10 Reminders for Mothers of Young Ladies

So I know its been a super long time since my last post for Palm Beach's Belly Buff... I will update everything soon but for now, the rebirth of the blog is for a whole other purpose.

I have become a pinterest user and I have seen numerous "things to say to your son", "dads... how to love your daughters", "moms things to teach their sons.." ... you get the point..

everything is celebrating a mother's role and importance in raising a son and a father's in raising a daughter.
Now, my friends and super honest husband would be happy to enlighten everyone about my fear and anxiety about having a girl. I made no excuse or apology about making it known that I wanted boys. Well, my first and now second born have both been girls... I have happily converted and my awareness and worldview has completely changed to being a girl loving mumma.. (this is huge for me bc I never was a girls girl... only a handful of women/girls I have opened up to enough to call a true friend.)

So, with my new love, enlightenment, ambition, enthusiasm, and honor that I have discovered in raising girls (yes I know they are young and I dont know everything but its a running draft so be nice people) I wanted to share a new pinterest destination of:

It Takes A Strong Mumma To Raise Girls 

10 reminders for mothers of young ladies

1. Stay Classy at all times

Remember they are watching you... your demeanor and behavior will be imitated. That means your language (I struggle with this) relationships, respect and how you talk to people in public, even those who you work for or work for you. Manners, integrity and humility are key. Try to have fun and relax, no one is perfect and a perfect mother doesn't exist. 

2. Respect your partner

Now let me clarify... respect doesn't equal a doormat but show her a healthy respect for the other parent in the family. This includes healthy disagreements.

3. Model good eating and healthy body image

a majority of young girls with Eating Disorders site female family members as an influence or trigger for their fixation. Don't let men be the only people who tell her she's beautiful.. tell her yourself often... daily. 

4. Start a diary of your life experiences

ie. bad dates, first times (yes even that first time), ex's, friends, business advice etc.  Whatever you are willing to admit and be honest about (of course this will vary from woman to woman) Give it to your daughter when she is old enough.. (esp if there is more than pg13 information) to show her your mistakes and what happened, be open about how you hurt, how you rose above and how things worked out. Your daughters might not learn from your mistakes but they will know who to talk to when things turn out similarly. (bc we all know they probably will)

5. Celebrate her life changes

When everyone else (esp her daddy) is not wanting her to date, wear a bra, grow up.. celebrate and make her feel comfortable about the change. Girls should never feel embarrassed about growing up and the changes that life brings... if its apart of life... ie. going through puberty, going on a date, first crush/love, going to college, meeting a boy, getting married CELEBRATE it!! Be her strong cheerleader and support when people expect her to not grow up.

6. Teach her the domestic things in life and independence

Teach her how to cook, clean, sew, care for children, maintain a home.. all those good 1950's pillars. See, I'm not just a female domestic cheerleader... girls need to learn independence too. That means financially, socially, physically and mechanically. (Yes, mechanically.. instead of the childhood experience of the father teaching the daughter how to change a tire... show her that she doesnt need a man to show her, her mumma knows how.. *you might need a prep course before you display your Nascar pit crew skills on your minivan)

7. Marry smart not rich

Mumma always taught me to marry smart not rich. A rich man can loose everything but a smart man will know how to make more even if he loses it. 

Smart is just better. Period. 

8. Rules of aesthetics

more, bigger and gaudy dont always equal better. Take a cue from fashion and take one accessory off before you leave the house. That doesnt mean to not teach her the wonders of diamonds (or cz's, no reason to be uppity) 

9. Read, Learn, Question and Assert yourself as a mother

Encouraging your daughters intellect and reason is one of the most important to me as a mother. Stay active mentally, socially and intellectually. Read often, educate yourself on current events, issues, politics. Form your own opinions and share if they are different from your partners (again be respectful and classy mummas!) or affirm your thoughts if they are the same views. 

10. Be a mom not a friend

Nothing is more confusing to a child than a parent who wants to be loved more than help their children through life. Make those hard choices, punish when needed, dont feel bad about tears if it will spare her later in life from some other pain. 

IT TAKES A STRONG WOMAN TO BE A MOTHER TO GIRLS, GOD KNEW YOU COULD NOT ONLY RAISE A LITTLE LADY BUT A STRONG WOMAN AND ONE DAY MOTHER HERSELF. PLUS ITS A FACT... 

WE RUN THE WORLD!

haha sasha fierce!

feel free to add comments and suggestions for other things to teach our little ladies
much love mummas!