Ways To Have "Girl Time" With Your Daughter

Some of my most treasured memories from growing up involve "girl time" with my mom. Even if we didn't call it that, I feel special that she wanted to do things with just me. I don't remember specific conversations so much as just being given the gift of her time. If you would like to make similar memories with your daughters, here are a few ideas. If money is an issue, most of them can be done without spending much at all.


-Around "prom time", try on formal dresses and take pictures of the ones you like. At other times of the year, put together some of the best (and worst!) outfits and take pictures. 

-Some makeup counters will give free makeovers. Ditto nail salons. If not free, find coupons for reduced-price manicures or pedicures. Better yet, buy a kit from the store and put them on each other! There are all kinds of interesting designs in the cosmetics section, some of which are overlays that can be easily removed.

-It might be fun to let your daughter do your makeup and nails, especially if she doesn't know much about it! You could come out looking pretty garish, but that's part of the fun! Take pictures.

-Set up a sundae bar and make each other sundaes or banana splits.

-On the "food" tip, find a recipe you can make together. This post and this page can give you ideas.

-Find some dish that you both like and make it "yours".  At Pizza Hut, my mom and I had "our" pizza-Thin 'n Crispy pepperoni with green peppers and black olives. It was a pizza no one else in our family liked, so it was the perfect thing for us to have on a day out.

-On a non-school night, have a "slumber party". Watch movies, pop popcorn, break out the chocolate and snuggle on the couch in your pajamas. For extra fun, pick a movie with an actor you both find attractive. My mom and I used to "agree on" Pierce Brosnan. :)

-We used to get felt and sequins from the store and make clothes for our dolls-My Little Ponies, in my case. Have a “fashion show” with the dolls or make up skits and act them out.

-On the “fashion show” tip, play “agent” and dress your daughters up for a photo shoot or show to perform for you.

-Go to a new restaurant or one you don't normally get to go to. Make it "yours".

-Speaking of which, pick a day and make it a point to go out and do something on a regular basis. Shopping at Walmart and going to "our" Chinese restaurant in a nearby town was one of my favorite things to do with my mother. I miss her.

Successful Parenting Tips For Widows

Being a widow is something that can change your life when you are a parent as well. Some widows have the inner strength to remarry in their lifetimes, and others choose to stay on their own and parent singly. This can be done, and you can raise an incredible child as widow single parent.

Tips to start off on the right foot as a widow parent are to firstly, always start off being a parent that you always were. Do not try to become someone that you are not as your children will not take to this very kindly. Instead, parent as you once did and be compassionate when you need to be. For example, when your child does something they need punished for, speak to them about it and go from there. Do not allow your child to turn into a "bad apple" as a result of losing one of the parents. While they have every reason in the world to be grieving and upset, they do not have a license to act up. Some kids will use this time to their own advantage and become a tougher, more disobedient kid.

If you permit them to be defiant, they will. An option is to be clear and firm that you want your lives to remain as they were when discipline was concerned. That they need to be responsive of you just as they were before your spouse was gone. It will be something they try their luck at, and you need to be strong. Realize that you are in control, and that there may be days when you and your children will need to rely on each other. Leaning on one another for support during the first few years will be something you both look back on fondly.

Try to take the negatives out of this experience being a widow has brought and turn them into positives. Spend more time with your kids, they need you now and they need to know you can handle their lives on your own now more than ever. Do fun things together, do things you did once when your spouse was around as well it can be very healing for your children. Start new traditions, ones that your kids will adore and that can form new memories and take their minds off of the past events. Ask them what types of activities they would like to do together as a family now. They may have some excellent choices in their heads, and always take pictures! Make new photo books and memories to hang on the walls in your home to remind them that things re going to be just fine.