Running on its 2^nd year, the Mother – Daughter Interaction (MDI) is an offshoot of the Parent – Daughter Dialogue, an activity that aims to promote open communication between parents and their daughter.  The Mother – Daughter Interaction is designed specifically for Grade 9 students to encourage them to deepen their connection with their mothers and to form a healthy relationship that lasts.

With teenagers facing a daunting range of stressors that put them at risk for serious issues such as self-harming behaviors and other psychological concerns (Hemmen, 2012), forming a healthy relationship with their parents, especially with their mothers, is essential. This healthy relationship between mothers and their daughters involve bridging the generation gap and finding ways to maintain a connection that would strengthen their bond.

This year’s MDI, organized by Ms. Mary Abbygail Meneses, the Grade 9 Student Development Assistant, was held last September 26, 2017 with the theme “Mind, Body and Soul: A Healthy Mother – Daughter Relationship That Lasts,” a holistic approach to wellness. The event had multiple activities, which started with a parenting talk facilitated by Ms. Hannah Misha Morillo, M.A., a Clinical Psychologist from the MLAC Institute for Psychosicial Services, Inc. The talk was followed by concurrent mother-daughter sessions where each pair signed up in an activity of their choice. Activity choices were the Mother – Daughter Zumba by Ms. Chanel Padilla, a licensed Zumba instructress; Healthy Desserts demonstrated by Ms. Trisha Anne Oleta, a food enthusiast; and the Mindfulness Meditation facilitated by Sr. Lorna Erickson, MIC. The mother – daughter pair also had the opportunity to undergo health and fitness evaluation conducted by fitness experts from Extra Rise MNL. The event ended with class presentations prepared by the students to show their appreciation for their mothers.