Planning Your Daughter's Sweet Sixteenth Birthday
When your daughter becomes a teenager, it may sometimes feel like she is slipping away from you
. She would rather be chatting or texting on her phone, social networking on the computer, or going out with her friends. But her sweet sixteen is coming up fast, and you want it to be special.
She probably wants to throw a party and invite her friends--and that's fine and quite normal--but you also want to remind her that she can have a great time with her family. So what is the best way to celebrate so that everyone has a wonderful experience? Let me give you some tips so that you can plan a truly memorable sweet sixteen for your daughter.
Sit down with your daughter to discuss how she envisions her big day. Explain to her just how important it is to you that you spend some time celebrating with the family as well as with her friends.
One of the best ways to ensure this goes over smoothly (as you know, some teenagers just don't think it's "cool" to hang out with family anymore) is to volunteer to help with party preparations. You don't need to go overboard, of course, but when your child is busy with school, they can't handle it all alone.
The day of their birthday, consider letting them skip school--yes, I'm serious--unless that is barred by a major exam or other concern. This may seem irresponsible, but it's one day out of the school year. I know that when my mother whisked me out of class to take me for a manicure and a trip to the hair salon, I felt extra privileged on my birthday.
Don't be surprised if she wants to be in school, however. Plenty of girls want to be there for the attention they will get from their friends.
Another idea is to rent a limousine to escort her to all of her favorite activities. I knew a university faculty member that did exactly this for his daughter. He drove his daughter and his wife to the mall, to get ice cream, and to the movies. This was a great bonding experience for everyone involved, and it made the birthday girl feel like a celebrity.
If your family has a particular birthday ritual, then stick to it. For example, my father always takes us out to a restaurant of our choice. I have known other families that bring the birthday boy or girl breakfast in bed. If you don't have a birthday tradition, then now is the perfect time to begin one.
by: Art Gib
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