Sometimes Having a Daughter is Scary

It truly can be.  Like when you hear about horrific “performances” (I can barely call it that…isn’t spectacle a better word?) on the VMAs.  I didn’t watch (I haven’t watched MTV in years), but I’ve seen the videos and pictures.  It makes me worry about my little girl.

Being a mom is already a huge responsibility, but having a daughter brings its own unique set of responsibilities.  Number one, it’s my job to teach my daughter self-respect..  If I were Miley’s parents, I’d feel like I failed.  I can’t imagine what she was thinking.

I really feel that self-respect and self-esteem are tied closely together.  I want Abbie to know how special she is, and that she has so much to offer the world.  Even though we’re just getting to know here, there are so many things I can imagine her being.

She could be creative.  She could be funny.  She could be smart.  Should could be kind.  She could be driven.  She could love animals.  She could be athletic.  And yes, she could be beautiful.  But none of these traits stand alone.  She would be a compilation of all of them.

It’s my job as her mother to make sure she knows every piece of her matters, that no one trait or interest defines her.  It’s my job to make sure she understands she doesn’t need to exploit any one of them for any reason.  It’s my job to TEACH her self-respect.  It’s a tough job, given all the bad examples out there.  I can only hope she learns it from a young age and always, always remembers it.

Linking up with Kristin today…