It isn't easy, this calling to raise girls. I have 3 of them... at different stages, all needing different things from me.
Raising little women in a world that is broken, one that wants them to conform and bend into something they are not, one that brainwashes them young, it is really rather scary. All I can do is hope that I raise them to trust their own instincts, to distinguish between what is real and true and what isn't.
Though I mustn't forget there is also so much beauty everywhere. The experience of being a woman is a powerful and precious one that must not be underestimated or diminished.
I am not foolish enough to think that I am the only female they need rely on, they must be surrounded by strong, kind females. Be that girlfriends, teachers, step-mums, aunties, grandmas. They must be able to see and learn and grow from the many experiences of being a woman and then decipher what it means for them.
This past week my eldest daughters, aged 11 and 13, have competed in The Aims games, it has been a crazy week full of highs and lows. Injuries, wins and losses.
For my middle daughter it was her first experience being fully immersed in a team, without her sisters or parents being right there with her. Something like this helps her to learn more about who she is, separate from the rest of us. That experience is invaluable at building confidence. It fills her cup.
Honestly though, you get older, it cannot be helped, and through the sum of your experiences, you forget what it was like to be a teenager... I often still think I feel quite youthful... until you put me around a group of teenage girls who are young, vibrant and taller than me! Gosh it was interesting to sit back and watch their interactions. They always give each other hugs and are genuinely happy to see each other, even if they were only with each other an hour before. They celebrate each other and the vibe is contagious. My hope is that they don't lose that. Woman should always support and celebrate each other. We already face so many challenges.
Watching them gave me all the feels! Remember those days when your whole life was ahead of you, you were still innocent to the world. You had TIME.... time to figure it all out, time to make mistakes and time to change your mind. It feels like you had forever... and you were free... Now approaching 41 myself and with teenage daughters, I know first-hand it is such gorgeous, yet fleeting and defining time in our lives.
I was in such a hurry to grow up and hindsight tells me that had I slowed down then, perhaps my life would have taken a different journey. In my haste I missed some vital steps and in the way of life I have had to go backwards before I can move forward. The silver lining is that hopefully I can offer life lessons and insights to help my girls, whilst also letting them choose their own paths and make their own mistakes. Naturally I do not want them repeating my errors, however it is their journey to undertake. I can only share my wisdom as they need it.
As much as I am here to teach them, they teach me so much too. They always remind me to have fun, to laugh at myself. There is still so much good in the world. I am not to get cynical ... we all need to keep having adventures and deep belly laughs with a group of girlfriends is always the best medicine.
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