Growing up, my mom was one of my best friends.
The best part about this was she was the only person I knew, the only friend I had that I knew I could count on, that I knew when I told her something in secret it wouldn't go any further.
My secrets were always safe with her.
Do you have an open door policy? Are you ears open to your daughter, to her thoughts, feelings, worries and cares that she needs to share with someone? Then, when she shares are your lips sealed? Where she knows she can trust you with her fears? Knowing I could trust someone with my secrets and fears was comforting.
It is important that we provide a comfortable place for our daughters, a safe place to come to, which will strengthen your relationship and provide a special bond for you that can last a lifetime.
Giving her this safety net with help her in other ares of her life as well, boosting her confidence, self-esteem and arming her with the tools she needs to face the world, because she knows you've got her back.
This does not mean she will never disappoint you, that's why it's important to keep the same policy even when the news she shares isn't exactly what you as a mom want to hear.
That is when it is even more important that you are there for her to listen when she shares.
We must remember how it felt to be a young person, the roller coaster ride that life can be and then provide a place for our daughters that is a little less scary and more secure.
Otherwise she will find someone to talk to, and unfortunately that person may not be a person that she can trust nor one that you would want her to go to to obtain the advice and guidance that she is so desperately seeking.
On the other hand when you are there for her, she knows that she has someone she can trust to come to and you can be assured that the advice that she is given is sound.
In addition to what it is doing for your relationship that will help to keep the lines of communication open in the years ahead.