Your daughter is more than her physical body.

Of course, she is.

Help her focus on other things, things that last.

As an added note in this vein, I believe, a dad should never – ever – say anything negative about the physical appearance of his daughter.

A dad should be his daughter’s biggest cheerleader.

Get in there, and be in her corner.

Whatever your daughter’s body is like, she most likely feels awkward about it in her Autonomous Years, also. Prepubescent bodies are definitely the fashion, even though they are not reality. It is not your job, however, to make her lose weight (if she is overweight), unless she specifically asks. To make her weight loss your “project” without her request will only make her feel worse about herself. What you can do is help her see the truth about who she is beyond what she looks like. You have a unique voice in her life to help her see how God has uniquely gifted her. We talk more about how you can do this in our final chapter. She needs you. She needs your insight into who she is and who she can be. She needs your help in seeing that she has much more to offer than just her body —because, in these years, there will be those saying the opposite.

-Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, Raising Girls

If you want to get the attention of your daughter – then be unpredictable!

Making talking with you an adventure – instead of a dull obligation.

Of course, if this is a great way, as a parent, to get your daughter’s attention…

It’s also a great way to get the attention of any girl.

Not that I am giving out tips like that.

Be unpredictable. She is much more likely to participate in a conversation when you relate to her in a way she doesn’t expect.

-Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff, Raising Girls