UrbanBaby - What's the best way to help my young tee...

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What's the best way to help my young teen with low self-esteem issues, short of putting her in therapy? ITA.
8 replies
- General Topics
- Teenagers
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04.13.09, 06:52 AM [ Flag ]
- how old? what issues? Self esteem is tough - I t hink you either have it or you don't - no one can "give" it to you - but some parents can screw up so bad they "take" it. I'm sure you are not one of those
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  04.13.09, 06:53 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - 12. Feeling like nobody likes her. Having some trouble making new friends in middle school, despite having had an active social life in elem school Now she is no longer friends with the elem school friends because they moved on to other people. FWIW, my dd is thin, pretty, and smart. No superficial issues that would cause peers to turn the other way.
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    04.13.09, 07:00 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - She might just be shy. Is she in any extracurriculars that would make her feel part of a "team?"
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      04.13.09, 07:02 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      - yes -- she does sports, but never seems to make new friends in the sports. Example: Last week, between two games of a double-header, four or five girls on the team went out to lunch (one of the moms took them), and dd wasn't invited. True, there were about four other girls not invited either, but the ones who went out were all in her grade and two of them she has known since Kindergarten.
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        04.13.09, 07:06 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - Personally, I think this is typical middle school stuff. The one "big" thing I would say - is just remind her never to compare her insides to other peoples outsides - meaning - chances are everyone feels like she does inside, but just hides it.
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      04.13.09, 07:09 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      - OMG! That IS what I say to her! Where did you hear this expression? I first heard it from my cousin.
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        04.13.09, 07:10 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        Might have been... don't flame Dr Phil!
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        04.13.09, 07:13 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        
        Interesting. thanks.
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        04.13.09, 08:10 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]