We’re expecting our second child soon, a little girl. My husband is the epitome of a real good man’s man who already has his sports fanatic mini-me of a son. When we found out the gender of our daughter, he sat there silent with a little smirk on his face.
My excitement was overcoming, “What are you thinking… Seriously!” With the smirk still planted on his face, he shook his head and he said, “Trouble…” HA! Our daughter, no way. Ladies, we know we can be a handful, so I’d like to offer some advice… Whether your husband or partner sits with Barbie dolls in hand in a house full of estrogen or you’re about to add a little more, here’s a few pointers from a girl who learned from one of the best:
- Teach her the difference between wrenches and screwdrivers (no, not the drink… the tool). Her peers and teachers will be impressed when she takes shop class in middle school.
- Every day, tell her you love her. She will hear and feel the true meaning of deep love. She’ll learn that you do not abuse that word or those feelings. Love like that doesn’t come around often.
- If you’ve cheated, fought or disobeyed the law and learned from it, tell her. One day, she’ll tell her friends and not only will she, but they too will learn from your mistakes once made.
- Work hard. She will see the calluses and the exhaust that looms… Your hard work will be a factor in her life and it will show in report cards, medals, grade point averages, evaluations and annual raises. She will EARN this.
- Tell her all about Turkey Buckets. I mean, Kirby Puckett! Show her YouTube videos of his modesty on David Letterman after retirement and remind her of his winning hit in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. Or, how about that catch off the plexiglass?
- Do good and serve your community. She will respect those who do the same and continue to advocate and help others in need.
- Take her fishing. Get her delicate hands dirty and dig for worms. If she’s still terrified of the worms, it’s likely she always will be. AND if she’s terrified of worms that are so innocent and small, she’ll probably hate spiders and wood ticks too. For crying out loud, go save her when she sees one!
- PLEASE teach her to tuck her fingers in when cutting vegetables.
- Mace is not the only form of self defense. Teach her pressure points, headlocks, noogies and all about Walker, Texas Ranger. Teach this early so she can give her brother a quick surprise next time he tries to mess with her stuff.
- Get to know her friends and treat them as if they’re your own. They mean the world to her.
- Listen to her. She has a lot to say and she wants to say it to you, specifically.
- It’s likely she will not be having tea parties every weekend in high school… gain her trust. When she trusts you, you will be the first she calls if she happens to forget #3. Whoops, still your perfect angel though.
- If a boy breaks her heart, take immediate action. Always, always be on her side, help her and make her see no man should EVER treat a woman with that kind of disrespect.
- Honor her mother. See above. Be the everyday reminder.
- Give her away with pride. When she’s found the man she will marry, the man that will father her children, believe it’s because he demonstrates your hard work, your beliefs and your quality. Here’s to you – to the dad with a girl, be so very proud.
