My toddler, Lily, has just knocked over her cup, spilling water across the floor. My partner looks at her, half-jokingly says, “Lily, can you go to the kitchen, get a towel, wipe up the mess, and bring the towel back?” Without skipping a beat, she gets up, cleans the spill, and returns the towel to its rightful spot on the counter.
Watching Lily follow those four simple tasks fills my partner with amazement. At just 13 months old, she’s the younger sister to her brother, Max. When Max was her age, he might have found the towel, but he would likely have detoured to inspect a toy or gotten distracted by something shiny, completely forgetting the original mission.
In essence, I’ve given birth to a “typical” boy and a “typical” girl.
When Max was a little one and before Lily arrived, I often bristled at the gender stereotypes surrounding children. I’d roll my eyes at parents of girls who would watch Max dart around and say, “Oh, he’s such a boy,” while they relaxed as their daughters played calmly. Any rambunctious behavior was labeled boyish, whereas the positive traits were usually attributed to the girls. It felt personal, as if being a boy wasn’t something to be proud of. “Boys and girls are the same,” I’d assert, wishing it was true.
Then Lily came along—a real baby, as I liked to joke after having one of each. Reflecting on Max’s early years, I realized he was like a turkey pulled from the oven just a bit too soon. Everything seemed effortless for Lily, while Max often resembled a whirlwind, leaving chaos in his path. Lily, on the other hand, exhibited precision, strength, and an innate sense of organization. Meanwhile, Max could spend ages looking for his shoes only to discover they were already on his feet.
With only two children to draw from, I’m still baffled as to why women don’t dominate the world. Lily is extraordinary because she’s my daughter, but she’s not alone in her capabilities. Most mothers of young girls will agree that their daughters, like mine, could certainly lead a nation someday. Yet, somewhere along the way, these confident toddlers often turn into shy youngsters and giggling schoolgirls. Women grow up needing to remind themselves to assert their presence, even though we are born with the confidence to take charge.
What strikes me about Lily’s self-assuredness is the realization that she might mirror my younger self. She embodies who I was before the world told me to tone it down. I often think about my own journey to embrace confidence, knowing I had the same potential as my little Lily.
We need to ensure our girls don’t lose their spark. Just as it’s crucial to stop labeling boys’ behavior negatively, we owe it to our daughters to preserve their innate strengths. They arrive in this world ready to lead; we simply need to step aside and allow them to shine. For more insights on this topic, consider checking out this informative post on artificial insemination.
In conclusion, let’s foster an environment where our daughters can flourish into the leaders they are destined to be, celebrating their unique qualities without constraints.