If you ask me, I will be honest and say that teenagers scare me. I'm constantly worrying about them and trying to teach them to be good people. Let's be honest here, look at today's world; social media is in and over sharing is the new thing. Of course, I'm going to worry, but through everything, here are 3 things I've learned from my teen.

As I see how much social media is influencing all of us, from politics to fashion trends, to different crazy trends; I worry about my teenage daughter more than she knows. Yet, through the last few years, she doesn't know how much I have learned from her.

3 Things I've learned from my teen!

Don't follow the crowd

My teenage daughter has taught me that following the crowd is not her thing. Funny how as much as I preached independence to my kids, she is the one teaching me about it.  As my daughter started to grow up, a sense of independence grew in her. She didn't like the new trends that were going on, nor did she care that others did.

Yet, I wanted her to check out the latest trend because I wanted her to feel comfortable around others.  I wanted her to try this, or that, because her friends were doing it. Yes, me! I worried that my kid wouldn't be accepted by others.

Her response of, “I don't follow the crowd” really hit me, and I realized that my child really listened to me when I said not to follow the crowd  at a young age. This following the crowd got me into a lot of trouble as an adult and into debt.

This was a teachable moment when you learn that your child has been listening and watching you and reminds you of what is important. Fast forward to now, she is about to finish high school and still has that motto going on. It is a motto that I follow as well and has lead me to fix my finances and living a better life.

Be brave at least once

My daughter is a person that tries things at least once. She can honestly tell you that she has tried things that she has been afraid of at least once. She can honestly say that she had tried it and tell you if she loved it or hated it. Dancing in front of a crowd, she has done. Trying different foods, she has tried. Speaking her mind when others don't, tried it. Expressing her emotions no matter how much it hurts her, she has done it.

Accepting whatever the outcome, good or bad, she has faced at her young age. Through good and all, she has been brave and for that, I can't help but to be more proud. I wish I had this side of her when I was growing up. I mean, it was another decade when speaking up was not acceptable.

Accept who you are

When a teenager accepts who she is and accepts to love who she is, it is the most joyous thing to witness.  My kid is different from other kids. My kid loves things others might not love. My kid loves and accepts herself, and she is OK with that.

This is something that I would have loved to have when I was her age. To realize that she has grown into this beautiful girl lets me know that  some of my worries are for nothing.

My girl has taught me many things and has shaped me into the person I am today. Without her, I don't think I'd be who I am today, and each year I learn something from her.

As parents, we sometimes focus on what we are teaching our kids, but don't stop to see what we can learn from them as well.

As she enjoys her Yoplait Go Big in between volunteering her services in school, and getting ready for marching band practice, all I can say is how lucky I am to have a kid that teaches me and has shaped me to be the mother I am today.

To celebrate our teens, Yoplait® Go Big™ Yogurt is encouraging us to take the time and appreciate them. The good news is that with everything that she is doing now, she “Go Big” in between volunteering and practices and enjoys her strawberry/mix berry yogurt, even if she doesn't notice my admiration.

What I love about this product is it contains:

• No artificial colors
• No high fructose corn syrup
• Contains real fruit
• Good source of calcium
• Gluten free
• Kosher Dairy

As my first and only daughter begins being a big sister to three younger boys, and being a teen, is not easy; but it's good to know that her uniqueness and personal motto has influenced the rest of the family and me.

As I raise my daughter in today's world, I have to say that I have a pretty cool kid, and I wouldn't change her for anything. Thank you for all the things you have taught me.

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