Why I date my daughter + Ideas for mommy daughter date

I wasn't raised in a "family over everything" environment.

 In fact, it is hard to say I was 'raised' at all. Not to discredit my mother because I love her dearly and I know that she did everything she was physically and mentally capable of for my brother and I, but I kind of just drifted through my adolescence without much guidance from family members. From the time I can remember, my family members have always stabbed each other in the back. My uncle even got my mom fired from a well paying job that probably would have changed where and how I grew up.

There was no sense of security in my house growing up. 

My mom was gone a lot. She worked all the time. We moved from one bad neighborhood to the next. 

 I don't ever remember there being 'family nights' or even getting to hang out with my mom one on one. I always yearned for family time. I was jealous of my friends that actually had that. I went through a bad case of depression and acted out because of it. Happy family times were far and few between but that was the norm for me. That is all I knew. Home never felt like a safe place for me. I went through a pretty bad situation and I believe it has caused me to suppress a lot of memories from my childhood. I'm thankful though, I can't imagine they're good memories.... 

My childhood had me on a fast track to go nowhere. I could very easily have become a product of my environment. Many of the people I grew up with are examples of that. 

I believe that Jordyn changed that. She literally saved my life.

There is something that happens when you become a mother. It's like a light switches on and all of a sudden you want to do everything possible to give that child the best life ever. 

For me, it was the burning desire to give her that family foundation that I never had. I didn't want her to grow up in the same situations I did. I didn't want her having the same twisted views about family that I did. I vowed to always be there and to celebrate the small things just as enthusiastically as the big things.

For me to become the best mother I could possibly be, I knew I had to let go of all of the hurt and anger that I held inside. It took a long time for me to come to terms with what I went through as a child and young adult but now that I have, i'm thankful for it. Those experiences and mistakes molded me into who I am today. It wasn't easy but I am now the happiest i've ever been. I'm living in the present and no longer dwelling in the past. My relationship is fulfilling and meaningful and I appreciate everything I have rather than focusing on what I don't have or what I think I need. 

Jordyn is a reflection of this happiness. There is not a day that goes by that I don't see it in her. It is definitely a sight for the eyes. Almost magic like. 

I've built a home and a life for her that she can be proud of. And I work everyday to protect and nourish this life. I'm very blessed to be able to have a work schedule that allows me to be home with her as much as I am. I'm also very thankful for the man in our lives who helps make this house a home. Our little family is everything to me and it has filled all the voids from my own childhood.  

I have no traditions or memories to pass down to Jordyn so we spend a lot of time creating new ones. We typically spend weeknights together as a family but I like to create memories with her one on one.
I never had a bond with my mother as a child, so I want to make sure that Jordyn and I can build a lasting bond by having mommy and daughter dates.
I want her to know that it's important to me so we set aside time for our dates and we never break them.

Here are just a few mommy/daughter things that we like to do:

*Movies
*board games
*video games.
*Crafting.

*farmers markets
*museums
*yoga
*Bake and cook together.

*bowling

*park

*scavenger hunts

*stargazing

*Get dressed up all fancy and go out to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. :)

 
*library
*ice cream
*donuts
*Starbucks

*read together
*play soccer
 *A stroll through the park and duck watching.

 

*Strolling and sight seeing different parts of the city.

*painting
*drawing
*coloring

*hiking

*picnics

*skating

*day as a tourist in our own city

Whatever we decide to do together, I make sure that I am present and in the moment. I'm not always on my phone, i'm not distracted when she's talking to me. I am hers. My attention is all on her. I want her to always know that no matter how small or big the conversation is, she always has my full attention.

Xo, Jeanice :)