**This giveaway is now closed. Check out my blog and come back in March for my Purim Party with another giveaway!** Winner announced shortly...
**UPDATE: Deadline extended to Friday, February 1 @ 8:00am**
As many of you know, my third child (after 2 boys) is a girl. As soon as she was born, pink stuff started to descend upon my house in glittery waves. Pink shirts, pink pants, pink shoes, pink socks -- pink, pink, pink. And along with it, things that said "Princess" all over them.
My feminist self reared up in annoyance. I looked over my own closet. There is only one pink shirt in there (and it's shoved to the back because I hardly ever wear it). Why did everyone feel a need to paint my baby girl pink? (in truth, her gorgeous blue eyes make BLUE her best color!) I'm worried enough about raising a strong, self-confident young woman... all this pink just seems to make me more stressed out, let me tell you. What exactly does "princess" entail? Not to mention that whole Jewish princess stereotype problem....
So I've thought about it. Because she sure is cute and let me tell you, some of those pink outfits are truly adorable. Here's my decision: I think that my daughter can wear adorable clothes and hair clips as long as I also give her strong lessons in girl power.
Which is why I'm so excited for this giveaway, which I feel blends adorable girl-stuff with a strong female role model!
What will you win?
Any 2 items of your choice from Oopsie Dazie...check out their adorable hairclips, headbands, bows, and headwraps. Aren't they cute? and affordable, too.
AND
one copy of The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch - my favorite princess story in which the princess stereotype is turned upside down! (And by the way it's my 2-y.o. BOY's current favorite. He likes the dragon.)
(shipped separately)
Rules and other Information -- How can you win?
1. Make a comment here. How do you instill confidence and strength in girls? This is your entry! U.S. shipping only, sorry Robin & other international folks.
2. For an extra entry, post on your blog or tell a friend about this giveaway and Oopsie Dazie and link back to me.
3. Don't forget to give me a way to get in touch with you if you win!
4.This giveaway ends on Thursday, January 31st at 9pm Central Time. Winner will be announced Friday morning!
**UPDATE: Deadline extended to Friday, February 1 @ 8:00am** Winner announced shortly afterwards.
See more Bloggy Giveaways here...
P.S. Like what you see? Subscribe to my blog's feed....
My feminist self reared up in annoyance. I looked over my own closet. There is only one pink shirt in there (and it's shoved to the back because I hardly ever wear it). Why did everyone feel a need to paint my baby girl pink? (in truth, her gorgeous blue eyes make BLUE her best color!) I'm worried enough about raising a strong, self-confident young woman... all this pink just seems to make me more stressed out, let me tell you. What exactly does "princess" entail? Not to mention that whole Jewish princess stereotype problem....
So I've thought about it. Because she sure is cute and let me tell you, some of those pink outfits are truly adorable. Here's my decision: I think that my daughter can wear adorable clothes and hair clips as long as I also give her strong lessons in girl power.
Which is why I'm so excited for this giveaway, which I feel blends adorable girl-stuff with a strong female role model!
What will you win?
Any 2 items of your choice from Oopsie Dazie...check out their adorable hairclips, headbands, bows, and headwraps. Aren't they cute? and affordable, too.
AND
one copy of The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch - my favorite princess story in which the princess stereotype is turned upside down! (And by the way it's my 2-y.o. BOY's current favorite. He likes the dragon.)
(shipped separately)
Rules and other Information -- How can you win?
1. Make a comment here. How do you instill confidence and strength in girls? This is your entry! U.S. shipping only, sorry Robin & other international folks.
2. For an extra entry, post on your blog or tell a friend about this giveaway and Oopsie Dazie and link back to me.
3. Don't forget to give me a way to get in touch with you if you win!
4.
**UPDATE: Deadline extended to Friday, February 1 @ 8:00am** Winner announced shortly afterwards.
See more Bloggy Giveaways here...
P.S. Like what you see? Subscribe to my blog's feed....
