There’s so much to instill in girls to help them grow into independent, happy, grounded and well-adjusted women.

Something I am working with at the moment is allowing my daughter to make her own choices around the clothes she wears, what kind of jewelry, if any, she likes to wear and supporting her to choose her own hair style, with or without accessories.

I do my best to approach her well thought out choices, with an attitude of acceptance. I believe it’s vitally important that girls, from a young age, learn how to make choices over their own bodies. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable to have her personal appearance choices, ridiculed or denied, because of another person’s personal preferences or belief systems.

“I want to raise a daughter, that feels like she can say “NO”, when someone is trying to make her do something, to her body, that she doesn’t like…”

I want her to be able to stand up strong for herself if someone, at any age, is trying to force her to look a certain way. I am raising a child, who hopefully, won’t get too snowed under by peer pressure as she gets older, who won’t regret her first sexual experiences because she didn’t think she was allowed to say “NO” to something she didn’t like, or wasn’t ready for.

Letting her choose her clothes, her hair, whether she wants her ears pierced or not, may seem like unimportant things for a 7yo, but for me they are providing a vital foundation for her future as a self empowered teenager and woman. One who knows who she is, understands what she likes and DOESN’T REQUIRE APPROVAL from others, especially from men or boys, to feel validated and worthy.

I hope my girl is beginning to realise that how she looks is only her business, that she is beautiful regardless of what is happening on the outside and that her family and friends will love & respect her, no matter what she wears on her body, in her hair or anywhere….

In Beauty

Shekinah Leigh

P.S. I run regular SHAKTI Girls Circles, to support Girls & Young Women throughout their ‘coming of age’…