Is Your Daughter’s Friend Actually her Frenemy?

Friendships are a huge part of a girl’s life, but not all friendships are healthy. Sometimes, a friend may not be as supportive as they seem, leaving your daughter feeling confused, hurt, or unsure of where she stands.

In my latest episode of The Brave Girl Project Podcast, I dive into the tricky topic of frenemies—how to recognize them, how they impact your daughter’s confidence, and what she can do if she realizes a friend isn’t treating her with kindness and respect.

A frenemy is someone who appears to be a friend but engages in behaviors that can be harmful—whether through jealousy, competition, gossip, or exclusion. These friendships can be emotionally draining, leaving your daughter questioning her worth and struggling with trust.

How Can You Support Your Daughter?

One of the best ways to help your daughter navigate tough friendships is to start the conversation. Encouraging her to reflect on her friendships, recognize red flags, and trust her instincts is key.

Listening to this podcast episode together—maybe during a car ride or while running errands—can be a great way to introduce the topic without putting her on the spot. It opens the door for meaningful discussions in a low-pressure way.

 Listen to the latest podcast episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. 

For more insights on navigating friendship challenges among tween and teen girls, explore additional episodes of The Brave Girl Project Podcast. You can find episodes like "Why Is My Friend So Mean" and "Dealing With Friends That Are Mad At You or Pushing You Out"

New course for parents, Beyond The Drama: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your Daughter Through Friendship Challenges.

This course will help you:

•  Understand the social dynamics that influence girls’ friendships
• Learn how to support your daughter through tough friendship moments
• Equip her with tools to set boundaries and handle relational aggression

This course is FREE for Brave Girl Tribe (Middle School) & High School Girls Support Group members, as well as Survive & Thrive Middle School course owners.

Join Us as a Guest!

Choose the group that’s right for your daughter:

The Brave Girl Tribe (5th to 8th-grade): Every Sunday at 7 PM EST / 6 PM CST / 4 PM PST. Reminder that we are meeting tonight!

High School Girls Support Group: Meets Sunday at 1 PM EST / 12 PM CST / 10 AM PST. Upcoming dates  2/2, 2/16, 3/2, 3/16, 3/30.

You're doing better than you think. Your support, love, and guidance mean more to your daughter than you know.

 Warmly,

Laura Hayes
Founder of The Brave Girl Project
Life Coach for Tween & Teen Girls
www.TheBraveGirlProject.com
[email protected]

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