Layers of the Mind

If I could give just one piece of advice to anyone raising a daughter, it would be this:

Let her know consistently and unconditionally that she is enough, exactly as she is.

This sounds simple, but it’s one of the most powerful things we can do as parents. The world will tell her she needs to be prettier, quieter, smarter, funnier, thinner, more successful, or less emotional. She’ll be flooded with messages that her worth is tied to how she looks, what she achieves, or how well she fits in.

But if she knows, deep down, that home is the one place where she doesn’t have to earn love where she is accepted, seen, and celebrated just for being her she will carry that confidence with her through every storm.

And here’s the bonus truth:

She is watching us.

She learns how to treat herself by watching how we treat ourselves. She learns about boundaries when we set them. She learns emotional honesty when we express our feelings. She learns self-respect when we walk away from things that dim our light.

You don’t have to be a perfect parent. You just have to be a safe one.

And remind her, over and over again:

She is enough.

What is the one piece of advice you would give for someone raising a girl?

Bonus points if it’s adolescent related!