Being on a Rose Bowl Parade float was a bucket list item for me that I finally got to fulfill, thanks to my role at ESPN. As a little girl, I’d watch the parade on TV and dream about being one of the people who got to spread joy along the route. However, my mom saw “joyful” as a character trait that could carry me through life, not just on a float. So, early on, she encouraged me to find joy in every situation. And this positive outlook is a strength I’m so grateful she gave me.
Now, I get the privilege of raising my own daughter, Reese. She’s only five, but I’m already planning for the kind of woman I want her to become. If raising strong daughters is your goal, too, start teaching your daughter now to grow into a woman known for these 3 things.
1. A Woman Who Roots for the Success of Other Women
With Reese, I want her to know she is the brightest light. Hers is the face I see when I need to find strength. As her mom, I will always be her biggest fan. You probably feel the same way about your girl, too! But I also want Reese surrounded by other girls and women who support her and bring out the best in her. And I want her to cheer on her girlfriends just as loudly as they cheer for her. As women, we can’t celebrate other women enough.
Teaching little girls to root for the success of other girls is one of the most important lessons we can give them. In our culture, competition often overshadows collaboration. However, encouraging girls to cheer for each other helps them see that another girl’s win doesn’t take anything away from their potential. Raising strong daughters includes teaching them that success is not a limited resource.
2. A Woman Who Decides for Herself Who She Wants to Be
When I first got into sports broadcasting, I received a lot of unsolicited advice on social media about what I should wear, how I should look, and even what I should think. It took me a while to figure out how to block out the noise. It’s not just me or other women in the public eye, though. Society has plenty to say about who girls and women should be.
As moms, we can raise our daughters with the self-confidence to decide for themselves who they are and who they want to be. Outside voices don’t get to choose for them. When a girl learns to take ownership of her character, she develops the resilience to stand tall in the face of others’ expectations or criticisms. Of course, your daughter needs guidance to learn the values and character traits that define your family. And she needs you to help her see what makes her unique. I tell Reese all the time that her humor and quick wit are my favorite. I want her to know that about herself.
3. A Woman Who Finds Confidence and Worth in Her Inner Beauty
There’s no shortage of messages telling girls what they should look like, but raising strong daughters includes teaching them to understand that their worth isn’t tied to how they look on the outside but to the love, strength, and compassion they carry inside. Even at 5 years old, Reese is so sure of herself, and compassion flows effortlessly from her. She is just as beautiful in those moments as when she spins around in a sparkle cape and crown.
As moms, we can help our daughters look beyond the mirror and recognize the value of their hearts and minds. When a girl learns to embrace qualities like kindness, empathy, and integrity, she builds confidence in the type of beauty that doesn’t change with trends or outside opinions. And that’s the kind of woman I want my daughter to grow up to become.
What’s important to you about raising strong daughters?
