“How was your day at school?” I asked my 5-year-old as she climbed into her car seat, her little fingers working the buckle with impressive skill.
“I had an amazing day!” she chirped. “I painted a rainbow and then Lucas kissed me on the lips!”
Oh, the dread! I felt like I was being transported to another dimension, where my own grandmother appeared in a glowing light, shaking her head with an amused smile.
“Just take me now,” I thought, trying to navigate through this uncharted parenting territory. “I can’t handle it!”
“Oh, sweetie, I understand,” she said, giving me a gentle push back to reality. “That’s just part of being a parent.”
Since my three daughters arrived, I’ve often felt unprepared for the meaningful discussions that come with their growing up. Now that they’re 4, 5, and 6, here’s a glimpse into the twelve conversations I never expected to have until they were much older:
- Attitude
Thank you, radio, for instilling catchy, sassy lyrics that my daughters can’t stop singing. Yes, I know you’re “just being you,” but please put on a proper shirt! - Loss
After attending a family funeral, I found myself caught between comforting them with thoughts of a better place and their insistence that they want to go to heaven to “do whatever they like.” - Friendship Drama
Girl drama starts young! Witnessing your child being excluded stings just as much as when it happened to you a few decades ago. - Self-Image
“Mom, I don’t want to wear my coat. It makes me look big,” my 6-year-old lamented. In that moment, I realized I’m now a role model for her self-esteem, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. - Swearing
I’m puzzled where they picked up bad language, particularly after I responded to her coat comment with, “No way, sweetie, you look fabulous!” - The Birds and the Bees
“Mommy, how does a baby get in her tummy?”
“How about we discuss how it gets out instead?” Five minutes later: “And that’s why playground kisses are a no-go!” - Real-Life Scary Situations
Sadly, active shooter drills are a reality. If anyone has tips on making this less terrifying for kids, I’m all ears. - Tech Temptations
No, you cannot have a smartphone for your 7th birthday! You have two friends, and they don’t have phones either! - Online Sharing
I’ve heard that kids can start Instagram at age 10. Seriously? When I shared my worries, friends reassured me their kids’ accounts are private and filled only with silly selfies. It took all my strength not to give a “back in my day” speech. - Sports Challenges
My kindergarten daughter spent most of the soccer season on the bench, which she despised. Her dad ended up in a disagreement with the coach, and we decided to move on. - Future Expenses
Our financial advisor informed us that college tuition will skyrocket to approximately 5.2 billion dollars by the time our oldest graduates. What I thought would be a simple savings plan has morphed into a significant monthly expenditure! - Emotional Ups and Downs
You might believe that you’ll escape the mood swings because you have girls, but boys can experience just as many emotional twists and turns.
To all the parents out there, hang in there! The parenting landscape is vastly different from what we experienced as kids, and everything seems to advance a few years—except for those trendy belly shirts. Thankfully, there was no Instagram back in my day!
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Summary: Parenting young daughters comes with unexpected conversations, from body image issues to the complexities of friendship drama. As they navigate through life’s challenges, parents must be prepared for discussions they never anticipated. With the landscape of childhood changing rapidly, it’s essential to approach these topics with care and understanding.