Conference to help mothers and daughters communicate
You might not understand the text messages on your teenage daughter’s cell phone, but you can understand her.
Really, you can, says a group of six McHenry moms.
“I think it doesn’t have to be so turbulent if we learn how to communicate with them and learn how to understand things from their perspective,” said Kelly Vance of McHenry, whose daughters are ages 15 and 17.
A vision Vance had while sitting in a Bible study one day has grown into a mother-daughter conference to be held Nov. 7 at the Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake.
Vance saw too many broken families and broken relationships and wanted to help.
“I just wanted to encourage moms to be advocates and to encourage their kids to be all they can be and to love them and to teach them the right way to grow up,” said Vance, who gathered a group of friends to organize the conference.
Perhaps you remember trying to fit in as a teenager? (Yes, those years when life wasn’t complete without a can of Aqua Net.)
Perhaps, even as a mom, you’ve tried to be someone you’re not?
Well, it’s time to “Get Real!”
That’s both the title and theme of the conference.
“Get Real!” is actually an acronym for Girls Embracing Truth Revealing Each Abundant Life.
Through speakers, music, dance, drama and other activities, the Christian-based event aims to help participants feel more comfortable being themselves.
As we all know, the junior and high school years can be a time when children feel lonely and misunderstood. And mom can feel overwhelmed too.
“We’re in an age where everything is vying for your time,” Vance said.
As valuable as a mother and daughter’s relationship is, it’s also fragile.
Technology, such as Facebook, Twitter and texting, has led some to lose the intimacy in relationships, organizers say.
“We’re so inundated with all this stuff from the outside world. There’s so much stuff out there that can take our daughters away,” said Laurie Mennella, whose daughter, Allison, a recent college graduate, will speak to junior high students at the event about body image.
“Girls can just be mean at that age, and I think it starts even earlier than that,” Mennella said.
So we tend to “wear masks,” she said, and try to be whatever it is we think people want to see.
“Our theme is really about removing the masks, embracing the truth about who we are,” Mennella said.
One of the speakers, Jeanne Malnati, a licensed clinical social worker, will focus on just that.
“A lot of times I think moms come thinking about how they can change their daughters,” Vance said. “Jean challenges them to change themselves as well.”
The 2005 event drew roughly 500 people, and organizers are aiming for 600 this year.
Those interested in attending are asked to register now to reserve a spot by Oct. 27. Visit www.girlsembracingtruth.org or e-mail info@girlsembracingtruth.org.
