Raising a daughter can be daunting and difficult. But no one can do it better than you, mama.
For all of us who want our darling little girls to grow up to be confident and strong women who are beautiful inside and out, we must speak empowering words to them and teach them important life lessons they will bring with them as they go out to the bigger world out there.
More than the fashion sense and makeup tips we want to impart to them, let us constantly remind our daughters these powerful nuggets of wisdom:
1. True beauty shines from within.
As your girl grows up, she will hear people comment about her appearance. Some of them will be upsetting and hurtful, and will prompt girls to be conscious about how they look. So it’s important to teach your daughter that the perfect body does not exist and that body shaming should not be tolerated. She does not need to adhere to certain beauty standards because she is beautiful in her own right. A girl becomes even more beautiful when she is able to accept herself, flaws and all, because then she can be genuinely happy.
2. It’s okay to say ‘No.’
Saying ‘No’ can be difficult for some, especially when girls are raised to always say ‘Yes’ in their household. Remind your little girl that there are instances when she needs to stand up for her beliefs and that saying ‘No’ doesn’t make her a bad person. Doing so can also be a way of putting her own needs first and protecting herself from abuse.
3. Always be kind to yourself.
Whether we admit it or not, it’s a harsh world out there—and it scares us to the core that our little girl may feel discouraged or defeated, and we wouldn’t be able to do anything for her. This can happen, mama. But you can train her to practice self-kindness so that she does not become her own worst critic. Instead, she should know that everyone makes mistakes. She can pick up the lessons from these failures, and that it’s better to show a little compassion toward herself.
4. You do not need the approval of others.
When you seek validation from others, you are limiting yourself from your full potential. Remind your daughter that she does not need to be swayed by other people’s opinion of her. She cannot please everybody no matter how hard she’ll try—she needs to learn this as early as now. So just let go, be herself, and happily live her life.
5. Be proud to be a woman.
This is something that you need to show your daughter by example, mama. When your little girl sees that you embrace the woman that you are, imperfections included, it can inspire her to be the best version of herself. Women can be soft and strong at the same time, and give the purest kind of love because our hearts are as open as the sky. There are just too many reasons to be proud that you are a woman!
