The Brave Girl Blog Navigating Friendship Challenges and Confidence

As the lazy days of winter break come to an end, the thought of jumping back into the school routine can bring about a case of the back-to-school blues for students and parents alike. But worry not! We've put together effective strategies and personal tips to help make this transition smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.

6 Practical Tips to Help Your Daughter Manage the Back-to-School Transition:

Look at Your Schedule: Begin the week by reviewing your schedule. This helps set clear expectations and reduces anxiety about the unknowns of the week ahead.

Plan Enjoyable Activities: Integrate fun activities throughout the week. Whether it's a movie night, a crafting session, or a quick coffee meet-up with a friend, having something to look forward to can significantly uplift spirits.

Shift Your Language: When discussing school work and tasks, change "I have to" to "I get to." This small shift in language can transform tasks into opportunities and reduce feelings of burden.

Organize...

 As we get ready to step into 2025, it's the perfect time to pause, reflect, and plan for the months ahead.

Many of us set resolutions with the best intentions, but often, we don’t have a clear plan on how to achieve them.

This year, let’s do it differently with a simple yet powerful tool that I’m excited to share with you: The Wheel of Life.

Why the Wheel of Life?

The Wheel of Life is an incredible tool that helps us visualize all the important areas of our lives at once. It allows us to see where we are flourishing and where we might need to invest more time and energy. By using this tool, you can create more balance and success in your life in a way that is aligned with your personal values and aspirations. 

How It Works:

1. Setup - Categories: Begin by reviewing the key areas of your life such as Health, Family, Learning, Fun, and Work. You can adjust these categories to better...

Middle and high school can be some of the most challenging years in your daughter’s life.

Between the academic pressures, changing social dynamics, and the search for independence, these years often come with struggles to find meaningful friendships and a sense of belonging. As a parent, you may feel helpless watching your daughter navigate these challenges. But there is hope—connection and community can make all the difference.

Why Connection Matters
Having a strong sense of connection is more than just about having friends. It’s about feeling valued, understood, and supported by others. Research shows that young people who feel connected to a peer group experience lower levels of stress, increased confidence, and improved overall well-being. These connections teach vital social skills, like communication and conflict resolution, that will benefit your daughter for years to come.

The Power of Group Support

I firmly believe in the transformative power of community...

I recently helped one of my coaching clients navigate her first breakup—a painful but significant milestone for so many of us. I can still remember my own first heartbreak back in 1990. At the time, Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U was all over the radio, and it quickly became my heartbreak anthem. To this day, I hear that song and feel the tug of those old emotions.

Because heartbreak is such a universal experience, it’s no wonder that watching our daughters go through it can be especially tough. We might worry about how this breakup will impact her—whether it will shake her confidence or make her wary of future relationships. The impulse to shield her from pain is natural, but the truth is, these experiences can also be powerful opportunities for growth. With the right support, she can come through this stronger and more resilient.

Here are some compassionate, research-backed ways to help your daughter heal and find her strength...

Do you have multiple teenagers living in your house?

If you do have multiple teenagers  I admire you and I'm scared to even ask how many hours you spend in your car each week just driving your kids to all of their activities.

It is so hard dividing our time and attention equally when we have multiple children and when each child has their own set of activities and needs, it can feel like a constant juggling act. I know the busyness of life and the running around can leave us wondering if we’re truly able to make each of our children feel loved and supported.

I was recently reminded of this during a conversation with a dear friend, Ella. She shared a story that many of us can relate to. Ella’s sister, Kim, faced a scheduling conflict: she couldn't attend her daughter Emma’s field hockey game because she was already committed to supporting her son at his football game. Determined to ensure that both her children felt supported, Kim asked Ella to step in and...

Is your daughter struggling with a mean or disrespectful friend in her group?

Many girls I work with in coaching share this same challenge. It's heartbreaking to see how deeply it affects them, especially within their friendships.

Together, we explore why some people behave this way and, most importantly, how your daughter can respond with confidence and strength. By learning these skills, she can take back control of the situation and feel more empowered in her relationships.

When someone is mean or intentionally condescending, their goal is often to get an emotional reaction. They feel powerful when they provoke a response from others, and that reaction gives them the control they want.

Encouraging your daughter to recognize this can be a game-changer. Instead of reacting emotionally—whether by defending herself or becoming apologetic— Use these 6 steps

1. Pause Before Reacting: The first thing your daughter can do when someone is mean or condescending. By...

It can be so tough supporting our daughters through their ups and downs. I know that it can feel overwhelming at times, especially when it seems like we’re carrying the weight of their emotions.

That’s why this week, I recorded a podcast episode just for you on How To Handle Your Daughter's Tough Emotions Without Feeling Overwhelmed: Tips for Moms. 

In the episode, we explore what emotional dumping looks like, how to spot when it’s happening, and, most importantly, how to guide our daughters toward handling their own emotions in healthy ways. If you're short on time, here’s a sneak peek at some key takeaways that you can apply today:

1. Venting or Problem-Solving?

One of the most helpful ways to manage these tough conversations is to ask your daughter, "Do you just want to vent, or are you looking for advice?" This simple question sets the tone, so you're not left guessing whether she wants a listening ear or help...

In our ongoing conversation about the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, this week we're tackling a particularly tricky subject that many of us encounter: passive-aggressive behavior in our teens.

Building on our previous discussion about supporting our daughters through passive-aggressive friendships, if you didn't get a chance to read last week's newsletter check out our blog post on The 5 Signs That Your Daughter Has A Passive Aggressive Friend.

Let's explore how these behaviors can emerge at home and what we can do to address them effectively.

What is Passive-Aggressive Behavior?

Passive-aggressive behavior is often a form of expressing anger or resentment indirectly. This can manifest through sarcasm, procrastination, or silent forms of resistance like the silent treatment or subtle sabotage. It's a sign that our teens may struggle with openly communicating their frustrations, often due to feelings of insecurity or an underdeveloped ability to...

As our daughters embark on their middle school journey, they navigate a complex maze of social, emotional, and academic transformations. Understanding these pivotal changes is crucial in providing them with the support they need.

To further aid you and your daughter during this transition, I offer a course titled 'Survive & Thrive in Middle School.' This course is designed to empower both parents and daughters by addressing the key challenges that middle school brings. It includes modules on how to manage changing friendships, increase self-esteem, handle academic pressures, and navigate the often turbulent social waters of middle school life.

Additionally, the course provides parents with essential guidance on managing their own uncertainties and stresses about middle school, offering strategies to support their daughters effectively. With a mix of video lessons, downloadable PDFs, and interactive activities, the course provides practical strategies and tools to help your...

It's not uncommon for our daughters to come home early in the school year and share that they're not thrilled about a teacher.

This can be frustrating, especially when we're all hoping for a smooth start. Here are some ways we can support our daughters through this challenge:

Listen and Validate Her Feelings
Give her space to talk about how she's feeling without jumping to conclusions or judgments. Listen closely and show empathy. It’s okay for her to feel upset or frustrated, and acknowledging these feelings can make a big difference.

Understand the Root of the Issue
Gently ask questions to find out what's really going on. Is it a clash in personalities, a teaching style that doesn’t resonate, or a specific incident? If you can, try to observe a class or have a brief chat with the teacher to get a broader perspective.

Encourage Problem-Solving
Guide your daughter in pinpointing the exact issues she's facing. Together, brainstorm ways she might address these concerns. For...