I helped chaperone a friend’s daughter’s 16th birthday party the other night.

There were about 50 girls there — most dressed to the nines — and a handful of boys in jeans and hoodies. Watching them interact, I was taken back to how terribly hard it was to be a teenager and at the same time, given a glimpse of what lies ahead for my girls.

As a teen, I was awkward and unsure of myself. In group situations like the party, I was usually on the fringe — not comfortable in my own skin and not sure how I fit in. I saw a number of girls that fit this description and I cringed for them. I wanted to go up, give them a hug and let them know that things do get better.

It also had me contemplating how my girls might fare in such a situation. Will they be the ones on the outskirts like me? Or will they be sure of who they are and their place among their friends? Or will they be like one girl on the couch, letting a boy touch her in ways that made me turn away? I sure hope not.

After the party, I drove another friend and her daughter home. They talked the whole way about who was at the party and what was going on behind the scenes. It was heartening. I know one thing for sure, when my kids are teenagers — I hope they are as comfortable talking to me as my friend’s daughter was to her. No matter how hard the teen years are, I hope my girls know that they can always turn to me.