How can I help my 18 year old daughter stay out of an emotionally abusive relationship?
Unfortunately, Mom, the only thing you can really do is support your daughter. Both my sister and I have been through our share of abusive relationships. We’ve put my mother through the ringer, to say the least. But had my mom stepped in to “help,” we would have accused her of butting in, making for an even more stressful situation. You want her to be able to come to you with anything, and trying to sway the situation in one way or the other may cause her to shut down further. The only reason I can see stepping in is if you suspect she is in great physical danger. Otherwise, be her shoulder to cry on–it’s going to be difficult and it’s going to wear away at your nerves. But it’s a part of her life that she needs to experience and gain strength from, even though it’s a horrible situation. I will tell you, that having been there and survived, I really do appreciate my mother that much more. Hang in there, sweetie. She’s lucky to have you!
