Strong daughters are not free – they cost a lot of nerves. But we don't care. We like to endure these 7 things so that our strong girls become strong women …
1. "No, no and no again"
If you want to raise women with strong opinions, you have to endure girls with strong opinions. Even if this opinion doesn't fit at all with what you think is important and right. With "that's it and that's it" you get no further. That is why our girls receive arguments, an open ear for their thoughts and a discussion on an equal footing. Sometimes not easy … but we can do it.
2. "I want" and that's ok
"A child that wants gets something on the Brill" This is how you nipped the self-confidence of the offspring in the bud. Super easy. But also super stupid. If we want our daughters to master a salary negotiation with flying colors, we must still listen to what they want today. Also important: formulate yourself how it is with us. "I want you to go to bed now", for example. The formulation makes a lot of impression on children and is personal, says family therapist Jesper Juul.
3. Screaming, stamping, scolding? Expressly allowed in our house
Not nice, but allowed: Everyone can express their anger and feelings. As long as nobody gets hurt and the doors don't go off their hinges, we let our girls freak out. Because no, aggression is not a male testosterone attitude, but an absolutely human feeling. To put it, girls of many generations and cultures have just unfortunately been deprived of it. Too bad.
4. "Your child is rude …"
Because it doesn't want to shake hands with you? Because it doesn't feel like playing with your child? Well, our daughters can decide for themselves about their bodies and their friends. We are sorry that it seems impolite from the outside, but we can stand it. Because we see it very differently.
5. Our own fear is our problem
No, we are not superwoman … sometimes we are terrified for our little ones. The fact that our girls are independent and courageous is a constant test of us. But our fears are our problem – and not that of our girls.
6. You're not me – and that's great!
Beloved Daughter – Whoever you want to be, be it whole. Even if our daughters are not like us at all, that's okay. Enduring differences is not always easy. But strong girls are not just a transfer of anyone. No, not even from us. And we think that's great.
7. Our own kilos
We no longer take part in the equation "less kilos equals more value". Because only if we show our daughters what self-respect and unconditional self-love mean, do they have a chance to grow up without these crappy self-doubts. So take the mirror: We can also endure our own flaws.