Girls Empowering Girls
How do we encourage girls to empower one another? One way is that we, as mothers, can stand together and teach our daughters that it's not okay to talk down to someone, use hurtful words, or gossip. I'm proud to see this shift in today's society. Women are increasingly protecting and uplifting each other. We stand united.
However, it was still quite unsettling when my 8-year-old daughter came home from school and said "Mommy, a friend of mine told me that I was the meanest, worst, and fattest person ever." Mama bear came out, and in my mind I thought, "Oh no she didn't! Who does she think she's messing with?" After the dust settled, I came back to my senses and realized that this was a teaching moment for my daughter.
And I know my daughter is no angel either. Just the other day she shared with me her thoughts on another girl during soccer practice. She was voicing her opinion on how this girl was trying too hard to be a teenager. She was giggling, and I told her straight up, "don't be THAT girl.” I continued to explain that she doesn't know her situation, and if she took the time to get to know her, she could potentially be one of her sweetest friends. There are three guidelines I try to follow when encouraging Girl Power:
1. Be an advocate for other women's accomplishments. Recognize when someone is doing well and genuinely feel happy for them. There's no competition in the real game of life. The truth is that we are all human, and we do have the tendency to want to compete. However, instead of trying to beat someone, use that as fuel to help you make progress on your own goals. There's always room for both of you to shine together.
2. Try not to be a gossip girl. If you start gossiping in front of your child, naturally your child will develop this behavior and begin to have similar discussions with their peers. Keep the talks relevant to your own experience and try not to make others feel left out.
3. Connect with other inspiring women. Surrounding yourself with other like-minded women will help us to continue being kind, bold, and embrace our uniqueness. Together we can build a stronger community, gain confidence and know we honestly have each other's back.
I recently collaborated with @PixieLaneJamie who believes in the core value of empowering other moms. She became a consultant to Pixie Lane, a company that helps mom live an "inspired, balanced, and well-rounded life." Their mission is to produce quality garments, allow children to become part of the creative process, and build a community of Mom bosses. I love the concept that Moms all over can have this work/mom balance in their life. It's incredible that we have companies who are looking out for you. Jaime was able to bring together her two passions, working as a teacher and her love for fashion. She now feels empowered as a woman and a mother. She can do it all and set an example for her daughter. And here we are, two New York mothers, who only know each other through social media, trying to join forces in trying to help and support one another.
My hapa girls loved wearing this brand. The material was super soft and the dress is very playful. They were excited to promote the brand and have a better understanding of what it means to empower one another. This mind-shift can be difficult and we must all practice what we preach. There is nothing more invigorating than seeing women and girls helping one another to achieve their ultimate goal in life: love+happiness+balance.
Hopping off..
"Empowered women empower women"
