I don’t know about you, but having children is the most rewarding, frustrating and exciting experience that life could offer you. It’s rewarding, because you get to build these tiny little people from scratch and then you get to watch them grow and develop into fully-functioning adults. It’s frustrating, because creating miniature versions of yourself means a lot of repeating yourself and guiding free spirits down the right path. It’s exciting, because you get to bond so completely with the children that you are raising, and you get to burst with pride every single day because of it.

Bonding with children is such an important part of raising them as secure and happy individuals, but the bond between a mother and daughter is something else. Mothers and daughters are known for their fighting and arguing as their daughter reaches teenage years. There’s the phrase about too many cooks spoil the broth, but with mothers and daughters, two hens in the nest often lead to fall outs. It’s because of this that cultivating a strong bond between you and your daughter is so important. There are going to be times where hormones interrupt your normal everyday lives, but if you take the time to work on your relationship, you can create a bond which is unbreakable. Here’s how:

Outings. Leave the boys in the house and take your daughter out for the day. Whether you choose to go for a trip to get her first ear piercings, or you head out for a posh afternoon tea, outings are important. Getting out of the four walls of the home and going into the world together to share tastes and experiences? That’s priceless and a great way to create memories.

Journaling. Feelings are difficult to talk about for a child of any age, so introducing a concept of journaling together is so vital to the success of your mother/daughter bond. Before bedtime, ask your daughter to write down any thoughts or feelings that she’s too uncomfortable to say out loud. While she sleeps, you can respond. For some girls, writing their feelings down makes it easier to communicate in a comfortable way. If you understand this and don’t push the issue, you’ll gain a mutual respect.

Date. You are mother and daughter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t head out on a date. Shopping trips, mini spa days at the local beauty salon and even a date to the cinema. The key is to spend time together one on one and just enjoy each other’s company. Being together and learning what you both like is a good way to bond with your daughter.

You don’t have to stick to convention and be the mother and daughter that argue as your cycles sync. Take the time to get to know each other as individuals and you can really build a lasting bond that others will be jealous of. Figure out your common interests and work from there; you’ll never regret it.