Yesterday she took her first step; today she's asking for her own Instagram account. Where did the time go?
Below are 50+ things I want to teach my daughter. What would you add to this list?
. . . .
My daughter sat in the backseat of the car, singing along at the top of her lungs:
When I'm gone, when I'm gone...
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
We'd listened to the Cups song together many times over the course of our family road trip, but this time, hearing my daughter sing this refrain completely caught me off guard. I paused and looked into the rearview mirror when I reached a stop sign...
You're gonna miss me by my walk,
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh...
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
Over the course of the past year, I noticed a lot of small transitions at our house. My girls are no longer little girls; they're young women striving for independence. As I sat listening to my daughter sing this song on our way home, I realized how many things I want to teach her.
"Honey, can you take over driving?" I asked my husband. We traded places and I pulled a pad of paper from the glovebox and began to scribble some notes from the passenger seat as we drove on...
50 Things I Want to Teach My Daughter
1. You are loved — no matter what.
2. The most beautiful makeup any girl can wear is a smile. Happy girls are the prettiest.
3. People are more important than things.
4. Find one good, trustworthy friend. It's not how many you have or how popular they are that counts; it's how they treat you that really matters.
5. Hang out with people who make you forget to check your phone.
6. Listen to your friends rather than focusing on what you're going to say next.
7. Don't underestimate the value of fiction.
8. The book is always better than the movie.
9. Listen to your body.
10. Embrace being an introvert. Enjoy your time alone. Don't let anyone convince you that you're being anti-social.
11. Looking for answers to life's big questions? Read the Calvin & Hobbes collection.
12. We live in a world of conformity, but you are one of a kind. Always be YOU.
13. Make sure your day is actually as fun as your social profile makes it out to be.
14. Remember, you're never too old for puddle-jumping.
I need to pause here to confess, this wasn't your average family road trip we had just taken...
The girls and I were invited to tour Justice's headquarters. We had the opportunity to meet the store's designers and to attend a special Back-to-School Fashion Show. They've got a lot of great changes happening over there that I'm excited to share with you below.
As I thought about the things I want to teach my daughter, our recent Justice experience kept coming to mind.
Below are a few Justice-inspired concepts I want to teach my daughter, too...
Your style is always evolving. Today you might feel like wearing a frilly, flower dress to school, but tomorrow you might want to wear a sporty jersey. We all change from day to day. So can your style. Embrace all the different versions of you.
One of Justice's biggest changes is that they now offer styles for every girl every day. Whether your daughter feels like being a girly-girl, a tomboy, or a mega-athlete, they've got her covered. Check out some of the changes on the new Justice site or in the latest catazine. (If you shop online, there are now FREE in-store returns, too.)
Fashion is about fitting in; style is about being you. Don't be afraid to create your own style.
Meeting and chatting with the designers at Justice was one of my favorite parts of the tour. We learned that the designers take shopping trips across the globe studying adult fashion and seeking inspiration for their own lines. They come back to their teams and find creative ways to transform adult trends into tween-friendly styles. For example, if lace is prevalent in adult fashion, they find a more modest way to use lace as an accent, such as around the hemline of a t-shirt. Justice now also offers coordinating separates so girls can mix and match pieces to create their own unique styles.
Be comfortable. Be confident. Wear clothes that make you feel graceful and at ease in the moment. Find things to wear that make you feel good inside and out.
Justice's new fall line is not only diverse and tween-friendly, but the collection also has pieces that are übersoft. The t-shirts, the leggings, the sweatshirts, even the denim flare dresses... they're all so very soft. One of my ladies is super sensitive to different types of material, so she was jazzed by these cozy tag-free pieces. Next time you're near your local Justice store, be sure to stop by with your daughter to see the fall styles and to feel some of the new items.
Find Justice online: Shop | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
I scribbled down a few more thoughts while we drove on...
15. Never lose your sense of humor. When in doubt... laugh.
16. I am proud to call you my daughter.
17. Don't let your friends dictate your music choices.
18. Dance if the music is good.
19. We will argue and we will both make mistakes. Know I'm always doing what I think is best for you at the time.
20. Leave the city and see the stars.
21. You are ______ (fill in the blank: prettier, smarter, stronger) than you think.
23. Life is more interesting when you surround yourself with friends who have different viewpoints.
24. Someday wearing Halloween costumes will be cool again. Don't fret.
25. Give thoughtful gifts.
26. Learn the reasoning behind the rules before you decide to break them.
27. We live in a world of information. The unique way your mind strings together pieces of knowledge will be the key to your success. Never underestimate the power of your creativity.
28. Having a boyfriend doesn't change who you are.
29. You'll never be too old to snuggle and watch a movie with me.
30. Don't worry about calories. Enjoy real food that gives your body the energy you need to feel good.
31. People remember how you made them feel. Throw kindness around like confetti.
32. There is power in being kind.
33. Your broken heart will heal over time. I promise it won't hurt this much forever.
34. Never stop expecting the best of people.
35. Go camping and don't worry about washing your hair: Messy hair, don't care.
36. Apologize when you're wrong. It's hard. Do it anyway.
37. Do diligent research before forming an opinion.
38. When you find yourself in a tough situation, pause and breathe.
39. Know that people aren't against you; they're for themselves.
40. Always hold the door for the person behind you.
41. It's ok to cry. Sometimes just getting it out makes you feel better.
42. Everyone experiences failure. Embrace the opportunity to learn.
43. Hustle, try your hardest, and cheer loud for your team.
44. Ask questions.
45. Embrace wanderlust. Never hold back your desire to explore.
46. Seek beauty in all things.
47. You're never too old to learn how to ______ (fill in the blank: play the piano, try ballet, learn algebra).
48. Have courage and anything is possible.
49. Friends will come and go; sisters are forever. Say yes. Let her borrow your shoes.
50. I will always be your mom and worry about you. Even when you're an adult, you'll still be my baby.
As I finish my list, I'm still finding myself humming the refrain.
When I'm gone, when I'm gone...
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
Time is flying by, and I will miss my girls when they're grown (and gone). But I'll always be one proud mama.
What would you add to this list? Let's chat in the comments below.
P.S. Thanks again to the Justice team for inviting us down to visit! What I enjoyed most was learning how much the individual people at Justice care about our daughters. They often endearingly refer to them as "our girl," which made me smile. It's nice to know as we go through this transition into the tween years that there are people watching out for their best interests as they make the leap from the children's section to making independent shopping choices.
Find deals and style inspiration for your little lady by following Justice on your favorite social network...
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Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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