Help, My Daughter is a Tween

Help, my daughter is a tween! Let me clarify that, in fact, she is only 10. Am I in trouble or what? My daughter is amazing, creative, full of life and more ideas than I can fit in my brain. But, she exhausts me. Every idea, I feel needs a wait, not now. We can't afford that right now, let's think about this more realistically. Why can't you just go play with your sister and brothers? Mom, can I make this five course elaborate meal that actually requires your step by step help? Mom, can I sew a designer dress without a pattern when I've never had sewing lessons and you only know how to sew a straight stitch? Mom, can I take 6 dance classes, two art classes, piano, sewing, soccer, and karate?

I ask myself, how can I encourage and support her excitement for life and desire to "subdue the earth" with her creativity, "set about her work vigorously"? How can I do these things while also encouraging contentment, gratitude, and a gentle and quiet spirit?

Some thoughts come to mind:

Model being a woman with these virtues, one who seeks The Lord and lives a contented life. One who works hard and uses her creativity for God's purposes.

Pray for her, she is growing into the woman The Lord desires her to be but she is not there yet, give her space, give her grace, be her encourager and her confidante.

Find outlets for her creativity, consider the budget and allow her to develop skills that will benefit her and others as she becomes more gifted in her pursuits.

Look for ways to do things together, to teach while she helps in making meals, designing a weekly menu, creating a picture wall, purposeful tasks that she can come alongside and add her flair to.

Love her, give her hugs even when she scowls at you, meet her with hot cocoa and cookies after school and allow her to pour out her feelings.

Remember God is still molding you, you have many imperfections as well, He gives us grace, be that grace for her.

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