Raising Girls

I’m am thrilled that Michele (@yummymommyseyes), from New England through Yummy Mommy’s Eyes, has agreed to drop by and share a post here on My Messy Paradise. As a Mom of 2 girls, I can totally relate to her, and the fact that we are both New England area moms doesn’t hurt either! She’s just awesome.
Do you have girls? Read on!

When LZ put out a call for a guest blogger- I knew in the first line of her post she was talking to me: “…My brain is slowly turning to mush.” Ironically my profile on my blog says, “Every day is a struggle to stay sane and keep my brain from turning to mush.” It was kizmet.

As a mother of little girls, as LZ is, I thought it appropriate to share with her (and her readers) a list I have been compiling for a few months. You see, my husband grew up with only a brother and male cousins and now he is charged with raising 3 girls. After about 9 years, I have come to recognize… he is absolutely clueless! I am slowly realizing that if they have any chance of growing into young ladies, it will fall onto me to accomplish. He’d have them slurping their cereal, farting, and smoking cigars.

So here is my ongoing list of life lessons I would like to pass on to them. Please feel free to add suggestions if you have raised (or are raising) little girls.

• a book is always a perfect gift, from babies to adults

• don’t be afraid to admit you’re wrong and say you’re sorry

• go barefoot whenever possible

• wear fun colored sock or tights when it’s not

• kiss your children at every opportunity you can – at one point they won’t let you

• go to the park when the opportunity arises

• go to a farm and pick fresh fruit or vegetables at every season

• dance – alone, with your family, at an event… just dance

• keep my recipes (and both grandmothers) and pass them on and add your own

• volunteer… a lot

• get to know your neighbors, bring a pie or cookies

• your ‘first love’ will not be your only love

• watch ‘A Christmas Story’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at least once a year

• accept compliments

• create something every day

• listen when others speak, you will learn something every time

• do not waste precious time fostering useless relationships because you feel obligated

• iron clothes that need it

• return your shopping cart – the exercise will do you good

• always be early

• jump in the leaf pile

• patronize the library… often

• don’t ever ride in a car with someone who has been drinking

• learn how to drive standard, it will get you out of a bind someday

• practice random acts of kindness

• live alone at some point in your life

• nurture plants (either inside or outside)

• use a great vocabulary and know what the words mean

• never carry a credit card balance, ever

• live simply

• always practice outdoor activities: hike, ski, etc

• you don’t need to know everything, but you need to know how to find the answers

• don’t smoke cigarettes

• keep original artwork in your home, even if it created by friends or family

• write thank you notes

• keep snack food on hand to whip up for surprise guests

• keep a fire extinguisher on all levels of your house

• find a hair dresser you love and spend the money on a hair cut you love, you’ll feel great

• always RSVP and do it in a timely manner

• read something every single day- newspaper, magazine, especially a book

• create a good sleep schedule and stick to it

• a hand crafted gift is always best

• decorate for holidays – all of them

• marry later in life, enjoy your youth

• always listen to music: in the car, house, headphones, to sleep

• try to find a home with a porch

• never ever wear nail polish unless you can guarantee it will be chip free. nothing looks worse than chipped nail polish

• you have limited time to clean. worry less about ‘picking up’ and more about ‘clean’

• take care of your teeth

• when it comes to cheese, you get what you pay for, splurge once in awhile

• learn some sports stuff to talk to men about

• hug whenever possible

• always wear facial moisturizer and sunscreen

• keep some written history/journal/blog for your children

• sit down to a meal as often as possible

You like me! Wait, you do, right?

Related posts:

1. No…thank you!
2. Top Ten Thursday: My Favorite Books
3. 2009: A year (almost) of posts