Staying close

[kitk]

I'm clearly thinking (anxiously) ahead a bit but DD is 8 and I'm worrying about when she's a teen and naturally hates me that she'll want to go live with her dad. I wasn't close to my mum as a teen but don't want to replicate that when DD is a teen. For those of you who are close to you our teen daughters can you explain why you think that is and how you have managed to succeed?

This is a lovely post, such optimism. There may be many times ahead you’ll be praying for her to go and live with her dad

Talk, about all the mindless stuff they’re interested in. Know her friends as much as you can, especially going into secondary. Have the house they all want to be in and you can monitor more easily. Create safe space for her to grow into, literally and metaphorically. And try and see the young woman she’s becoming and respect her.
Good luck x