Today

Friday, March 8, 2013

Dear Olive,
For a lot of your life, I consciously tried to avoid putting you in clothes that were too girly. I quite liked the idea of having a tomboy for a daughter. But more than this, I wanted to give you bigger options than just being a girl who liked fairies and pink. But motherhood has given me new perspective on being a woman. There are unique and beautiful qualities, circumstances, challenges, friendships, that come with being a woman. And these should be celebrated wildly. Whether we're wearing pink or not.

So Happy International Women's Day, Olive. I hope you grow up happy and strong. And most definitely a feminist. Just like your Mum. And her Mum before that.



14 comments:

Lila Wolff said...

I think giving them the understanding that the choices are theirs whether it's clothes or other things is what's important not what they choose.
Happy Womens' Day to you and Olive.

Rin said...

I love thinking about how to teach my daughter to be a woman in all its glorious possibilities.
And I guess the gals in princess dresses are one sort of woman too.
It looks like you do a great job. Olive seems great.

CASPER said...

Oh there are so many beautiful girly colours and patterns to be enjoyed. Tomboy and girly in the one go is a mix I like a lot. In clothes and in personal qualities. The best of both.

Nell said...

I love this post Kellie. The words and pictures are all awesome. And olive's mama-made skirt is gorgeous xx

Katrina@capturingmoments said...

Love this post so very much.

Unknown said...

lovely, lovely. it is nice to embrace feminine side of cute girls clothes once and a while. I have all boys so we are celebrating international women's day in other ways. namely to be good men. xo

jo said...

I'm not a mother yet but I really wonder where I'll find the balance... I want my daughter to be strong and independent and feel she can do anything, and I certainly need a daughter who can play in the dirt with me. But there is such a wonderful grace a woman has that I want her to feel very at home with. It seems so complicated raising a girl these days. I'm both terrified by and can't wait for it.

My best,
Jo Farmer

P.S. Little Olive's highlighter lipstick--I smiled so hugely. She's a darling.

Bianca (ivylovesjack) said...

It's so important to open up the world of possibility to little girls too I think. So important to show them everything that can be enjoyed and not unwittingly categorize and stereotype. Ivy's four experiences of having her face painted have included her choosing of a tiger, a crocodile, a snake and last night, a t-rex. Even though she loves lipstick and nail polish (like little Olive!) there hasn't been a butterfly or unicorn to be seen and I'm kind of proud!

Victoria said...

Happy belated International Women's Day.
I am quite the same yet with the 5yr old its hard as she loves loves dresses that are pink, frilly & so over the top.
With the baby I dress her, blues, greens, purples.

Mother Down Under said...

What a beautiful post...such wonderful words to share with your daughter.

Megan.K. said...

I love this Kellie.
Celebrate wildly - yes!!

Gemma said...

That skirt is ADORABLE! <3 Just stumbled upon your blog, and thought I'd say hello!
Come visit me at http://andgeesaid.blogspot.com.au/ (:

xx

Anonymous said...

so cute in last photo!

Anonymous said...

I have 3 boys. If I had a girl, this is exactly how I would feel about her girliness - it is unique, warm, compassionate, softer than a boy, but not necessarily 'pink'. You put it so beautifully. x

 

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