An interview with my daughters, ages 13 and 11
What qualities do you think are important in a mother?
Patience, loving, responsible, organized, takes care of kids.
Honesty, kindness, helpfulness, they shouldn’t only be selfless. They have to think about themselves, too. Enjoyment in being a mother. Good language.
What is the hardest thing about being a mother?
things.
Having to clean up after kids. Having to make meals.
What is the easiest thing about being a mother?
Getting to be around your kids and getting to know them and becoming closer to them.
Playing with babies.
How would you finish this sentence?
I wish my mother had more time…
To do more activities with the kids.
To play with us.
What is an important gospel principle for mothers to teach daughters?
That having a family is important.
Honesty.
How can a mother best teach that?
Studying scriptures about it and teaching about what would happen if we didn’t have families.
Talking to daughters about it and doing it themselves.
How should mothers show that they support their daughters?
Letting them know that they’re doing a good job and that it’s good that they do it.
Not teasing them hurtfully.
How should mothers get to know their daughters better?
One-on-one talks and going to do mother-daughter activities, things that only they would enjoy like something that focuses on just the two of them and that benefits both of them.
Sit and talk with them sometimes. Spend time with them.
How can mothers help their daughters to dress modestly?
Getting rid of immodest clothes, like clothes that are too small, regularly. And making sure that the clothes they get are modest by coming with them when they go shopping. Teach them the negatives about dressing modestly and what the prophets have taught about dressing modestly.
Buy them modest clothes. Or make them. And talk to them about it.
How can mothers help their daughters gain testimonies of Jesus Christ?
I would think one-on-one scripture study, just the two of them. And praying together and having conversations together about the gospel.
Sharing their testimony with them.
What do mothers expect of daughters that is unreasonable?
The mother telling the daughter to do a series of chores when the daughter might have plans.
To clean a room with somebody who doesn’t like to clean.
Among your friends who have good relationships with their mothers, what do you see that makes it work?
The daughters are responsible and mothers are understanding. They both want to make their expectations and plans work out.
They do family activities often. They spend time with each other.
