4 Ways to Help Your Teen Daughter Get Over Being Dumped

Do you remember how it felt when you first got dumped? It felt like the "dumper" threw small daggers into your heart that shattered it into a million pieces. You hid, cried and dreamed of ways to get the person back. You even wrote silly poems. Now, your teen daughter is walking in your "old" shoes and you're wondering what to do.

Should you ignore what's going on? Should you butt in? Maybe you should call the boy over or speak with his parents? Stop thinking! Below are a few of my own tips. I used them a lot when I volunteered as a mentor for young girls. So - just:

LISTEN TO HER.

What your daughter needs most now is an active ear. So listen. Let her speak. Hold back and don't go down "memory-lane" until it is time to "relate." Your daughter will appreciate you for taking the time. It'll make her feel closer to you.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE "TRUTH."

Do you know what the "truth" is? It is whatever is true to the believer, even if you don't agree with it. So don't dismantle or dismiss your daughter's feelings. Validate them. Acknowledge the depth of your teen's loss. Don't twist or translate the relationship from your eyes and force it into hers. Accept the "truth" as your daughter sees it today. Don't worry. In a couple of months when the air is lighter, it'll change anyway.

GIVE YOUR DAUGHTER A BREAK.

This suggestion is a tricky one because you don't want to overstep your boundaries with your daughter. You don't want to come across as pushy or insensitive. However, it's important that you lighten your teen's mood a bit by doing something fun that she'll enjoy. This fun could be anything from baking cookies or going out for a manicure. Either way, it just needs to give your daughter a break from her sad emotions.

WATCH FOR DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.

Keep a close eye on your daughter right after she's lost her love. Why? You want to check for signs of deep depression and dysfunction such as cutting, bulimia or anorexia. Traumatic experiences can "turn-on" any of these behaviors, so you want to catch it early when it's easiest to fix.

In conclusion, a broken heart is life-event that every girl goes through. Remember this when you deal with your daughter. Use this experience to teach her about life, love, men and herself.