Skip to main content

Teach Girls Bravery Not Perfection

 


As a mother to two daughters and two more bonus daughters, I spend most of my waking hours thinking about how to raise them to be kind, generous souls in this world.  I also want them to be risk takers and not fear failure.  I want them to be resilient and armed with the belief that they are capable of picking themselves up and view adversity and failure as learning opportunities for growth.  I want them to be brave, not perfect.
  
Reshma Saujani's TED Talk about teaching girl’s bravery, not perfection is exactly what every parent who has daughter's need to hear.  Saujani has taken up the charge to socialize young girls to take risks.  "I need each of you to tell every young woman you know, to be comfortable with imperfection."

I encourage each of you to take 12 minutes of your day and listen to Reshma's challenge for those of us raising young women.  You won't be disappointed.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids

Every morning I stand on the steps of our home, sipping my coffee, and watch my 12-year-old walk to the bus stop in the dark.   This morning as I watched her, I was suddenly more aware than ever that my baby girl is growing up…and fast.   She stands 5’8” tall and will most likely surpass me in height.   So, her height always makes her appear older than she is and as she made her way to the bus stop, her silhouette was illuminated by the street light and I felt as though I was going to blink, and she was going to be walking away from me to start the journey we call life.   And I panicked for a moment… is she ready, have I raised her with the tools she needs to succeed, have I been a good mother, have I prepared her mind, body and soul to take on the challenges that we are constantly presented with in life, will she be a self-sufficient, god-fearing woman? It’s terrifying at times to think that as parents we have the greatest impact on our children’s lives. ...

Allie’s Adoption Story

“I didn’t give you the gift of life, but in my heart I know.  The love I feel is deep and real, as if it had been so.  For us to have each other is like a dream come true.  No, I didn’t give you the gift of life; life gave me the gift of you.”   I was given a heart for children very early in life and I knew that I never wanted my passion for children to go untouched.  I wasn’t sure exactly all the ways my life would be impacted by this passion, but I was certain adoption was one of them. Before I was ever in a position to become a mother, I knew that my life would be touched by adoption.  For years, it was on the forefront of my mind to adopt a child internationally.  I had researched international orphanages in high school and some of the conditions of orphanages would bring me to tears and ignited in me an unquenchable desire to speak up for the children that could not speak for themselves.  So, I began praying that God woul...

When to Tell Your Child About Adoption

As many of you know from reading Allie’s adoption story, I adopted Allie from my sister and had her from day one.   Adoption brings with it a series of emotions that are truly hard to put into words.   My sister asked me to adopt Allie when she was almost five months pregnant.   Without hesitation I said yes.   I just knew this was God’s plan and we had no idea the blessings Allie would bring to our family and everyone she meets.   She really is a remarkable child.   My mom always tells her she was a rosebud in heaven just waiting to be bloomed and a very special rosebud she was.   If you’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Allie, you’re missing out.   Her spirit is unlike any I have met in a child.   Sure, I may be biased, but I have met few like her.   After the incredible and emotional adoption took place, July 15, 2011 (there is a six-month guardianship process in the state of Missouri) we were living and loving life.  ...