101 Words of Wisdom for My Teenage Daughter

Heather Burnett
January 27, 2017

Family, Lifestyle

1K Shares

Stay tuned if you’re looking for timeless advice for your tween or teenager. I wrote 101 Words of Wisdom for My Teenage Daughter for you. As a mother of two girls, I continually think about their future, self-esteem, and the negative impacts of today’s social media-charged world on their values.

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Being a mom is a challenge; raising confident girls with strong self-esteem and body confidence is a calling.

And a struggle.

You want to make an impact without being a nag.

You want to gently point your daughters in the right direction without appearing as that preachy mom or, worse, a hypocrite.

In a perfect world, you could take these Words of Wisdom for My Teenage Daughter, print them out, hand them to your daughter, and she’d live by them.

But you and I know we aren’t living in a perfect world.

So, use these words of wisdom as a conversation starter – you never know how much she may open up and share something she’s going through after you open the door to communication.

101 Words of Wisdom for My Teenage Daughter

Always be yourself

Fitting in is out. Send your daughter the message that what makes her different—her unique personality, out-of-the-box thinking, eclectic style, and background—is an asset.

Chanel said it best – In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.

The world has changed dramatically with the rise of social media, and our girls measure their worth by the number of likes and shares. This phenomenon hit home with me when my 14-year-old daughter confessed her birthday excitement was overshadowed by anxiety regarding how many likes she would get on Instagram.

Talk to your daughters about how their social platforms impact their self-esteem. Build their confidence by encouraging their unique abilities and talents. And open a conversation about healthy amounts of screen time.

Happiness is a choice

Happiness doesn’t just happen. It is a choice we make every day. I encourage you to talk to your daughters and find out how they define happiness. Do they believe they have to earn it? Or buy it?

You can help her find her “happy” through more experiences and less stuff. Not that having beautiful things is terrible, but living a life for material items will never be satisfying. But filling your life with memories of experiences that bring joy leads to a more fulfilled existence.

Live in the moment

High School may not be the best time of your life

If high school were a breeze for everyone, John Hughes wouldn’t have made millions on movies about frustrated teens like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Do not wait until everything is perfect

Perfect doesn’t exist

Find your Why

Your “why” is your passion & if you follow it you’ll be successful – and happy.

Food will never fill an emotional void – Not even chocolate

Music is therapy

Don’t be a Regina

Be a Kady

Fall in love with someone who loves you back

Take care of your skin

Find a cause that means something to you

Pray

Live with passion

Stand up for what is right even if it is not popular

Talk yourself OUT of your excuses

You don’t need makeup

But if you wear it-go easy on the eyeliner

Wear the heels

(It’s ok to be taller than he is)

Take risks

It’s ok to fail

Our girls need to know that failing doesn’t define them. We learn more from our failures than we do from our triumphs.

Do you know what Anna Wintour, Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Lada Gaga, Thomas Edison, Stephen King, Micheal Jordan, and Jk Rowling have in common?

Failure.

Nobody makes it big without taking risks and falling down a few times.

Don’t procrastinate

Jeans are investment pieces

Embrace your flaws

Ditch the filters – You don’t need them

Laugh – Often

Say Please & Thank You

But never compromise your integrity to be polite

Life is not a competition

Even though it seems like it now

Stay away from gossips

People who belittle people will always be little people

Krispy Kreme doughnuts are a million times better hot

Tell the truth. Trust me, it is easier.

Keep a journal

Throw a party without a pity theme

Don’t rely on someone else to make you happy

You do not have to be a size 4 to be beautiful

I don’t care what they say about the chemicals

Always park in well-lit areas

Be kind to others

Smile

Memorize these safety tips – they may save your life

There’s always going to be someone with more than you & less than you

Be grateful for what you have now

Don’t play dumb

Don’t be a Drama Queen

Life is not a soap opera

Wake up early

Stay up late

Watch the news, read newspapers – and check your sources

Stop comparing yourself to others

Be the first one to say “I love you.”

Be the first one to say “I’m sorry.”

Learn how to take a compliment

Learn how to take criticism

If he treats his mother poorly…RUN

Make a Bucket List

Forgive yourself

Move On

Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of yours

Learn how to laugh at yourself

Be ok with how you sound

Stop apologizing when it’s unnecessary

Don’t ditch your girlfriends for a guy

Don’t accept a last minute date invitation

If he were that into you, he would’ve called sooner

Never let fear hold you back

Early is on time.

On time is late.

Late is unacceptable.

Your value cannot be measured by a GPA

Or a scale

Or a mirror

Or a bank account

Or a friend group

Don’t change for a boyfriend

Volunteer – Make random acts of kindness a habit

Donate something with the tags still on it

Dream big

It’s ok to cry

Showing your emotions is a sign of strength

Not weakness

Find joy in every moment

Find friends that believe in you as much as I do

Memorize these quotes

Finally, Never forget how much I love you and that I’m on your side – no matter what

Our daughters are growing up in a new era, and they face more challenges and opportunities than any previous generation.

By opening the lines of communication, we can guide them in the right direction and lead them to a life filled with self-love, self-esteem, and a full-filling, authentic experience.