You know what I love about children? Their innocence and how at 5 years old they see nothing bad in the world, especially girls. As I listened to Aubrey’s class and the entire lower school (grades K-5) sing and cheer for each other during their closing chapel last week, I couldn’t get this out of my head. I wondered at what point would they stop loving each other?

I know it’s bad as parent to have those thoughts. However, as a female I too have experienced it. Now by nature girls are a tad dramatic. But the days of cattiness, competition for sake of drama and just plain mean haven’t quite reared their ugly heads in early elementary.

Why? Because we as parents are probably still teaching things like, “be kind to everyone.” “Jesus said ‘love they neighbor as thyself,’ and ‘don’t forget the Golden Rule.”

During adolescence competition seems to become an every day part of their lives though. Whether it’s sports, academics or some other facet, I see people pushing their kids to be “the best” Although I don’t think it’s intentional, this creates a divide among friendships and even families at times. And what hurts the most is to see a once confident, innocently sweet girl crushed because she isn’t “good” enough.

Often you’ve heard me complain about Aubrey’s head strong personality. But I hope and pray that over her life that strong will takes her to great places. Not because we as parents made her for our accord but because she pushed herself. Competition within oneself is much more rewarding than doing something for someone else.

This week I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a group of women from Guatemala who are working to create better lives for their families. Not because they want their name in lights or titles, but to truly make a difference in their families. They’re doing it to show the young girls in their families and their country that they are powerful, worthy and intelligent. They’re changing the way that their gender is treated in Guatemala. And the fact that me, a girl from North Carolina who sells makeup and skincare, supports their hopes, dreams and betterment of their lives and their gender in their country...I am humbled. And it’s our job to make sure that girls and women here feel just as empowered as those Guatemalan women.

“it’s our job to make sure that girls and women here feel just as empowered as those Guatemalan women. ”

So let’s stop teaching competition and support everyone. Stop the “mean girl” talk just because someone is different from you. And most of all, teach your girls that they can do ANYTHING and everything they want because they are amazing!

With Love,

You Hold the Power : What We as Women Should Work On