RAISE YOUR DAUGHTERS TO BE CONFIDENT

Since childhood, I have always been a champion of women’s liberation. Coming from an Indian background, I grew up listening to things like “A girl’s place is in the kitchen”, “It is useless to educate girls as they will ultimately go to their husband’s home” etc etc. It really made my blood boil and to me it was as if it was a crime to be a girl. However, listening to those words being spoken around me made me even more determined to succeed in this male dominated society.

Our mothers spent their married life as if they were the “property” of their husbands, who could do whatever with them, from verbal to physical abuse.

Today I have been blessed with two daughters and as a mother, I am determined to give them the tools that they will need when they grow up. Here are a few pacts that I have made with myself to bring them up to be confident adults.

1.       NURTURE THEIR INTERESTS – Take your daughter’s interests seriously. If she wants to play football or wants to be an athlete, do not tell her “That is a boy’s sport”. Let her realize that she is equal to any boy out in the world today. Show interest, help her nurture her interest, and make it into her passion.

2.       BELIEVE IN HER – The biggest gift you can give to your daughters is your own confidence in them. Tell them they can do anything and achieve anything they want in life. If you say it enough, your daughters will believe it surely feel that they can achieve anything in life – the biggest boost in their confidence.

3.       ACCEPT YOURSELF – A lot of mothers are unsatisfied with the way their bodies look, or how they look etc. As a mother be proud of what you are, how you are. Your acceptance of yourself will become the catalyst for your daughter to accept how she is and feel good about herself.

4.       ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOICE THEIR VIEWS – By allowing them to be vocal and listening to what they have to say will give you an insight into their personality and help you mould them into confident young women. They should not be afraid to say anything to anyone.

By following these few simple tips, we are moulding our daughters to be the future leaders of tomorrow and giving them the ammunition to make their own destiny. This will help them to walk confidently in a roomful of men without batting an eyelid and if they have to, voice out their own view forwards without feeling embarrassed or threatened in any way.

Lets believe in our daughters and give them that boost to rule the world. Make them feel that they are better than any man out there.  Most importantly, be proud of them I certainly am.