It is International Girl Child Day on 11th October and it evokes a lot of different emotions. Our country is changing fast and we can see developments everywhere. But one area where we still need a change is – Our thinking and mentality. Especially in small towns and villages, things have not changed at all.
It’s high time we change our thinking and the first step is to make our girls strong and self-dependent.
Dear Parents, please allow your girls the freedom of choice, the freedom of thinking, and also the freedom to make mistakes.
International Girl Child Day –
Let them decide-
Whenever taking a decision, do involve her and let her decide or at least voice her opinions in matters related to school and home. I make sure to involve my girls in any small decisions we make at home. This makes them feel special and also teaches them decision-making skills.
Make them self-dependent-
If you keep on helping your child with everything, how will she learn to cope up with difficult situations? Teach them to tackle a situation instead of helping them. One way is to ask them – How will you solve this problem? What do you think can be done in this situation? It’s important to give her a sense of control and show her that you respect her decisions.
Read here – We are girls and we are not a burden.
Teach them physical appearance is not important-
Don’t comment on their physical appearance and don’t be critical of how they look or how they carry themselves. Appreciate her uniqueness and her qualities. She needs to learn to love herself irrespective of what others think of her.
Teach them to stand up to injustice-
It all starts at home and if you allow her to stand up to you and be heard, she can learn to do the same with friends, teachers, or any future relationships. They should be able to stand up to anything wrong.
Be there for them-
Your daughters should know that you are there for them when they need you. This assurance is very important. Do not burden them with your own expectations and your own dreams. Listen to them, show them you care, and stay connected. Before anything else, cherish these beautiful moments spent with her as they grow really fast and before you realise, it’s time for them to fly high leaving an empty nest behind.
Let them study till they want, let them go out and work, and let them go for parties at night and enjoy with their friends. I know it’s easier said than done with everything going around in our country but change starts with us.
What message do you want to give little girls on this International girl child day?
I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge.
October 9, 2017 at 2:29 pm
My rules for bringing up my girls though I feel bad to watch them clean up after their mistakes…..
October 9, 2017 at 3:53 pm
Thanks
October 9, 2017 at 3:05 pm
It’s sad though that the female infanticide rate is still so high in India and women everywhere are still treated as secondary citizens. You’ve got some good suggestions for families with girls though
October 9, 2017 at 3:54 pm
Yes Sanch. Its really sad to see the same old thinking and mentality. Thanks for reading.
October 9, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Sometimes feels very bad to see the condition of girls or women in our society even in the highly educated people. Still the female infanticide rate in India is high. Your tips and suggestions for those having girl child are very useful and effective. Thanks for sharing.
October 9, 2017 at 8:03 pm
Thanks Minakshi
October 9, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Deepa you are right in saying that it is the small towns and villages that need to change more, yet there are so many families in cities too who still do not put them at par with their sons. You have brought up some very relevant points in this post.
October 9, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Agree Anupriya..educated and highly qualified people also still have this kind of thinking. Thanks.
October 9, 2017 at 6:18 pm
We are two sisters and our parents have raised us to be an independent and confident girls that we are today. I thank them for providing us with everything that we need to face the difficult times that we are living in. I pledge to empower my daughter with everything that she would need to conquer this world in the times ahead.
October 9, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Thats great. Thanks Neha.
October 9, 2017 at 10:09 pm
U have said the most important thing that lets teach them to tackle situations rather than helping each time…..lovly post
October 9, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Thanks Monika
October 9, 2017 at 11:39 pm
Daughters need to be brought up with dignity. But the saddest part is that in most homes it is the mother who tramples upon their self respect and make them feel inferior to their brothers.
October 10, 2017 at 10:54 am
Yes Geeta..I hope to see the change in thinking. As I said, the change starts from home. Parents need to change their thinking first. Thanks for reading.
October 10, 2017 at 2:50 am
So beautifully articulated. I have a daughter too and I just loved this post. They way you have put forth is just amazing.
October 10, 2017 at 11:24 am
Thanks Mamatha
October 10, 2017 at 1:26 pm
Now we see a divide in the way girls are brought up! Either they are treated as second class citizens or they are told all women who look after their homes and don’t aspire for a high flying career are oppressed. I find both the view points strifling. A good prompt will try and write for it.
October 11, 2017 at 8:58 am
Yes Neha..its sad to see the discrimination on all the fronts even in the educated society. Thanks for reading.
October 10, 2017 at 4:09 pm
What i love the most- Freedom to make mistakes.
October 11, 2017 at 9:00 am
Thanks Upasna for stopping by
October 10, 2017 at 6:39 pm
I definitely believe that daughters have to be brought up in equality just as boys but sad that not how it is in villages of India..Still people think the boy as a heir of their house
October 10, 2017 at 7:24 pm
In this new age so many new things have to be taught to our girls. It is time to empower them with following their hearts first and not just going by traditions.
October 11, 2017 at 9:01 am
Yes Ophira..empowering our girls is very important. Thanks.
October 10, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Superb post, being a mommy of two cute dolls I can totally co-relate with it. we are living in 21st century, still female foeticide, dowry, domestic violence is a bigger part of our so-called society. unfortunately we can not change the whole scenario but we can make our girls strong and independent individuals who can fight for their rights in future or whenever they needed.
October 11, 2017 at 9:03 am
Yes Surbhi. As parents, we can atleast take a first step towards it by empowering our girls and teaching our boys to respect girls. Thanks.
October 11, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Very good tips. The freedom to make mistakes applies to all – boys and girls. Nice post.
October 11, 2017 at 2:49 pm
Thanks Suzy
October 11, 2017 at 2:54 pm
Agree with all the points you have shared. It’s so imp to teach all these to our girls. For parents, it’s so imp to broaden their perspective.
October 11, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Thanks Charu
October 11, 2017 at 5:41 pm
Totally agree with all the things you have listed . It’s very important to make our daughter’s self dependent and self independent and stand for injustice
October 12, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Thanks
October 11, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Being the mom of a girl child, I can relate so much to these points..
October 12, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Thanks Soumya
October 12, 2017 at 12:43 am
Absolutely adore this post. I am so agree with you in those points. Our girls need more freedom to conquer the world.
October 12, 2017 at 11:32 pm
Thanks Shipra
October 12, 2017 at 2:44 pm
What a lovely post Deepa, I agree with each and every point. Parents nowadays are different from the yester years, but still there are many who are following the same rules which were meant for them. I really hope people change their mentality and start accepting the girls openly in society with no restrictions on them.
October 12, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Thanks a lot Neha. Glad you liked it.
October 12, 2017 at 9:19 pm
Very helpful post. I hope it reaches those people who are still fretting about their girl babies colour and hair on their bodies and the state of the hair on their head. I hope they can learn to look beyond all this and give them an independent streak of mind and empower them to live their lives on their own terms.
October 12, 2017 at 10:47 pm
Completely agree with everything you have said. Would also like to add that daughters need to be taught about gender equality so that they can impart they same when they grow up.
October 15, 2017 at 6:01 pm
I love the this post Dee. I couldnt agree more !
October 24, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Makking our children confident and strong are the best gifts we can give.
October 28, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Lovely post. It is the need of the hour.
October 14, 2020 at 5:25 pm
This is something that my dad has always told me: I’m here for you no matter what. And it has made a huge difference in my life. Loved the points you have mentioned.