What Does it Mean to Be Like a Girl?

The course of motherhood doesn’t really change, even at birth we want the best for our babes, but at times the landscape is something that looks completely different than what I’d imagined.

While we still feel the same range of emotions – from bliss to white-knuckling our way through the bumps in the road – the beaded bracelets and baby dolls soon become deeper conversations about life, about love, about the very things that make girls, well, girls.

That’s been the changing season of life I’ve been in lately with my girl, my oldest girl. It’s strange actually, fielding such differing ages and stages at the same time. Playing baby dolls with my two year old while simultaneously making sure my twelve year old is prepared for her next stage of life.

Going from tea parties to bowling alleys. From play dates to girl’s night out.

For my girls, for all of my little ones… and for their friends – for YOU as well – my heart is that they’re confident and empowered to pursue their own passions, no matter what.

You guys, have you seen the Always #LikeAGirl videos?

Cue the tears.

When did it actually become okay for doing something #LikeAGirl to be considered an insult or a weaker form? When did we allow that label on ourselves to mean anything less than our best? When did we cede to the notion that hiding what makes us different, what makes us women, is the norm?

I can’t say it enough, I’m loving the Always #LikeAGirl vibe, and with Always, I’m helping my girl be (and stay) prepared while they also help so many others be prepared as well. Together with Walmart, we can all help #EndPeriodPoverty and help girls feel confident again… instead of worrying about feeling #LikeAGirl.

Period poverty is a real problem in the U.S. as nearly 1 in 5 girls have missed school and other activities that they love because they can’t afford period protection.

And the side effects of missing out can be just as real as the period itself.

At puberty, girls’ confidence plummets, and having to miss activities because of lack of access to period products only makes this drop in confidence worse. To help #EndPeriodPoverty, Always and Walmart are donating a year’s supply of period products to 50 teams in 50 states.

For my girls, for my kids (all of them), I want them to be prepared for all the crazy twists this life can offer… and part of that preparation comes in knowing that we may fail or we may fall, but it’s about getting back up again. Part of that preparation is knowing that we don’t need to play small because it seems more acceptable. Part of that preparation is knowing that when you trust in yourself and the gifts you have to share with the world, you trust in the very wisdom that created you.

It’s been said that the richest place on this earth is the graveyard – because so much potential is buried before it’s even realized.

You guys, a gift’s purpose is to be given! We just came through a season of giving and gifting… and the joy comes not in having a gift in your closet to give, but in the actual sharing of the gift. The same rings true in life.

No matter what that gift may be, I want my kids (and I want it for me and for you too), to give the very best.

Kick high, run fast, throw the ball, be strong, fall down, laugh and get back up again.

And also? Be prepared.