167 comments:
My almost 2-1/2 year old daughter is my first. When I put clothes in my washing machine it tends to look like someone spilled Pepto Bismol in there by accident. Yet, we own only two items with Princess on them. And while I adore my daughter like a princess, I too was concerned about the negative conotaion of a Jewish princess. How do I instill confidence and strength in my little girl? I hope that to some degree I emulate those things for her. I also surround her with strong women who she can learn from as much as possible. When we play we aren't just princesses, but lots of different characters and there is no association with gender. Her dad is also a nurse...that proves that gender doesn't dictate career.
LOL. Actually, I have a US mailing address that I use for giveaways, but I was planning on sitting this one out anywhere. Sadly for me I couldn't get my daughter to put a clip, or heaven forbid a ponytail, in her hair if my very life depended on it!
what a sweetie. and what a great giveaway! :)
i think one way we can instill strength and confidence in girls by shielding them (especially when they are young) from unrealistic/unhealthy body images in magazines, commercials, etc., and by teaching them to love themselves. let them know they are perfect and loved as they are.
I tried to so hard to keep pink away from my older daughter. But she found it on her own as she got older. It's inevitable. Just as long as we give the confidence of blue.
I also had my first girl after 2 boys! She is now almost 4, and most of the pink invasion as subsided :-) BUT we had to make "The Barbie Decision" last year when someone gave her one, which she was in love with. It took us a few months, but we decided to quietly make Barbie and her friend Tara, and their friend Steve disappear never to return. We simply couldn't live with the lack of clothing and gigantic, out-of-proportion boobs. As much for modesty reasons as role-model reasons. We have made a gigantic effort to find dolls and toys that are age and gender appropriate (Groovy Girls make soft dolls that are wonderful, as well as the ubiquitous American Girl dolls for older kids). We also decided to find activities that had good girl role models (she begins Brownies next year - I was a girl scout for years) and books that back that up. Does she still love to play princess dress up? Yep. And that's ok. She's engaging in age-appropriate pretend play. I am mildly girly and it would be silly to think she isn't affected by watching me put on my make up and jewelry and asking my husband if I match. But we try to make a conscious effort in front of all three children to talk about "being healthy" rather than thin or fat, and trying not to talk about what other people think about the way we look. I think the biggest shock to us was how hard this actually is. We didn't realize how much image played a part in our everyday lives, especially as the rabbi and rabbi's wife of a congregation. It's been tough. But I think ultimately we'll make an impact. I hope!! So sorry this was so long!
I just try to always tell my daughter that the strength lies in herself and she can do anything she wants. We incorporate the princess theme to make her an empowered princess rather than a sit around and wait to be rescued princess!
The best way is to be very supportive and encouraging. Thanks for the giveaway :)
i went to an all women's college and was confident that my girls wouldn't wear pink and play with dolls.... but sigh...that's what they want to do (well when they aren't outside playing soccer). so i guess we're 50-50
thanks for the giveaway!
I agree! Go for the girl power! I don't have a girl yet but hope to have one someday. There are so many cultural expectations for girls and to help break those barriers is a wonderful gift to your child.
These are so cute. I have a baby girl!
Those cheeks! Those eyes! Beautiful.
OOoohh...we have two girls and would love this. I try to teach them confidence by reading books with strong female characters. I live overseas but have a US shipping address...can I still enter?
Right now, my daughter is naturally fearless. I do my very best not to transmit my own fears and doubts to her.
My daughter is 8 months but I think all girls need to stay true to themselves.
So cute! I love hair clips for my 6 month old.
Great giveaway. That's one of my favorite books. We try to instill confidence in our girls by telling them how beautiful they are in our eyes and in the eyes of Our Creator, who designed them perfectly and wonderfully. Daddy dates make them feel special too.
We have an 8 yr old boy, who we've taught to be a gentleman, open doors, ladies first..etc. Now that we have a daughter, 5 mos. I want to teach her that SHE can do anything, open her own doors for instance.
I try to instill confidence in girls by praising and complimenting on them for the things that the world may not like having a kind heart, being polite, smart, etc.
