sunscreen and a stubborn 15yr old daughter.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Does she wear make-up? Maybe you can convince her to wear make-up that has sunscreen in it. She'd at least then have some on her face.

[carole]

She used to wear make up , but rarely does these days, sometimes a foundation,but not often.,but thanks for the suggestion.

[mina'smomma]

carole maybe it would help if you point out that you know someone who contracted skin cancer from not wearing it. (me)

I was 16 when I contracted skin cancer on my face, neck and arms. I thought a lot like your daughter did. I'm not out in the sun that much so I don't need sunscreen, but unfortunately I'm also fair skined and contracted skin cancer anyways. It is a very painful thing to treat and she could end up scared for it. I was fortunate and have a few scars on my arms from it, but I've seen what it did to others who were younger than me. I also contracted it again when I was 20 thinking that you can't get it twice. Wrong!!!

Now I don't leave my house without it on. If she doesn't want to wear actual sunscreen or make up there are a lot of moisterizers and facial cleansers that have it in there. I personally hate wearing make up so I use a moisterizer in the morning, and a lip balm that has SPF in it as well. I'm also only 28 years old and look like I'm early thirties.

[joycenalex]

carole, on this one, let it go, this is a battle you cannot win. she's 15, you gave her good values, standards and ethics. save your energy, and develop stratagy for the much larger battles ahead. few things are as difficult to deal with as an aggrieved teenaged daughter trying to emotionally seperate from her mother. keep the bottles of sunblock around, and in your purse, let her see you using it, be the example, not the fussing at her voice and she's much more likely to come around. kindest regards

[Catlady711]

I'm a fair skinned person that doesn't tan and I get sun poisioning or 2nd degree burns if I'm in the sun too long. At one point I had to have prescription sunscreen as a child.

While I don't have a teenager of my own, I certainly remember being one clearly. As a teenager I hated wearing sunscreen and fought with my mom (whom I'm very close to) many times over wearing it. In the end mom had other things she'd rather go to the mat with me on and let this one slide. After getting badly burned or embarassing red spots from not wearing sunscreen I eventually learned to put it on myself with no prodding.

The way I see it you have two choices:

1) MAKE your daughter put it on every day before she's allowed to leave the house, even if it means she's late for school because she's fighting you on it, you are the parent and have every right to put your foot down when it comes to something important, someday she might thank you for your stubborness.

2) Choose your battles, if there are other things with higher priority that you are battling her with right now (ie; curfew, boys, drugs, smoking etc) then a battle over sunscreen pales in comparison. You can't go to the mat on every issue or eventually she'll just learn to hide many things from you.

[Marigold2]

Maybe she will go for the Goth Look, heavy white makeup, red lips and all cloths in black black black.

I do understand however, my daughter is 21 now and 15-20 something is SUCH a difficult time for mom's and daughters. It does get better however. Until then I agree with the other posters, choose your battles wisely. If she isn't smoking, drinking, doing drugs and having sex count yourself luckly, most 15 year olds are doing at least one and hiding it from their parents. Good luck. Reading some Erma Bombeck might put a smile on your face.

[carole]

You all make a lot of sense, and i know i need to choose my battles, and there will be much harder ones ahead, i fully understand this, i guess i am as stubborn as she is when it comes to her well being, it just eats away at me thinking that she is putting herself at risk like this.

Yes my friends have said just let it go too, so i just wanted to come here and get a variety of points of views, and see what the outcome was, i do appreciate everyone's honesty and opinions,i can remember only a few years ago she saw a programme on skin cancer and was horrified and she was so diligent then after watching it, but she was only about 11 then, i have told her if she got it she could be disfigured by it,but she just say's i'm not vain , i don't care.

Ok well i am going to just try my darn hardest to forget about it,as i certainly am not going to get anywhere with her anyhow,it will be hard to do,but i am not doing myself any favours worrying all the time,thanks for all your advice.

I have already raised a son , who will be 26 this year, and we had our battles too, but i have to say i am proud of how he has turned out, i can only hope my girl turns out as well adjusted as he is now.,but oh how stubborn she is lol.