Growing great girls

I haven't read it as assumed it was for older kids. I have heard great things about it though.

Ive been contemplating this book, to Janine, and on your reccomendation, I think I will go get it.

I've been thinking ALOT lately about how much emphasis we put into "beauty" and how often we tell our children they are cute, beautiful etc - not that there is anything wrong with that, but I often wonder are we planting the seeds early that "beauty" is "good"? that you have to be beautful to be successful? It breaks my heart when I hear step son goingon about so and so is ugly, or eww her, shes a dog shes ugly etc. Beautiful people seem to have it so much easier - at school, at least. I guess its what you teach them at home.

Ramble ramble. Anyhow I have been trying really hard to tell me kids they are smart, kind, funny, gentle, nice friends, thoughful and sweet as well as the usual cute etc. I always praise Jake when I catch him doing something nice for someone (he is a kind wee boy) by saying Thats why people like you jake becasue you are a nice friend/kind boy/good sharer etc.

I just worry about self image etc for when the kids get bigger. I hope I can give them the self esteem to not care that others are better looking etc co sthey are smart! lol.

I've had a few good "chats" with SS about his attitude over peoples looks, but I think thats a teen thing, peer pressure etc. Always scared of what/who looks different to everyone else. You have to arm them with the confidence to go against the sheep thing I guess.

I have Growing Great Boys which I found really , well, great!

I didn't realise they had a girl book, but will definitley go and find it now

I have Growing Great Girls and its a great read!! My Mum bought it for me, I was stoked!

Hmmm...I might get that as well!


Like Annie I also worry about the image thing. I also try my best to tell Z that she is sooo clever and I am so proud of her. You are such a good gil for sharing....you are so nice for giving that hug etc etc...as well as the usuall ...you are my beautiful little girl!

She has a birth mark inside her thigh...not a huge on your face one but its there....I was worried that when she grows up she will hate having it there!!
so I started to say wow look Zaara has a special Pretty!! And now she things its her pretty thing! I would hate that she pointed at some one with a B/Mark and tease...I am hoping that she will think of it as a special pretty thing.

I worry that she will be mean...I know she isnt...but I see some kids these days and I worry that she will become like them......

Might have to have a read myself, as aunt to a two lovely nieces, and one almost a teenager its really important they retain the awesome confidence they have in themselves going into the teenage years, as a lot happens with peer pressure and the media when you are a teen, with far reaching consequences.

It does sadden me though, that the only profession where women far out earn men is in modelling and is entirely based on how they look.

Thanks for the recommendation! I've been meaning to borrow this off a friend for ages, and whaddya know we were at her place on Sunday and still forgot to ask

I've read Raising and Praising Girls but not Growing Great Girls, sounds like I will have to check it out!

oh kewl

also - it's on sale and advertised in the warehouse flyer this week - i just opened it and it was staring back at me.

I took it to work on night shifts for the last few nights and a couple of the other mums would snabble it and read it when i was off doing things!