Great giveaway! Count me in :0)
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have 3 daughters and I hope to raise them as confident and proud in themselves. We do have a ton of pink and 'princess' type stuff, but try to avoid it whenever possible (not very easy since almost everything for girls is made in pink). I try to be the best role model for them as possible since I know that they will emulate what they see. :)
I love Oopsie Daisy, I have purchased their clips before for my daughter. We're girly girls here. Proudly. Anyhow, great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win!
katie at dekabyte dot com
My 4yo daughter has lately started saying "Boys are big, girls are smart" I have no idea where she got this, but she obviously doens't have any confidence problems. LOL
I have a son, and I am due with a girl next month. I just pray that I can instill confidence and strength to her as she grows up!
laura_licious101~at~hotmail~dot~com
I think there are two(well, many, many more than that) important things which we must do as parents to help our daughters grow up strong. Instead of sheltering them from all the negatives(IE: no barbie type dolls, etc.) we need to first be a good example. Strong, emotionally healthy mothers raise strong and emotionally healthy daughters. Second, they need to be involved in activities! Sitting around the house, doing nothing, is not going to make anyone feel good about themselves. Neither is burnout, so of course don't OVER schedule them.
The reason I don't see a point in sheltering is because it's just not realistic. They are going to see images of women who they will probably never be like. I would rather they have an understanding that such things aren't realistic or healthy than to be bombarded with this idea which they have no understanding of as soon as they're in school.
A great way to instill confidence in girls is to give them things that are challenging. When something looks hard, it is more satisfying to finish. Encourage them along the way and praise them when they are done.
Oh, I love the paper bag princess! I let my kids have some freedom in picking their own clothes each day. Some days they have some interesting choices, but they are their choices, and very rarely do I have to ask them to change something.
I always try to give my young cousins confidence by praising them for doing good things and I try to be a role model for them. For my own daughter, I'm trying to teach her respect because I feel that if you can learn to respect people and things, your confidence will be higher. If you were constantly rude to people, they'd make sure you knew it so you'd have a pretty low confidence level.
My daughter gravitates towards all dolls and princesses but she also plays soccer year round, knows all about football, and knows no limitations due to being a girl. I hope I am her best example in that gender hasn't limited me. Blue is also her fav color any day, through no influence of mine - I love red!
I mentor two eight grade girls through Girl Scouts and we do a lot with confidence-building exercises and the importance of helping other people. I want to be the same sort of role model for my baby niece.
While I don't have a daughter (yet hopefully someday God will bless me with one!) I think one of the best things a mother can do is talk positively about herself. I think a lot of what daughters learn to think about themselves comes from how their moms think about themselves.
My daughter is two but I try to talk a lot about actions and not just looks. Praise her for the sweet things she says and does not just for being cute...
I love Robert Munsch books! And the hair clippies are super cute too!
Love it!
I am totally for the pink, and love having princesses! (and am not for the feminist ideals, either, lol) However, I want strong, confident daughters.
The thing that has helped the most is that my husband thinks the sun rises and sets on his daughters, they are the most beautiful, the most intelligent, most important creatures in the world. They are not going to accept just any guy in their lives, they are only going to accept a guy who knows their worth and treats them as such.
Looks great! Thanks!
I rebelled against pink at first, too. But it was pointless and I finally came to realize that its more about who she is than the color she wears. If we encourage her to try new things and be open-minded, she'll be able to do almost anything.
I, too, am not a big pink person, and when we had our daughter I specifically requested not a lot of pink. I was mildly successful. Now, of course, she is 3 and a half, with a mind of her own, and in the last month has decided that her favorite color? Is pink. Of course. However, we continually try to impress on her that she can play with anything she wants to (she loves her little brothers trucks and construction toys), and that there is no such thing as "girl" and "boy" toys or jobs. It's hard as we sometimes don't know where she gets her ideas from. I also try to make sure that I am constantly telling her not only how pretty I think she is, but how smart, or how funny, or whatever. To show her that we are noticing all of her characteristics, not just her appearance. I'm very interested in finding that book - maybe we'll look for it at the library tomorrow!
Hi, I don't have any daughter, but I do have two grown nieces (to whom I was like a nanny) and the youngest of the two (36) calls me her second mom!
They are my older sister's girls and both of them are quite confident and mature. We have and still do keep in touch and talk about everything. They played in girl's sports and have minds of their own. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I have a daughter and she is just now learning to keep clips in her hair!
I'd love to read that book with my daughter, and she loves bows in her hair!
