Valentine's Day and Your Teenage Daughter

Valentine's Day is romance, frills, flowers, and candy--a holiday tailor-made for teen girls. It will be even more fun for your daughter when you tap into your creativity and make plans for this special day. Your teenage daughter may enjoy:

A Night On The Town
If she is currently dating someone, he may want to make plans to take her out on Valentine's Day. After all, it is THE date night of the year. If they will be attending a party, make sure chaperons will be in attendance and all other aspects of the party are in accordance with your expectations. If a meal at a restaurant is their choice, your daughter may need guidance in helping the young man make a suitable choice. Many restaurants have websites on which the menu is posted. If prices are not included, teens can call the restaurant and ask about the price range for entrees'. No teen wants to be confronted at the end of a meal with an unexpectedly expensive bill. If your daughter is currently 'single', you and/or her father may want to take her out for an extra-special meal at a restaurant you would not normally frequent. Reservations are a must at more exclusive restaurants.

Dress The Part
Valentine's Day is a great time to dress for the occasion. Girls will love dressing up or wearing Valentine colors or Valentine-themed clothing. Target, Old Navy, and Wal-mart stores sell holiday T-shirts very inexpensively. If you are not purchasing something new, your daughter may enjoy having you help her put an outfit together from her own closet.

What Is The Meaning of Love?
Valentine's Day is a good time to talk with your daughter about different kinds of love and to reinforce good values. Teens need to have a balance between family life and time with friends. A boyfriend will complicate things even further when trying to achieve this balance. Encourage your daughter to give time to family, friends, school, and volunteering. This is also a good time to talk about sexual values and expectations that your family holds. Many parents give daughters a ring during the teen years to symbolize the promises she will make to her future husband and to encourage abstinence. Valentine's Day is a wonderful time to give your daughter such a gift.

Throw a Party!
Girls love to give and attend parties. If you are helping your daughter give a party, offer these options. You will probably think of other ideas as well.
Dinner Party
Invite several couples or a mix of unattached girls and guys for a sit-down dinner. Use your best china and white tablecloth along with red napkins, flowers, and decorations. The menu can be anything from burgers or tacos to fillet mignon. Just be sure the food is not anything that is messy or difficult to eat.
Themed Party
Decorate in a Valentine theme with an international twist. Serve spaghetti and use red- and white-checked tablecloths and candles in old wine bottles for an Italian theme. Have a family member act as waiter dressed in a black suit with a white towel over one arm. If you know someone who plays the violin, a strolling violinist would be great. Otherwise, borrow a CD of Italian music from your local library.
Winter Cook-Out
If the weather allows, teens will love a mid-winter cook-out on the grill. Decorate the back yard with white Christmas lights, red tablecloths, and pink candles. Use a patio fire pit or build a bonfire. Later, move the party inside for hot cocoa and a movie or a game of Pictionary.
Girls' Night In
If one teen girl loves Valentine's Day, imagine the excitement when your daughter's friends join her for a Valentine weekend sleepover. Have traditional sleepover supplies on hand--movies, popcorn, nail polish--along with a special Valentine meal and decorations. For a great romantic flick that is suitable for all ages, try Ever After starring Drew Barrymore.

Romancing The Novel
If your daughter likes to read, a romance novel is the perfect Valentine gift. For romance stories with no worries, check out The Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn for younger teens and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series by Melody Carlson for older teens and college students. Both are available from Multnomah Press.

All The Usual
Teen girls will enjoy all the usual trappings:
A Box of Candy
Buy the biggest, fanciest box of chocolates the budget allows.
Flowers
Flowers can be purchased inexpensively at grocery stores and Wal-mart florists. Your daughter may prefer a balloon bouquet, available at Dollar Tree stores for $1.00 per balloon and $1.00 for a decorated weight.
Teddy Bears
Don't buy just one. The trick is to surprise her with a roomful! Spring for eight or ten Valentine bears, each holding a different small gift and station them around her room or around the house for her to discover.

Combine Them All
Bring your purchases (bear, flowers, candy, and other goodies) together in a grand gift basket tied up in beautiful tulle netting and ribbons. Set it on the end of her bed for her to wake up to or on the kitchen table for her to find at breakfast. Include a luxurious hand cream, pink bubble bath, and a soft scarf and gloves.

Most of all, enjoy this time with your teen and make Valentine memories that will last a lifetime!