When did the term BFF become a thing
Originally, Lynn Luongo and Diana Piccininni started using the term BFF about 30 years ago when writing cards and letters to each other. They ended these letters and cards with BFF ! ... The term BFF was popularized by the TV Show Friends (see Episode 78: The One at the Beach, 1997). The acronym "BFF" was added to the New Oxford American Dictionary on 16 September 2010.
Perfect Friendships Are a Myth
No friendship is perfect. There will be moments in every girl’s friendship where she is irritated by something her friend says or does. In a healthy friendship, she can share her true feelings without fearing that the relationship will be over. In fact, these conflicts sometimes make a friendship stronger and closer. Additionally, there will be times when your daughter needs to accept little quirks about her friends that bug her and let them slide. She shouldn't try to fix or change her friends.
Friendships Take Work
Young girls often wrongly assume that because they text and use SnapChat, that they can keep friendships alive. Remind your daughter that being friends on Facebook, liking pictures on Instagram, and making a Snapchat story does not equate to a meaningful friendship. Healthy friendships develop when people spend time together, face-to-face. Encourage your daughter to make time for her friends.
Open your home and allow them to hang out there or be willing to take them shopping, to the movies, out for ice cream, or sightseeing. Teach your daughter that spending time with her friends builds a strong friendship.
Boyfriends Can Get in the Way
Many girls make the mistake of dropping their friends as soon as a boy comes along. But just like her friendships, her dating relationship is healthier when she doesn’t spend all of her time with that one person. It is especially unhealthy if her boyfriend demands all of her time. Monopolizing and controlling your daughter’s schedule is a warning sign of dating abuse. Be sure your daughter knows that the healthiest relationships are balanced, with her spending some time with friends and some time with her boyfriend. Also, be sure she knows how to spot a bullying and abusive boyfriend before she gets in too deep.
Controlling Friends Aren't Friends
Teach your daughter how to be assertive and to stand up for what she believes in. Once she hits middle school, the social hierarchy intensifies with cliques and mean girls emerging from the shadows. If your daughter knows who she is and is comfortable in her own skin, she will be more resilient in withstanding the pressure to fit in. It's natural to want to belong and be popular, but not at the risk of being controlled by others. Equip your daughter to deal with this temptation. Remind her about the pitfalls of popularity and the importance of being true to who she is. And, teach her how to spot controlling friends.