Oh yes - raising girls is different. And difficult. Ashley & I had the most amazing relationship as she grew up. She danced and twirled baton and that was my career. We traveled with it and had so many friends. She LOVED it! She gave up twirling in competition not long after her dad left (as she was turning 13) - she was very depressed at the time. There were some difficulties but 15 was when it got really bad. She definitely had been raised to be very independent and by 15 she figured she didn't need me at all. I had to let go but continue to set boundaries and enforce rules. She needed THAT! She also HATED THAT!
But as you say, Betsey - you can see the difference between her and others. My niece is the same age as my daughter (almost 25). She won't drive out of town, never left campus in 4 years at Christian University except for the time my daughter drove up to take her out for her birthday. They were both 18!!! She is currently living with my dad while going to school. Her parents have picked that living arrangement for her. My dad doesn't like it (but agreed to it) and says she sits in her room, rarely goes out with friends and keeps the blinds closed. Her parents don't allow her to work - she needs to study. Yet it is a community college program - not rocket science. Both my kids worked to help put themselves through school and commuted 90 min to school each day. Seriously...
Anyway - sometimes it is just their personality. Ashley is much nicer to be around these days. Whew!