Count me in!
We have 4 girls--and I try to show them that femininity does not equal weakness! You don't have to become masculine to get respect. And beauty does not equal supermodels! And girls can (and should) do anything they want.
I try to instill confidence in girls by always encouraging my daughter to try new things -- even sterotypical "boy activities." mlciavola(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Even though my daughter is only 13 months old, I'm already starting to try to instill overall confidence in her. When I compliment her, I do more than tell her how adorable she is; I compliment her on who she is and the things she does. I tell her how smart she is, or how creative. I also encourage her to explore, in a safe environment. I feel it's the best way for her to learn about herself, and the world around her, because a good sense of self, and the world is something I believe helps create confidence and strength.
We love The Paper Bag Princess, such a great book! And Livie's fav color is blue, and she wears lots of blue, and likes to pick out clothes from the boys dept! Pink does look awful cute once in while, though : )
Yeah! Girl Power! (ps. we have lots of shirts with that on it!)
I guess I would have to say, by allowing them to be themselves and recognizing their strengths and always encouraging them!
Not entering though....they hardly ever wear hair stuff and we have the book.
As a school teacher I have a great opportunity to help girls grow in confidence. While they don't get extra special attention during class time, I try to make sure and compliment them when they do something good on the athletic field or in the classroom. Encouragement is the best gift I can offer them, beyond their education.
I can't believe it, a book we don't already own! I try to instill confidence and strength in my daughter by giving her enough freedom to exert her independence. She has an independent streak 50 miles long! I praise her in her successes and encourage her through her failures.
btw.... love the shot of your little one. She's a doll.
My 2.5 daughter is my first and I am trying hard to do it all "right". We talk about everything, I have never just said "no" to her, always explained it so she could understand.
She is now very well mannered, but even more important to me, very confident, she answers questions and really knows what she is saying. You can talk to her like any adult and listen to her views and take them into consideration. She seems to understand when I don't agree as well as sees when I do and use what she has said.
Please enter me into your give-away.
This is an AWESOME giveaway.
Lots of prayer and encouraging support. I try to teach my daughter right from wrong and how to be modest.
Oh, I'd love to win! Please count me in! Thank you!
I'm doing a giveaway on both of my blogs:
http://airforcefamily2007.blogspot.com
http://goddessofthehome.blogspot.com
I'll be doing a new giveaway everyday until Friday. Thought you might want to know.
Eden
What a great topic and accompanying giveaway. My four-year-old daughter has moved beyond pink now . . . her favorite color is purple! We try to balance her inclination toward girly things with other activities. She has played soccer and has now chosen to play basketball over cheerleading this winter. Also, right before I took her to a tea party, she was holding a garden snake her dad showed her!
I never bought my kiddo "girly" toys. We encourage her love of building with different kinds of blocks and her creative side with paints and clay (and about three dozen broken crayons). She's got toy cars, trains and planes, and not one single tiara. Not to mention, all of her toys are easy to pass along to her brother!
I think MY example is the best gift of empowering my daughter. pink, blue, red, brown...it doesn't matter. It is the PERSON in that color that counts!
GREAT prize package!!
I too have my first girl after two boys. I think one of the best ways to instill strength is to simply be an example. Don't allow yourself to be walked on and help her to learn that she is a unique and wonderful person.
I try to instill confidence in young ladies by inviting them to share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences and then listening to them - really listening - and commenting on what they share.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Stop by my place to win a bath set & candles or one of two copies of a book I'm giving away.
Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings
you instill confidence in girls by being an example and role model for them .. they learn how to be a woman through the "mother figure" if there is no mom around.
How do you instill confidence and strength in girls? One way is by praising them for all of their traits - strength and bravery - and not just 'girly' ones.
I won't let my daughter (she's only 2, so it's easy right now) wear clothes with "Princess" or "I'm too cute" or a similar idea on them. They give me the creeps.
Thanks for the giveaway! My email addy is at my blogger profile, just in case I win!
I tell my daughter that she can do anything and I encourage her to try everything! She wears pink and gets it muddy!! I love the bows too!!
instilling confidence in a young girl can be as simple as teaching her to create her own "castle" out of whatever she finds herself to have... as a child I thought I was rich - only to find out as an adult that we were dirt poor.
please enter me!
thanks.
