Try your best to be a source of love, positivity, and encouragement for your daughter. The more support your daughter receives, the sooner she will start to feel better about her situation. Seeing her thrive again will likely make you feel a whole lot better, too.
This person may have been a great partner to your daughter. If that’s the case, it’s hard to accept that they didn’t end up being a lifelong match. Remind yourself that there will be other people that will treat your daughter well.
You may have imagined the two of them coming along on family vacations, getting married, or even having children. Remind yourself that your daughter will have other opportunities to date and find the right person for her. The unknown may be a little scary, but your daughter will likely meet someone that’s even more compatible with her in the future.
If your daughter has already moved on and you’re still feeling sad, you’re likely dealing with other things in life in addition to your daughter’s breakup. Other experiences that might be influencing your feelings include your own romantic hardships, losing a loved one, or feeling uncertain and anxious about the future.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking about your feelings with another person, you might try journaling instead. Getting your emotions out on the page can help you gain a better understanding of what you’re feeling and why. [6] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Respect your daughter’s decisions during this time. Avoid encouraging her to get back together with her ex, for example. Even if you liked them, it’s best to support your daughter’s personal choices.
You might say to yourself, “My daughter was seeing this person for many years. It’s completely normal to be sad” or “This is a sad situation, but things will get better. " Try your best to focus on other things in the meantime. Dedicate yourself to your job, your passions, and other life responsibilities as a distraction.
Even if you miss your daughter’s ex, avoid reaching out to them or defending them. If you feel that you must say goodbye or wish the ex well, ask your daughter for permission first and respect her answer (even if it’s a no).
Therapy or counseling can give you a safe space to talk through your feelings. It can also help you get to the bottom of why you may be feeling this way, as you might be struggling with a variety of things unrelated to your daughter’s breakup.
If your daughter is really struggling, encourage her to talk to a therapist or counselor. Breakups are a huge loss, and can sometimes cause depression or anxiety. A mental health professional can be an additional source of support. [12] X Research source
You might say, “I experienced something similar when I was your age. Can I share with you what helped me during that time?”
Encourage her to follow her dreams and passions in life. Taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill, and going for her dream job can all be ways to focus her energy on herself and move on from her breakup.
You might say, “You’re beautiful, smart, and kind. If this person can’t see that, you’re better off without them” or “You only deserve the best in life. You’re a wonderful person inside and out. " Avoid spending too much time talking down on your daughter’s ex. It’s better to focus on building up her self-esteem. Tearing down the other person might not help your daughter feel good in the long run.
You might take your daughter out to lunch, go shopping at her favorite stores, or go on an exciting day trip to a new place. If the breakup was very recent, your daughter might not feel motivated to do much. You might try cooking her a nice dinner or watching a movie with her at home.
