Raising a daughter

Why are so many girls told they are "princesses?"  I hate it.  I absolutely abhor people coming up to me and saying Diana is "my little princess."  I hate the t-shirts that say "daddy's little princess."  Part of me regrets even naming Diana after a princess because the comparisons and comments inevitably follow, "oh she's your little princess Diana."  Sadly, what people don't remember is that 'Princess' Diana was so much more than a princess.  She was strong, stubborn, independent, vocal, caring, loving, beautiful.  So let's get one thing straight.  Diana was named after a strong, stubborn, independent, vocal, caring, loving, beautiful woman who just happened to be a princess.  Diana will not be a princess.  We will do better.

In an age when girls are sexualized younger and younger and told their importance is found in men who "treat them like princesses" Diana will learn that her importance will be found in her compassion and empathy towards others.  Her importance on this earth will not rest in how a man determines her worth.   She will make her own worth and she will be worth more than diamonds. 

I thank God every day that I have a man next to me that agrees that women should be equal to men in all respects.  Diana will see her father treating me like an equal and NOT like a princess and will search for that in her own companion.  And if she determines that she does not need a man in her life and would rather travel the world, we will be so proud.  Whatever my beautiful girl determines will be praised, because I know I have raised a woman to think for herself, and I know that we will not lead her astray.

I thank God every day that John and I are giving Diana a Christian household.  Diana will know that not only do her parents cherish and love her, but she also has a savior in heaven who values her and even died for her.  She will not need society to tell her to shorten her skirt or highlight her hair or lose a little weight, because no matter what, she is beautiful in her savior's eyes.  

I'm clinging to these truths.  It is SO HARD to raise a girl in today's world.  There are so many people saying that a woman HAS to be beautiful and sexy and powerful and perfect.  She can't be flawed and unique or special in her own way.  So, my dearest Diana, your father and I are going to try our hardest to raise you to balk at society and to be strong, stubborn, independent, vocal, caring, loving, and  beautiful, because in the end, you were named after a woman who was all of these things NOT a princess.