It is a great time to be a girl!
I am a Mom to two very strong, smart and inspiring little girls. When I look at them I see all that is possible for them and for the world. They can be anything they want to be and because they are young they still believe that they can be anything. Children see all the possibilities of the world. Just today I had a conversation with my 6 year old daughter about this very topic. We were in the car and a Justin Bieber song came on the radio. My daughter said to me “You know Mom lots of people make fun of Justin Bieber. Why do they do that?” I told her sometimes people are jealous of all he has accomplished and the success he has had. My daughter then said to me “You know Mom they don’t have to be that way. If they worked hard they could be anything they want to be. It just takes hard work and practice. Anything is possible if they just put their minds to it” Wow wise words for someone so young. It left me feeling so proud of my daughter. That is one of the many special things about childhood, children see the possibilities in life. Anything is possible for a child and you know they are right. It is only when we grow up and start to let other people tell us what is possible and not possible we start to believe that we can not dream of being anything we want to be.
I try every day to show my girls – not just tell them – you can do or be anything you want or dream. I am a journalist, a writer. It is something I have wanted to do and be for a long time. As a child I remember spending hours writing short stories and poems on sheets of lined paper. I loved writing essays, loved doing it so much I would spend spare periods and lunch breaks in the cafeteria helping my friends write their essays. I not only work in news but I also write freelance magazine articles. I am doing something I love. I want my girls to see anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
I want my girls to know that they can do anything and everything they want to do. It might take hard work and perseverance but they can live their dreams. I want them to love what they do, no matter what it is.
I was lucky to have grown up with the best parents in the world. My Mom was always there for me… is still there for me no matter what I need. She was the best role model a little girl could have. She taught me about patience, love, understanding, strength, joy, and about being the best you can be. My Dad was also a great support. He raised me to be strong and smart and to believe I could do anything I wanted. He never treated me like I couldn’t do anything. He supported me in school and in sports. Both my parents still support me and are my biggest cheerleaders. They taught me how to be a good parent. It is the lessons I learned from them that I am passing on to my girls. The love and support of family is the most important thing for girls. Family anchors us, it supports us, it holds us up, it pushes us on, it cheers us on, it drives us, it tells us we can dream and loves us enough so that we can be anything we want to be.
It is important for all of us to support girls and show them anything is possible. Barbie I Can Be is a great campaign helping to support girls and all they are dreaming to be. Check out the new website www.bethevoice.ca ( I love this name…we need to be the voice and give our girls a voice and help them to use their voice to be heard). It is dedicated to helping moms raise smarter, stronger, happier, and more fulfilled daughters. Join the conversation on the site. Leading Canadian parenting coach, Terry Carson, www.theparentingcoach.ca, will provide perspectives, wisdom, and experiences.
Disclosure – I am participating in the Barbie I Can Be campaign by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Mattel Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
