Still Twinning — Holding Onto Connection Through the Teen Years

She’s 14 now.

That age where independence begins to bloom and everything starts to shift: her style, her likes and dislikes and her sense of self

And yet… she still finds it fun to dress alike. 

As I was sitting in my happy place creating my latest project. (A quilted pumpkin sweatshirt.) She passed by and said, “I want one too! Are you making me one?”

I smiled partly because I already had plans to make a matching one, partly out of gratitude. Because I know these moments are fleeting. One day, she’ll have her own rhythm, her own wardrobe, her own world. But today, she still wants to mirror mine and I don’t take that lightly.

The Gift of Staying Connected

Matching outfits might seem small, but for us, it’s a quiet symbol of togetherness.
It’s her unspoken way of saying, “I still want to belong here.”

And isn’t that what every daughter really needs?
A safe space to grow, to express, and to change without losing the bond that began long before she understood it.

As moms, we don’t have to cling to what was.
We just need to stay present for what is.
Sometimes that means listening more, letting go a little, or laughing at ourselves when we both go out in the same pumpkin sweatshirt.

Because connection doesn’t disappear as they grow — it simply transforms. 

What I’ve Learned About Connection in This Season

Lean into what she loves.
Whether it’s fashion, music, or inside jokes…show her that you’re still interested in her world.

Make space for lighthearted moments.
Teen years come with deep talks and big emotions, but shared laughter keeps your bond soft and open.

See beauty in the small yeses.
When she says yes to matching shirts, she’s really saying yes to time with you. That’s worth celebrating!

A Mother’s Reflection

As I looked at us side by side that day, matching, laughing, both a little older than last time, I whispered a quiet thank you.

Thank You, Lord, for letting me hold her heart a little longer.
For the grace to mother her through change.
And for every small, sacred reminder that she’s still mine even as she becomes her own.

Because love doesn’t hold too tightly.
It holds faithfully through every season, every growth spurt, every matching outfit.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
— 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

Love makes space for change.
It forgives the eye rolls, embraces the quiet moments, and celebrates every yes that says, “I still choose you.”

Lord, thank You for the gift of connection and for the ways You knit our hearts together through both laughter and silence.
Help me to see the beauty in these in-between years, to listen with patience, and to love her as You love me: unconditionally, faithfully, and with joy.
May our bond reflect Your heart that is steady, kind, and full of grace.
Amen.

Think about one small tradition or moment that helps you stay connected with your daughter.
How can you honor that moment this week? Even if it looks a little different now?