Powerful girls grow up feeling sure of themselves. They learn to take action, to make positive decisions about their own lives, and to do positive things for others. They think critically about the world around them.
They express their feelings and acknowledge the feelings and thoughts of others in an affectionate way. Powerful women feel good about themselves and grow up with a “can do” attitude.
Of course, strong women can (like all of us) have moments of insecurity and doubt, but these feelings are not paralyzing because these women have learned to solve their problems. Powerful women will grow up to lead full and worthwhile lives.
Advice from a mother to face life
In all these attitudes towards life, the education they receive at home has a lot to do with it, the impact of the mother on them is fundamental.
1. Allow your daughter to have a voice of her own
Allow him to have a voice in decision making. Whenever possible, let her make constructive decisions about her life. Let her choose her own clothes, within appropriate limits.
Give her a say in what after-school activities she’s involved in and how many she wants to do (as long as it works for the rest of the family, too). He remembers that he will know what matters most to her when he tries some things and finds he doesn’t like them, as well as when he finds things he loves to do.
2. Listen more, advise less
When we talk to girls, they often experience it as if we are talking to them, and they not only stop listening, but they stop thinking and reflecting. But when we listen to them, they have to think about what they are saying, and they tend to reflect more.
And we need to keep an open dialogue: We can’t dismiss their talk of the ups and downs of friendship as trivial and then expect them to talk to us about the big stuff.
3. Acknowledge their struggles, but keep a sense of perspective.
We have to recognize the pain that our daughters are experiencing, so that they feel heard, accepted and empathized. But we also need to put it into perspective, stay calm and listen to what they are going through without projecting our own experiences onto theirs.
4. Let it fail
If your goal as a mom is to have a strong, emotionally healthy daughter, it won’t help to protect her from every obstacle she faces. Confidence is nurtured when our children face adversity.
No parent wants their child to get hurt, or to try hard at something and fail miserably. But when we honestly consider our own strengths, the qualities of character that we have built over the years, we recognize that they have been developed and strengthened because of a struggle we have endured.
Overcoming failure teaches us and our children resilience and perseverance.
5. Set aside expectations
There should no longer be expectations of girls (especially us) to be a certain way, dress a certain way, have certain jobs and particular hobbies. Our daughters need to know that we love them for who they are, not what they look like, how they dress, their choice of hobbies or careers.
6. Teach them to be responsible
Teaching our daughters the value of accountability and responsibility early on will sow the seeds of independence early on.
It’s never too early to start holding her accountable for tidying her own room, doing her own chores and cleaning, budgeting pocket money, paying bills, and managing a bank account. If everything is done for her, what a surprise it will be when she reaches adulthood without the knowledge to navigate everyday life.