A little over three years ago we found out we were expecting our first child. My mind raced with what ifs and my heart grew in size. I kept telling my husband I hope it is a boy because my fear of raising daughters was incredibly strong.
I could not imagine raising daughters, to teach them how to love themselves when I was still teaching myself too.
The day we found out we were having a daughter, I sobbed. I was so incredibly happy because deep down I could not wait to raise a strong, fierce, independent daughter. I could not wait to do all of the things for her that were not done for me.
Embrace the Hard, Messy, and Beautiful
When our daughter started to verbalize her feelings is when things started to get hard. She realized she had a voice and quickly learned how to use it. This is when her independence and fierceness started to show. These are qualities we have always hoped she would have; we just did not realize how strongly they would shine through.
My husband and I learned how to embrace these qualities. Instead of looking at how hard they to navigate, are we look at how beautiful they are. Her fierceness and independence are beautiful, and I know they will lead her to greatness one day. We are raising our daughters to have a voice, to stand up for their needs and wants, and not to tolerate things they do not like. In the world we live in now, this is all we could hope for.
Teaching Our Daughters to Love Themselves
The day I found out we would be raising daughters I told my husband there would not be a day that goes by for as long as I live that our little girls will not know how much they are loved. The day our daughter was born we started daily affirmations with her. Now, when I ask her if she knows how much she is loved, how worthy she is, how beautiful she is, how smart she is, and how strong she is, she says, “Yes, mom,” with a hint of annoyance.
For as long as I live, they will know how much value they bring into a room.
Nothing Is Off Limits
There are going to be times when my daughters walk into a room, and things will not be equal. As they move through their lives, they will not always be awarded the same opportunities as others.
As I help them in this journey, I want our daughters to know they deserve the attention of everyone when they walk into a board meeting they are leading, a pay raise to match their male co-worker, to feel safe when they walk down the street, to be able to wear whatever they want and not get taken advantage of, and to just be women.
I want to teach them that nowhere is safe for them but that does not mean they do not have the same opportunities as others. They just might have to fight a little harder for them. Nothing is off limits.
I am a girl mom. I am raising a fierce daughter and I am about to raise another. They will know their value and worth, and there will never be a day where they do not know how to use their voice.
