Hey Jesus, This Parenting Thing Is Complicated

Hey Jesus,
My youngest daughter and I butt heads a lot.
She’s basically a mini-me—attitude and all—and sometimes it feels like we’re mirrors, reflecting each other’s stubbornness back and forth.

She’s almost 11 (going on 30), straddling that wild space between childhood and teenagerhood. One minute she’s joyfully lighting candles as an acolyte, the next she’s testing every Sephora product known to man.

We are the same, and we are so different.
And I love her fiercely… but wow, this parenting stuff can get complicated. I want her to know I love her—deep down, no-matter-what love—but also that I’m human. I won’t always get it right. I want to understand her, even when she’s prickly. I want her to feel safe to grow, even when I have to set boundaries.

Could You remind me, in the heat of our clashes, that she’s not trying to fight me—she’s trying to become herself?

Love,
Me

Prayer:
Jesus, give me patience when my words come out sharp
and grace when hers do.
Help me see the beauty You placed in her,
even when it’s wrapped in eye-rolls and sighs.
Remind her that my love is steady,
and remind me that Yours is even steadier.
Amen.