How to talk to little girls

I came across this article recently. How to Talk to Girls

Here is a couple of quotes I especially liked.

Teaching girls that their appearance is the first thing you notice tells them that looks are more important than anything. It sets them up for dieting at age 5 and foundation at age 11 and boob jobs at 17 and Botox at 23. As our cultural imperative for girls to be hot 24/7 has become the new normal, American women have become increasingly unhappy. What's missing? A life of meaning, a life of ideas and reading books and being valued for our thoughts and accomplishments.

Try this the next time you meet a little girl. She may be surprised and unsure at first, because few ask her about her mind, but be patient and stick with it. Ask her what she's reading. What does she like and dislike, and why? There are no wrong answers. You're just generating an intelligent conversation that respects her brain. For older girls, ask her about current events issues: pollution, wars, school budgets slashed. What bothers her out there in the world? How would she fix it if she had a magic wand? You may get some intriguing answers. Tell her about your ideas and accomplishments and your favorite books. Model for her what a thinking woman says and does.

I agree with Lisa Bloom. I know it seems strange that I work in the fitness industry and like to be coiffed up myself. Somewhat of a contradiction, right? Wrong. I don't think it is one or the other.  As we walked out the door the other day, Kara realized something and shouted "Wait!  We have to do my hair!"  I had to smile and feel a little bit of happy.  While presentation is not everything, it does influence how you feel, act and carry yourself.  If you think you look like a schlepp, then you may act like one too.  (btw, I had to look up schlepp.  It means ineffectual person)  We get dressed up for church for many reasons, but I believe one of them is to remind us to act with reverence.  We don't have to wear our "Sunday best" all of the time, but in my mind getting dressed and putting myself together is one of my "Dailies."

I want my little girl to have opinions on books, talents and hobbies that she's worked hard to develop and to be willing to talk about them.  I've been re-training my brain to think this way as I talk to her and other kids (boys too).  It's slow going.  So far, my brain is wired to ask favorite color for a shy one.  Probably a good ice breaker but I know there is more to their personality than just the color question.

Bottom line, appearance matters but brains are what really count.  Pun intended.

Quick update and Surprise! I've blogged.

Kara and Matthew have asthma and both have lingering colds. So, we are spending A LOT of time at home . Two sick kids will make me get very creative in how I pass the time. We've all got a little cabin fever down here being stuck at home so much. Then I had the brilliant idea to post to our blog!

Btw, I realized one of the reasons I don't blog is that I'm a little weirded out putting our life experiences out there for the world to read. I know, I know, who in their right mind would want to read about our boring life. I would feel more comfortable putting my thoughts out there privately. So, as soon as I can convince Andrew that our friends would still go to our ancient blog that we never update, we will be going private. I may have to actually blog a few posts to get people back into reading it before that happens. We'll see.

Update:

Andrew is half-way through fellowship and looking for jobs. We have had some serious discussions with different groups but none of them have panned out.

I am finally taking my national certification test this April and attempting to buckle down and study. (Which is what I should be doing right now)

Kara is putting letters together to make words and it makes my heart just melt. I actually cried when she read He Has...

Matthew is into Cars 2 and all the other cars, trucks, trains, etc.

I am trying to avoid all the old ladies in the grocery store who give me the "Carpe Diem" speech. If you haven't read "Don't Carpe Diem me" then you should. Very validating for how hard mothering is. Though I wish she put more in about on the good times. Her Kairos vs. Chronos has come to mind numerous times as I'm wiping noses for the 52nd time today then again when Kara asks for just one more story.

First Book!

(I have a hunch it was a fluke. She's good but not that good.)

No, this is not an annoucement. I've just been making a lot of these lately.

Occasionally, they do share.

Watching Cars 2 in 3D.

Yea! Daddy is home!

Watch for more updates. Y'all come back now.