My 2 cents as a father of a preteen boy, and uncle to 2 teen boys and 2 teen girls. At age 15, she's still a kid. I know teens go thru all sorts of angst, but she is still a kid. Relate to her on a "kid level." Does she like ice cream? Go out for ice cream. Does she like amusement parks? Take her to one. Anything she did as a younger child that made her happy, try redoing/revisiting that, and maybe she'll draw on fond memories of her adolescence and remember happier times enjoying being a kid. Drawing on fond childhood memories can sometimes "de-program" the irritable/goth teen years. So that might be a start.
Talk to her. Spend 30 minutes at first entirely disconnected from TV, Internet, social media, phones. And don't just talk, but LISTEN. Start with a topic of interest to her and connect. Then graduate from 30 minutes to 60. And again, do more listening than talking so she can open up and feel safe. Also, learn about whatever topics she is interested. With my 2 nieces, I knew nothing about their topics/interests, so I had to learn them (which was somewhat painful but worth it just so I could relate and not be that "old person")
Kwew2u, you are like the dad I always wished I had. Your kids are lucky and you walking this world blesses many more than you think :) THANKS for being you
All I know is that everyone responds to love and I think at the core of our being we all want to know we are loved and accepted for who we are...perhaps ask her about her beliefs and her life...goals, likes and dislikes...just to open up some avenues of conversation...that's a rough age but sometimes the tougher they seem - the more they are crying out for love....God bless you and yours...a challenging journey...thank you enough for caring for this one soul that God dearly loves....
What you never want to say in the future. "I wish I would have done something when I had the chance."
My 2 cents as a father of a preteen boy, and uncle to 2 teen boys and 2 teen girls. At age 15, she's still a kid. I know teens go thru all sorts of angst, but she is still a kid. Relate to her on a "kid level." Does she like ice cream? Go out for ice cream. Does she like amusement parks? Take her to one. Anything she did as a younger child that made her happy, try redoing/revisiting that, and maybe she'll draw on fond memories of her adolescence and remember happier times enjoying being a kid. Drawing on fond childhood memories can sometimes "de-program" the irritable/goth teen years. So that might be a start.
Talk to her. Spend 30 minutes at first entirely disconnected from TV, Internet, social media, phones. And don't just talk, but LISTEN. Start with a topic of interest to her and connect. Then graduate from 30 minutes to 60. And again, do more listening than talking so she can open up and feel safe. Also, learn about whatever topics she is interested. With my 2 nieces, I knew nothing about their topics/interests, so I had to learn them (which was somewhat painful but worth it just so I could relate and not be that "old person")
Kwew2u, you are like the dad I always wished I had. Your kids are lucky and you walking this world blesses many more than you think :) THANKS for being you
Very kind of you anon. Ty.
All I know is that everyone responds to love and I think at the core of our being we all want to know we are loved and accepted for who we are...perhaps ask her about her beliefs and her life...goals, likes and dislikes...just to open up some avenues of conversation...that's a rough age but sometimes the tougher they seem - the more they are crying out for love....God bless you and yours...a challenging journey...thank you enough for caring for this one soul that God dearly loves....
Can you ask her to help care for any pets or animals you have at your place? Even feeding chickens or helping brush the dog might soften her up a bit.