God bless.
I think the best way to instill confidence and strength in my daughter is to show her that I am these things. She's only 15 mos, but I am already very careful to not make negative comments about myself in front of her (baby weight to lose, wrinkles, grey hair...). I make a point each day to let both my son and daughter know how treasured they are. I also try not to be too protective of them, I think the best lessons are learned from mistakes.
I show my 5 year old daughter that I dont' "need" her dad to do stuff for me (I can fix most stuff by myself) I sihow her thatinstead I choose to share my life with my hubby and that we are partners. I teach her to be gracious and able to stick up for herself (without that high pitched whine) and since she has an older brother there's plenty of time for that.
I make sure we tell our baby how smart and good at things she is, instead of how cute she is. (Even though she is really cute :) ha!) I want her to rely on her brains instead of her face.
I try really hard not to say things like "You really look beautiful!" and hope that she finds beauty because of how she feels about herself, and not because of what others say. Sometimes it's hard, though--I mean she is so adorable! :-)
Wow, this is a toughie. I'm a teacher, and I always try to instill confidence in all kids--boy or girl! So many kids are wrapped up in the most stuff. Most beautiful, most A's, most soccer goals, etc. It all seems like it is based on performance or looks. I conduct class meetings and we talk about what is inside and how that's far more important than what's important on the outside. They must give a compliment to the student to their left or right (whatever I choose) about their inside. Sometimes I do this, sometimes I don't. I want my little girl to feel that her "inside stuff" is great and doesn't matter about the "outside stuff".
By the way, Paper Bag Princess is WONDERFUL!!
I am not entering this contest, so please if you draw my number, pick someone else. I did wander on here through the Carnival and wanted to say: Good for you in raising such a strong, independent little girl. Gender stereotyping with all pink is not necessarily bad.. but like I said, stereotyping. Besides, it does downplay what I'm sure are beautiful blue eyes. =)
Right up my alley! We look for toys/books/songs/real world examples that teach our daughter that women can be and do anything!
Thanks for a giveaway that reinforces our own family values!
Camille
www.snaphappymama.com
My giveaway: Visit my blog for a vintage style child art smock made by me!
My number 3 is my number one girl as well. As a former kidergarten teacher, my motto is that any toy that a girl plays with is a girl toy (and vice versa for the boys). Reinforcing that is the tricky part. I do reccommend two older brothers to make the truck/lego world interesting, and for making sure that you can stick up for yourself! Great, and very thoughtful contest- thanks.
You know what - I don't really know. I have a 7 month old daughter and a 5 year old son, with Autism. For 5 years now we've been trying to find a way to give our son a voice, and therefore the confidence he needs to use that voice he's so unsure of. So I guess it's in me, I just don't have the word to describe how I'd do it for a girl specifically. Support, encouragement and positivity I suppose!!!
I have a 6 & 10 year old daughter. I hated pink until my first was born. Then pink invaded our house. You are right to embrace it, fighting it would be worse. Enjoy it, trust me it doesn't past. My 10 year old is slowly turning to blues & browns. My girls both get a lot of confidence from taking dance classes. They have learned how to listen, manners, respect, group efforts & so much more. Don't be afraid to tell your girl if they aren't doing something right, but be sure to point out what is right. Raising girls can be hard, you have to allow daughters to find themselves. Hope this is what you were looking for & I'd love to win the giveaway!
Princesses rule :) Thanks for the giveaway!
fun...i have a lil princess too :)
thanks for the giveaway!
GREAT post for BSM - look at her amazing eyes...wow!
She is adorable in PINK! Great giveaway, too.
Well, let's see. I think the most important thing that I'm going to be teaching my girl is that she can be anything she wants to be, but it will take work. She seems to pick up things pretty quickly so I have high hopes for her. I think it is going to be hard to give her a sense of the real world due to the area we live in, but I hope we are able to accomplish that. I think being a powerful woman is based on being able to achieve things that you want in life predominanty on your own. You can get help where needed from others, but most of it has to come from within.
