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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
I love this post Kellie. The words and pictures are all awesome. And olive's mama-made skirt is gorgeous xx
Love this post so very much.
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
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.
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!
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.
What a beautiful post...such wonderful words to share with your daughter.
I love this Kellie.
Celebrate wildly - yes!!
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
so cute in last photo!
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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