Mom, you’re awesome. But you are a girl. Which means you only know so much about boys. Dad should take over now. But finding the right words and the right time to talk to a daughter about boys is tough. Tween girls can be hard to approach, confusing to understand, and moody–even for a mom who used to be one. Watching their little girl grow into a woman is hard enough for a dad without adding awkward conversations.
Enter Dannah Gresh, founder of Secret Keeper Girl, and her husband Bob. They knew girls were hooking up earlier than ever, and they knew, from research, that the single greatest preventer of early sexual interaction was the presence of a dad, even if other risk factors were present. So Bob and Dannah added a title to the awesome 8 Great Date series (usually the series is for Moms and Daughters and if you haven’t checked them out–they are awesome), to help dads talk to their daughters about boys.
Each date has a fun activity like playing a prank, a special movie night, or a treasure hunt. But don’t worry these dates won’t cost a ton of money or require much preparation. In fact, most date activities have a range of ideas so dad can pick what fits best. There are conversation guides, MP3 files to listen to on the way to the date, and scripture to discuss. Really, the great thing about the book is how customizable it is: dad does what fits his personality using this guide as a skeleton. And no matter what approach you use, you are guaranteed to create memories and earn the right to speak into her life because you will also be listening. Bob and Dannah also thoughtfully included a section to help single moms use the book.
We haven’t tried the dates here yet. Until this crazy soccer season ends (3 days people!), there isn’t much time or money for extras, but I can tell from reading through the dates, that Bob and Dannah understand tween girls because I know both my daughters, though very different in personality, will love these activities and this kind of time with dad. And really I would rather my husband talk to her about boys than the boy-crazy girl down the street. Honestly, this sort of thing might be a bit a of stretch for my husband, but I am confident it will pay off.
I couldn’t wait to share the book with you because Secret Keeper Girl is offering to give away one of these books to a Pruning Princesses reader! And I hope to get the book in your hands by Father’s Day. To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me your favorite kind of date with your girl or tell me who you plan to give this book to. I’ll have my husband choose a random winner Sunday night.
