teaching my daughter and sons to celebrate women

Last week, the kids sat down and painted these pictures of women they look up to. Sof chose Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt, and Pato chose Wilma Rudolph. A while ago, we purchased these We Brave Women flashcards, created by the talented Ashmae Hoiland, and they have been an amazing tool to teach the kids about some truly remarkable women-- many I didn't even know of myself. The women on these cards come from such a wide background-- there are activists, world leaders, athletes, writers, artists, scientists--women that have paved a path for my own daughter. 

If you told Sof that there was something she couldn't do because she's a girl, she'd look at you like you were crazy. Really and truly, I think that she thinks that there is nothing she can't do.  And just as amazing, her brother feels the same way. That both my daughter and sons know that girls can do anything is incredibly important to me.

Now, I know some people say, "Well, what about the boys?" And listen, I am on that team, too! I worry just as much about my sons. I hate that society will try to tell them what a "real man" is supposed to look or act like. What strong is supposed to look like. What feelings they're allowed to show or not show. But, I'm willing to wager that a boy or a man who supports girls and women and sees them as equals and knows they're capable and strong and smart as them are going to do just fine.

I feel like sometimes I get looks like "Oh, wow...you've talked to your kids about that?" Those looks are never mean, never negative. Just more of shock I think? We are pretty open with our kids about wide variety of topics, and it works for us. I'm not saying everyone should take the same approach as us-- I'm all for parents just doing what's best for their own children. And, we've approached this topic the same simple way. 

Hey, kids. Guess what? Did you know that not too long ago, in our country, women couldn't do a lot of things? 

What do you mean?

Important things! Like vote. Or own land. Or have certain jobs. Even today-- sometimes they have harder times getting jobs. Or getting paid the same amount. They sometimes get treated differently. Not always in nice ways. And did you know in some places, girls can't go to school? 

And then we talk about kindness, and respect, and go back and talk about women and their contributions. 

Want to know how many times my son has turned things around and felt sad or left out when we highlight women?

Zero. Not one time.

Because celebrating women and their achievements is not about putting down men. He's five years old, and he can recognize that already. Instead, he celebrates them right along with us. And this is one reason out of many that I look forward to seeing the man he grows up to be.

**We Brave Women flashcards can be purchased HERE.**