Girl Power

As a mother of girls (and boys, too) one of my main objectives is to instill in them a sense of self-confidence that will aid them in making good decisions in their lives. I want them to grow into strong and capable women who know of their self-worth. I think this is one of the most important things that I can do as a mother: provide opportunities for them to gain confidence. In order to do this, while they are young I've emphasized qualities such as intelligence and kindness over physical qualities like beauty and fashion. Of course, they also know that they are beautiful, but we try to focus on more lasting values. As my girls mature, I've started giving them situations in which they can be independent. For example, I send them into a non-threatening store to pick up a few items while I wait in the car with the little ones. I ask them to walk the dogs around the block or I have them "babysit" while I finish a task.

I have also been working on really listening to them and showing empathy when necessary. I can't possibly fix all of the problems in their lives. (For goodness sakes, I can't fix all of my problems, how can I expect myself to fix anyone else's?) But, I can listen intently, offer advice when appropriate and have compassion. Since I am still in the middle of raising them, I don't know if this approach will lead to self-confident daughters, but it seems to be working thus far. (I'll keep you posted.)

Sometimes, I find something that helps me in my quest for confidence outside the family and I'm grateful for that. The kids and I are avid YouTubbers (pron. u-toob'-ers) and this video (Jar of Hearts) by Christina Perri is one of our favorites because it stars a strong woman. I think we've watched this one a million times. The choreography is amazing as is the drama and special effects.



I hope that you enjoy this one as much as we do.

xoxo
B