16 yr. old daughter...... mature, reliable helper

amother

Sun, Jul 13 2008, 5:29 am

My daughter helps around the house with everything. She never needs anything. In school she is also a top kid. B"H She is not deprived as I'm always getting her nice gifts. She has nice clothes, digital camera etc. What do I get her if I feel that I have to get her something. We are going through some tough, stressful times. She is unbelievable with how she helps me manage.........I thought about earings, but that would be something I would enjoy, bec. I like when she looks pretty. For her, the old earings are just fine. ( She would say "It's a waste of money")

My question is ....What can I get her as a token of appreciation??????????????????????

costanza

Sun, Jul 13 2008, 5:35 am

Why not take her out to a restaurant together and just have "special" time with her? You can tell her how you appreciate her help and explain you wanted to reward her for it.

Or offer to have her invite some friends over for a BBQ one night. It doesn't have to be something you buy, per se.

Pizza

Sun, Jul 13 2008, 5:41 am

I like the above idea.
To expand on it, maybe tickets to a concert or play for your dd and one of her friends, or to have a friend or two sleep over... something that is just to make her happy.

mumoo

Sun, Jul 13 2008, 8:41 am

I agree to spend time together is most meaningful- shows her you appreciate her for who she is not just what she can do for you. Time goes so quickly anyway, you may not have so much opportunity before she gets married iy'H and leaves your house.

momto7

Sun, Aug 03 2008, 6:09 am

My dd loves crafts projects and being creative. I bought her a special album and we are spending time scrapbooking and reminiscing. It is really special for both of us. This week we are going to paint a decorative border for her room. I bought a stencil set and paints with brushes and well spend time painting together. I don't know if you're into that kind of thing at all but I figured I'd share.....

SingALong

Sun, Aug 03 2008, 9:26 am

I remember one pesach I worked really hard for my mom, iwas about 15-16. all the sudden out of the blue, seh gave me this beautiful necklace ans said how she noticed how I was working hard for yom tov and seh appreciated it. my mom never really bought me that much jewlery so this was really special. but the most important part was the recognition and appreciation that went along with it. that was what I remembered whenever I put on that necklace.
I think if you present a gift like that and attach meaning to it, so it will be meaningful for her. a special time spent with her will also be memorable. I guess u know what your dd will appreciate most

cassandra

Sun, Aug 03 2008, 9:49 am

Why don't you write her a nice card telling her how much you appreciate her and how proud you are of her? It's something tangible that kids may not get often enough from their parents, and she may appreciate this, especially if she's not into "things".

gold21

Sun, Aug 03 2008, 10:50 am

Quote:

My daughter helps around the house with everything. She never needs anything. In school she is also a top kid. B"H

as someone who was a teenage girl not so long ago, can I please suggest that you try to stop relying on her so much? I know that you probably dont want to take advice from some anon lady who is way younger than you across an internet forum, but just realize that at 16 years old, a girl is still just a girl. You say that she helps around the house with everything, never needs anything, and does amazing work at school, too: sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
16 year olds NEED to be 16 years old. They cant be mini-mommies. It is not healthy for her to be giving, giving, giving to her parents.
I am sure that you are sure that she is just fine. but I disagree. children MUST be children. and at 16 she is still a child. not a child in a dumb immature person, but a child as in a person who needs to be taken care of, not who should be caring for others.
I dont mean that kids shouldnt help. of course they should. but the way you secribe your daughter, it sounds like she is Ms. Perfection. And thats a lot for a person to be.