Dogs and Daughters : Not So Different?

On National Dog Day, we’re thrilled to present a lighthearted blog post comparing dogs and daughters. In a whimsical manner, we explore the shared love for both daughters and dogs, highlighting some tools that we know work with daughters: DOGS TBD.

Interesting Facts about Dogs and Daughters

Dogs and daughters may not always communicate their needs verbally; you have to interpret their body language.

For instance, our older rescue dog, Ella, named after Ella Fitzgerald because she loves to sing the blues, especially when we leave the house, displays signs of extreme anxiety when the weather changes. She often paces and curls up into a ball. We’ve noticed this behavior during storms, and we know several clients who are also frightened of bad weather.
Our daughters are the same, hence the reason we prefer in person session, they often cannot verbalize or even be aware of how anxious they might feel, they start moving around, tap their feet and sometimes picking or biting their nails or skin.

They both crave quality time

One valuable insight from our mother-daughter presentations is that daughters crave quality time. Just like Bagel, our other rescue dog, who thrives on spending quality time – it could be considered her love language, along with treats. Bagel faithfully follows me around, wagging her tail whenever I even look in her direction. Our daughters want us to pay attention to them and really listen. One way we encourage a check in is a daily feelings check-in. One of our top pics are on Shayna’s new book website Pink Chaos. Likewise, dogs and daughters both communicate their feelings when they sense neglect; daughters might they may not chew on your remote, but they find ways to convey their need for attention.

Sometimes they need alone time to recharge

During our courage camp this year, a common concern was that daughters felt pressured to share everything immediately after school pick-up or right at the end of the school day. Consider this scenario: picture your dog spending the day at doggie daycare, only to come home and sleep for hours.

Sometimes, our daughters may need some space or downtime right after school. Whether they want to unwind by listening to their favorite artist or gab about their day, allowing them this time to recharge can be beneficial for them to learn how to manage their emotions.

When the sun sets, it’s all about doling out acceptance, love, and cuddles to both your daughters and furry pals.

The secret ingredient? Connection! Patience, empathy, and being all ears are the magic words to build rock-solid bonds with them. Whether it’s quality hangout sessions, warm snuggles, or just being nosy in their lives, these heart-to-heart moments weave a web of belonging and trust. As you sprinkle love around, get ready for a tsunami of love in return, crafting a cozy and delightful aura that brightens everyone’s day. Remember, the core of any relationship is in those sweet, ordinary gestures that scream, “I care!”

Just a heads-up, National Daughter’s Day falls on September 25th, the day after the release of my new book, “Pink Chaos.” This book serves as a heartfelt tribute to mothers navigating the challenges of raising a tween daughter. Did you know that mothers of tween daughters often experience high levels of depression?

Research conducted by psychologists Suniya Luthar from Arizona State University and Lucia Ciciolla from Oklahoma State University involved a survey of 2,247 well-educated mothers with children of various ages. The study focused on the mothers’ well-being, including mental health, parenting experiences, and perceptions of their children’s behavior. The findings highlighted the significant difficulties mothers face during the adolescent years, leading to feelings of isolation, unfulfillment, and dissatisfaction with their roles as mothers. This phase often results in lower levels of maternal happiness and increased stress compared to mothers with infants or new parents.

Find out what famous mother/daughter duo you are HERE.

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