Recipe for Raising a Daughter (Wiki-Style)

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Directions

Mom! Please give me your best advice for raising Godly daughters. Up to two bullet points, succinct is best.

This simple method will create a batch of wisdom you can freeze for later use.

1 beautiful name that has a biblical meaning. eg. Pamela means sweet speech, sweet like honey.

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Prov 16:24)

Countless hours playing chauffer. Use the driving time productively for meaningful conversation. Ask about her friends, homework, needs, interests, and schedule.

1 block of time for focussed listening/week. Let her "vent "her feelings without trying to solve her problems. Give her a "voice."

To the best of your ability and as much as it's in your control, try to strengthen your daughter's relationship with her dad. How? Model a healthy marriage for your daughter, show love and affection to your spouse, be quick to forgive your spouse. Remind your husband, if need be, to take your daughter on special dates. Pray. (Jennifer at Diary of 1)

Teach your daughter modesty from a very young age. Don't think that the Disney princess with the plunging neckline has no effect on her. Be watchful of TV shows or videos you allow her to view, and be her guardian and protector. Pray. (Jennifer at Diary of 1)

Spend as much time as you can with your girl. They follow by example! (Lori at Living For The Simple Things in Life)

Dad's are so important to daughters...and to sons for that matter. But research has proven that when a daughter is not connected to her father in a meaningful and lasting way....the choices she makes in her future are clouded by the absence of that relationship. Dad's matter! (Diane at Partners in Prayer For Our Prodigals)

With raising girls--encouraging them to learn communication skills and to give the boys time to talk but also teaching them that boys are different and have different relationship skills than themselves--it has made a huge difference in how they relate to one another and to their dad. (Heather at Graced By Christ)

Reinforcing the male relationships in their lives and teaching them how to communicate in a way that the males can cope (Men are like Waffles and Women are like Spaghetti talks a lot about this and it has changed our household for the good.) (Heather at Graced By Christ)

I agree with other comments THE DAD is so important. Girls always look for male approval, if they don't get it from their fathers they will look elsewhere. As girls (women) we were created to be a helper to a man. This is a spiritual truth. Regardless of what NOW says. Prepare her to fulfill her purpose. (Gratefullivin at Gratitude Journal)

Teach her Gratitude. Gratitude leads to a positive outlook on life. Show her that all things really do work together for good to those who love God. Even when things go wrong, and they will, help her to find something positive for which to be Grateful. (Gratefullivin at Gratitude Journal)

Allow her to be secure in Gods love. Let her know that she is important to God as well as to her family. Sometimes school and church will conflict, let her choose. Do not force. This will create honesty and a sense of priority. (Gratefullivin at Gratitude Journal)

I try really hard to apologize to my older girls right away when we snap at each other or get into a disagreement ... I want to teach them to talk things out quickly and to forgive -- we try never to stay mad. (Tara at Livesay Haiti Weblog)

With my older girls ... we speak very candidly and honestly about boys, dating and marriage (and sex) --- I want them to know what the Bible says in this area (and what God has planned is best!) and know how to avoid the traps that await them in these areas ... it has made for really open communication. (Tara at Livesay Haiti Weblog)

Weekly "dates" with her dad are a must. (that might mean going to the local restaurant for french fries and chocolate milk) or sitting in her room and reading a book. (Ruth at It's True Sighed Roo)

Pray for your kids every single day asking for their protection from evil and wisdom from God. If we as parents are not praying for our kids, who is? (Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage)

Affirm their beauty and worth DAILY. IMHO, when a daughter feels like a princess at home, she won't seek needy affirmation elsewhere. And I think it's okay to focus on her "special" characteristics of external beauty (the way her mouth curls in a smile, her deep and thoughtful eyes, her sense of style, the beauty mark by her left eye, her graceful walk, etc.) as well as her internal beauty (her kindness to younger children, her encouragement to friends, her discipline in studies, etc.). They need to hear words of affirmation often. (Robin at PENSIEVE)

I think it's important to plant seeds of thought now and to cast vision for their future. I tell ALL our children (not just my daughter) that choosing their spouse is the single-most important decision they'll make in this life (following their salvation decision). I want her/them to understand the gravity and long-ranging effects of this decision. We're trying to help them focus on healthy friendships, not teenage drama and angst tied up in middle school/high school "relationships". Our culture is soooo driven to "dating" or going together when really too young to understand the greater implications--kids give their hearts away a thousand times, and by the time the possible real thing comes along, somehow it's deluded. (Robin at PENSIEVE)

Make sure home is a refuge! I want my daughter (children) to know I will listen without judgment, comfort, when they need a shoulder to lean on, and not react (over-react) when they tell me something that curls my toenails! They fight battles every day I'll never know about (arguments with classmates, "insulted" by a teacher....) and they need to come home to a safe haven. Kids can be cruel, they can be very insensitive to their words/actions. (Robin at PENSIEVE)

I'll type your advice here. (Please leave your thoughts in the comment box at my weblog Chrysalis. Thank you!)