Moms are eager for tips and wisdom to help them build strong relationships with their daughters, and Kari Kampakis’s Love Her Well gives them ten practical ways to do so, not by changing their daughters but by changing their own thoughts, actions, and mind-set. For many women, having a baby girl is a dream come true. Yet as girls grow up, the narrative of innocence and joy changes to gloom and … gloom and doom as moms are told, “Just wait until she’s a teenager!” and handed a disheartening script that treats a teenage girl’s final years at home as solely a season to survive.
Author and blogger Kari Kampakis suggests it’s time to change the narrative and mind-set that lead moms to parent teen girls with a spirit of defeat, not strength. By improving the foundation, habits, and dynamics of the relationship, mothers can connect with their teen daughters and earn a voice in their lives that allows moms to offer guidance, love, wisdom, and emotional support.
As a mom of four daughters (three of whom are teenagers), Kari has learned the hard way that as girls grow up, mothers must grow up too. In Love Her Well, Kari shares ten ways that moms can better connect with their daughters in a challenging season, including:
- choosing their words and timing carefully,
- listening and empathizing with her teen’s world,
- seeing the good and loving her for who she is,
- taking care of themselves and having a support system, and more.
This book isn’t a guide to help mothers “fix” their daughters or make them behave. Rather, it’s about a mom’s journey, doing the heart work and legwork necessary to love a teenager while still being a strong, steady parent. Kari explores how every relationship consists of two imperfect sinners, and teenagers gain more respect for their parents when they admit (and learn from) their mistakes, apologize, listen, give grace, and try to understand their teens’ point of view. Yes, teenagers need rules and consequences, but without a connected relationship, parents may never gain a significant voice in their lives or be a safe place they long to return to.
By admitting her personal failures and prideful mistakes that have hurt her relationships with her teenage daughters, Kari gives mothers hope and reminds them all things are possible through God. By leaning on him, mothers gain the wisdom, guidance, protection, and clarity they need to grow strong relationships with their daughters at every age, especially during the critical teen years.
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As a mother to a teenage girl, this was the perfect book for me. My daughter, my first born child was my miracle baby and truly a dream come true that completed my family – my own family. As I read Kari’s book, I find that I agreed, nodded my head a lot – her words and guidance provide wonderful wisdom and the support all mothers need. I found her life experience and what she has shared to be so comforting and loving – never preachy but like having a best friend and a great support system.
I wanted my mother to have had read this book – it would have helped her and myself. What I loved is that I did not need to be the perfect mom to my teenage daughter. We are allowed to make mistakes along the way and give grace to ourselves and our children. The teen years are critical for our teenagers and yes it is tough, but with the right mindset and guidance, it didn’t have to be the painful years, but some of the best years as a parent to a child.
Kari Kampakis book, Love Her Well is not only a wonderful guide to parents, but is also inspirational and hopeful. Full of love and practical advice, Kari Kampakis provides sound guidance to empathizing in our role as a parent and to solidify the loving connection with our teens.
What a great read I needed. I highly recommend.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Love Her Well by Kari Kampakis is a wonderful book that helps moms through the difficult teen years of their daughter’s life.
This book has 10 chapters. 10 ways to find joy and connection with your teenage daughter. In each of these chapters you will find other list, like:
1.In chapter 2) Fourteen Realities Impacting Todays Teen Girls
2. In chapter 4) Twenty Ways To Grow A Relationship With Your Teen Daughter
3. In chapter 7) Fifteen Ways To Be Your Daughter’s Emotional Coach
And there are more, this should be enough to get a feel of what this book teaches. There are Reflection Questions to help remember and discuss things you have read. There is no way I can lost every topic in this book. This author though of everything. A few things that I highlighted are social media, self confidence, emotional self control, letting your daughter have feelings, knowing your daughters interests and passions, and so so many more.
If you have a teenage daughter in your life, or any age daughter really, this book can help you in so many ways. I wish there had been a book like this for boys when my son was growing up. I believe this book can help both daughter and mom adjust to the new life. And I will throw this in, I think dads that are raising their daughter can benefit from this as much as a mom can. All in all, I love this book. As I read it, there was a peace knowing that you can find the help you need with your child at this age. I just may keep the peace at times there could be real problems. Keep this book as a reference to go to as much as needed.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
“Choose Your Words (and Timing) Carefully”. What mother hasn’t learned this truth when dealing with a teenage daughter? When I saw that this was the title of the first chapter of Love Her Well, I was certain that good advice was waiting inside, and I was right! Author Kari Kampakis has filled her book with many nuggets of wisdom (and humor) to help mothers establish a loving relationship with their daughters. There are a total of ten chapters and they all include a suitable quote, a personal story or illustration, Bible scripture, and reflection questions to further increase understanding. I especially like that the last chapter focuses on praying for your daughter and helping her grow in her faith, because I believe that this is the most important thing that a mother can do for her children, both female and male!
This book is a treasury of lists, tips, and useful suggestions and it is a wonderful resource for mothers! I just wish that Love Her Well had been available when I was trying to create that special connection with my own daughter!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.