Young girls joined their mothers at the Mother Daughter conference of the United Pentecostal Church in Fiji. Picture: THERESA RALOGAIVAU

Fiji -May 8th, 2010. MOTHERS should always have an open relationship with their daughters to help prevent unwanted social problems like teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and abuse.

Participants at the United Pentecostal Women and Daughters national church conference held in Savusavu this week were told that the close bond and open relationship empowered daughters to share their views on life with their mothers.

Women’s group president Virisila Balenaisa said if daughters could openly ask their mothers for advice and discuss issues, then cases of sexual abuse on young girls could be minimised because they would be able to confide in their mothers without fear.

She said strong relationships with daughters, and discussions on pregnancies and relationships could help prevent unwanted pregnancies.

“We mothers are role models to our daughters so we should also take the initiative to ask them about their lives and relationship with the opposite sex, relationship with friends in school and relationship as a daughter and mother,” Mrs Balenaisa said.

“Once we can be open with one another about these basic issues, we can discuss anything openly and our daughters will always look up to us as role models and our advice as mothers helps keep them on track.”

She said during the week-long conference, daughters and mothers had an opportunity to reconcile and start a new.

“Our daughters are usually the children who look after their parents at old age so it is very important that we form a close bond with them from childhood so we can continue to understand each other even at that old age period.

Mrs Balenaisa also reminded the girls of the importance of abstinence.

“Mothers should always tell their daughters that sex before marriage is a sin and just wait and pray for their husbands to be because only God chooses the best partner in life.”

Fiji Times Online