Please help me be a better Mum

[Thevoiceishere]

My youngest DD is 11 and it's like all of a sudden she's not little anymore and I dont know what to do, despite having 2 older DD's I just feel like I dont give DD11 the same as when my eldest was 11.

I feel like we just move around each other, I know it's normal for kids to be up in their rooms but theres no Mummy Daughter time and I dont know how to change it or make it more often.

I dont know how to fix this, I have so much guilt and feel I'm ruining her childhood. I'm really bad with routines without the outside world telling us where we need to be and what time.

It's hard to maintain routines in the current climate, what with lock down. But there are things she could do with you - a daily walk maybe? How about offering to buy her goodies if she walks to the shop with you?

Do you give pocket money? I started pocket money aged 11 but made it dependant on housework - I gave each of my children a responsibility within the home and that was "their job" week-in-week-out. In the early days of doing this, you can do the job together so that you're helping her earn her pocket money (and bonding at the same time).

If you're looking for easier bonding activities- my teen daughter loves sun bathing! I make a mocktail jug, set us up with towels and snacks and stuff (and Wi-Fi and phone, obvs) and we just lie around on the back garden.