My daughter and I were very, very close when she was a small child. I could not have asked for a more loving daughter.
When she became a teenager she and I began to butt heads at every turn. She thought that I had changed Ha! It is my belief that the discord arose because she had to become her own person, and in order to do that, she had to separate from me. For several years that meant doing and being the exact opposite of me. If I said, "Up," she said, "Down." It was heartbreaking for me, even though I believed I knew the reason for it. In her college years and early 20s, if I told her honestly what I thought, she accused me of not being supportive.
My daughter is now 30 years old and we no longer fight. It was a very slow process. She is now comfortable in her own skin and is very much her own person. She and I disagree on several controversial issues, but we respect and love each other. Our new relationship was worth the wait, but I am glad the growing pains are over!
Linda
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