07/10/2026
My daughter turned 10 years old this year. If you have a daughter, you know that navigating a young ladies life has a lot of twists and turns, a lot of emotions and discovery, but especially a lot of needs and wants. Luckily, she's quite a bit more mature than the average young lady (considering her early years she was raised by myself, a single mom, doing my best to provide and to teach her the most so that she can help me help her have all the things she needed - spiritually and mentally). She is a big girl now. A big girl in the double digits, and she has so much family now that loves her, protects her, but also wants her to grow up. (I cannot thank God enough for the family we have 'now' who love her to no end.)
This year after outgrowing her tablet, her newfound school friendships, and an ever growing distance between myself and the other side of her family, my husband and I discussed and collaborated, and finally allowed her to have a phone. Yes, at 10 years old. No, not without MANY restrictions.
* Parent assigned password
* Parent permitted contacts
* Parent permitted applications
* Parent monitored texts
** Complete Parental Control
Here's the thing, (don't tell her I said this...)
Maybe she does not clean her room regularly. Maybe she's not up to par on chores and responsibilities, and maybe she's only 10 years old, but for a long time it was her who was keeping me together. For a long time, she was kissing my boo-boos and giving me hugs, love and kisses, and telling me that she loves me and that it would be alright. Though it was I who instilled that in her, it confirms that all this time she had been watching, listening, paying attention, and filling voids that she did not create. That's a maturity that only comes from a little more on the shoulders; a slightly faster growth, and a hyper independent parent.
Now, to get her to do some dishes and throw some trash. We're working on that.
Were you the 1st one to connect your baby(s) to the rest of the world? How did you do that and how did you feel about it? It's quite a big step. Or could that be something you are going through now? Let's talk about it?