There are two beautiful little girls in my house. We love our girls something fierce. We spend quite a lot of time talking about empowering them, and taking in all the positive resources we can to help us raise them in a way that empowers them to be everything they want to be, and everything the world needs them to be. If there is one thing I wish the most for my kids, it is that they can develop the strength to live life in a world where so many conflicting ideas are circling, and not lose sight of themselves!
When we found out our first baby was going to be a girl, I thought about things like clothes and bows, wondered whether she would want to do dance class or sports, and couldn't wait to see if she would join the world looking like my blonde and blue-eyed husband or come with dark hair and green eyes like me. Like most expecting parents I constantly hoped, prayed, and crossed my fingers that everything would go well in the pregnancy, so that I would get to experience all of that stuff.
Once our girl arrived, we quickly realized that there were much more important things to worry and wonder about, and that those worries had only just begun. Now that we have two daughters, our desires to help them become everything within their potential is paramount above everything else. They are graceful and strong, feisty and timid, bold and meek, and so many other things that I am so proud of.
Something we constantly talk about is how big and scary it is going to be for us to send them off to school when the time comes; not being able to be there to protect them at all times, and for them to be exposed to all sorts of situations that they never have been before. I am for sure going to be the mom crying as I leave my little-big girl in kindergarten for the first time!
I want them to be kind; to invite lonely kids to sit with them at lunch, to tell their friends it isn't kind to make fun of others because they are dressed differently. Gosh, I hope until I am sick that they aren't the ones without friends. I want them to be confident; to raise their hands if they have sincere questions and leave them in the air regardless of the looks they may get from peers or even teachers. I want them to know that even though being brave is great, that sometimes they might feel the opposite of that and that is perfectly okay too.
Alice + Ames curates girls clothing that really embodies how I feel about my little ladies and how I want them to feel. They are dainty and timeless, but come in bright bold colors and sweet patterns to express the individuality and gumption of each and every girls' personalities and desires! I have a bit of an obsession with them and would truly own one of everything they sell if they could fill the need for food in our bellies too!
Most of all, both my husband and I want our girls to know we are their safe place. That when the world gets big and loud and confusing, we will always be there to help them feel safe and grounded. I never want to keep them from flying high and developing whatever strengths and interests they have, but they will also know that on the days they would rather huddle under a blanket in mom or dad's arms, that we will always, always, always be there to hold them! Our world needs a lot of strong and brave, but I truly believe that the gentleness and grace our little girls bring is needed just as much! Thank goodness for little girls!
Written by: Alyssa Liston