I hope to never put myself down in front of my daughter, lest she learn that it's okay to do that in front of the mirror, too. Thanks for the contest! ( meg.wilson@gmail.com )
I let my daughter know that she can do anything she wants to do. It may not always be the best, look the prettiest, etc. but as long as she tried, that's what counts.
I think surrounding my daughter with positive influences and not the negative super skinny ones we see these days and telling her I will support her no matter what will instill her with alot of confidence
I'm big into avoiding gender stereotypes. We don't allow for any "Boys' toys" or "Girls' toys." Anyone can play with anything.
Something I do with all my kids is I don't let them say, "I can't." Instead, they need to ask, "Will you help me please?" I tell them time and time again that there's nothing they can't do with a little help.
She's a cutie in any color, but I can see you are probably right - blue would really make those eyes pop : ) If it makes you feel any better, my five-year-old is a princess-loving pink-a-holic, but she's anything but deficient in girl power : D
Be able to expose them to different thing. Who says Star Wars is just for geeky guys.
taowyn (at) gmail (dot) com
Well, my little dollie isn't quite a year old yet. I think having 2 older brothers will help with the strength part...and confidence will come with beating her brothers. :) I think the confidence comes from parents who are loving and supporting of her in her grrowth!
Please pick me!!
Thanks for a super giveaway!
sharvey at connections-etc dot net
I have 3 contests going on right now! I will be adding more this week, too!
One way to instill confidence and strength is by modeling it in your own life. They will learn by your example.
I don't have a daughter myself but I think the best way to instill strength is to show them that the girls they see on TV are not how "real" women act. Hollywood's interpretation of how a woman should be is so distorted and girls should not be looking in that direction.
those would be a great gift for my best friend's daughter!
As far as the question goes.. with my god daughter i led by example and always was honest regardless of if the answer was good or bad.
I have a 2-1/2 year old daughter. I instil confidence in her by complimenting her when she's cooperates and lets me fix her hair and dress her pretty. Also I praise her when she's done right.
i try to instill confidence in my daughter by treating her the way that i would like to be treated. she is only 3 and we actually have conversations. i let her know that she's important and i also give her tasks to do that teach her as well give her a sense of accomplishment.
I have SIX daughters so making sure they are self confident is important to me. We try to instill in them a love for God and a knowledge that they are his daughters. This knowledge then spread into other areas of their life.
I'm sure this sounds rather cliche, but I pray that my daughter learns to be a leader by having wonderful leading woman in her life. I recently posted about this on my blog when we saw the movie Enchanted.
My daughter loves pink and princesses because that's what's marketed to girls and my extended family eats it all up. We live rather rurally and we don't have cable, so she's only exposed to what I bring into the house (we also homeschool) - I realize we sound like a bunch of hermits, but really we are out all the time.
I love love love oopsie dazie. I've ordered from them and the bows are adorable. I also have heard of the book and would love to get it for my infant daughter. I think the best thing one can do is just to model by example.
so cute :)
thank you,
missy
Poppyseed was born a girlie-girl. In fact, when she was just starting to talk, she was sleeping over at my folks and they overheard her say the following IN HER SLEEP:
"oh no! my bag, my shoes, they don't match!"
Though her favourite hue for quite some time was green, she has switched to pink, loves all things princess, and prefers dresses and skirts. BUT she also loves Legos, magnatiles, and video games. By encouraging all of her passions and interests, I hope to teach her that being a girl means having so many wonderful options.
she is beautiful.
yes, we only have 2 princesses over here...so we are ALL about the pink and princesses.
but daddy is trying to instill a little bit of tomboy into them, and i'm not standing in his way.
another good book...
"Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots"
(and others in the Do Princesses...series."
My little lady is only 10 months old, but I think she can't help but be a bit of a feminist with me as a mom. ;) I plan to teach her that she can be as pink and frilly as she likes-- but she can also be brilliant and powerful.
You say she has 2 older brothers? Problem solved! My little girl may have looked like a delicate princess, but she kept up with the rest of the boys and became the family bully.
I treat my daughter as a person not a girl. She loves princesses but also tonka trucks. She does prefer lots of pink!! I cherish who she is and try and set a good example.
My daughter does love hairclips :)