep in #Back2School shopping for your daughter. 

B2S ChecklistNew clothes. New uniforms. New backpack. New school supplies. 

All are important items to have for the new year.

But if you really want to make sure your daughter is prepared for #Back2School, make sure she stocks up on the following 10 things you won’t find on any supply list:

[Read more…]