One regret I have from high school and college is not reaching out more beyond my circle and letting God open the door to unexpected blessings. As multiple elementary schools merge, it’s a prime opportunity to make new friends and get to know different people who bring out different sides of you. Stay loyal to your old friends and know who you count on, but keep yourself open to making fun new connections. Remember that everyone is learning and gradually maturing. "Parents should take an active role in teaching and helping their kids understand what normal dating behaviours are." By understanding what "healthy" dating is at this age, parents can set limits and protect their child. At the end of the day, "it's better than saying they shouldn't date at all." "What is healthy is being in a group of boys and girls and transitioning from same-sex-only groups into groups in contact with the other sex," says Connolly. This survey also found that sex is considered a large part of dating by teens. Perhaps even more alarmingly, it also found significant levels of abuse in these relationships. This is a tricky thing to navigate for girls and their moms. Be patient, pray for good friends, and pray to be a good friend. By holding yourself to high standards, becoming the friend you wish to find, and choosing to be an encourager rather than a critic, you set yourself up for positive and long-lasting relationships. Even when you find your “people”, always leave room at the table to invite someone new in. While I’ve been really proud of the friend choices my daughters have made – and I feel certain that many friends, including old friends from elementary school, will be friends for life – it’s hard to see an old friendship slip away and wonder what ever happened to that cute girl you used to see all the time. A girl who your daughter thought was a friend (in my I call them 50/50 friends) does something hurtful or mean. Last Friday night we took my daughter and some friends to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday.
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