Daughters

I posted a picture on my facebook page the other day that said

“Teach girls to prioritize feeling safe over being nice”.

I think for every one of us women that hits home more than we would like it too. It got me thinking this morning about how when it comes to raising a boy and a girl things will be so different. Not just the basics of raising them but when they get older.

Things like telling her never to leave a drink even if its just a pop or water, I wont have to say that to him. Or how I will worry more about her being out, not saying that I wont worry about him, I will, but things are different aren’t they for women?

When we talk about strong personalities and our daughters being assertive and making a joke of it when they are young, I whole heartedly hope that she keeps this and doesn’t give in to the “norms” of society. Because its true we all know that if she says she doesn’t want to do something or go somewhere she will be called certain names. Whereas if he says the same things its overlooked.

So how do you really prepare your son and daughter for the world? Is it all just a wish and a prayer that they will have the strength to stand up for themselves, and be able to get out of a potentially bad or even terrible situation? Because some days I am literally terrified for what is to come.

We talk about how happy we are that we are raising our kids in a small town, that they wont have to worry about the same things as our friends kids in the city. In reality besides the traffic there isn’t a huge difference, because kids are jerks no matter where they live.

When our daughter was born my husband worried already about her at 16 and I kept saying don’t jump ahead so far, but the truth is, I worry constantly about 4, 5, 6 10, 23, 45. I worry about her because I know what it is like to be a woman, a tall assertive woman. I know how hard it is to keep that backbone to try and be kind yet firm. It’s a balancing act for all of us no matter what we look like. Because in this world a woman can not be everything. I know that will raise the hair on some of your necks, but its the truth and we all know it. We fight daily and that will never change for us.

I am excited to see the woman she will become, and I do hope that as the years go by she has the same opportunities as her brother will. I hope that shes never in a situation that she has to even begin to think about her safety over being nice, because I hope she always chooses her safety first. I want to say that the one thing I know is she will grow to be a strong independent sassy woman, but I cant say that, I can only help her along that path and be there when ever she needs to talk.

The greatest part of this technological day and age is that she will always have a phone with her, that at least I take comfort in.

I’m with you daughter raising mommas just trying to navigate this crazy world doing our best to raise the next generation of women who will be a force to be reckoned with.

Spread some love today

Xoxo

Simone