Does your daughter struggle with stress or anxiety?
Does she feel like she has to be perfect, liked, and have it ‘together’ all the time?
Do you feel a bit helpless when it comes to helping her relax and love herself?
Oh mama, we’re tackling a big one this week: stress is at an all-time high for our preteen and teen girls.
And I’ve brought in one of the wisest women I know on the topic: perhaps you first heard of Rachel Simmons when a smart friend of yours handed you one of her best-selling books: “Odd Girl Out” about aggression and bullying in girls, or “The Curse of the Good Girl” about how the ‘good girl’ pressure is holding back our girls’ full expression and power.
If you’ve never heard of her, allow me to be that smart friend handing you a book —
Rachel is an extraordinary writer and researcher, the visionary creator of the national non-profit Girls Leadership (which offers amazing programs you and your daughter can take advantage of), and also a mama to a daughter.
Her newest book, Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling Lives came out earlier this year! I am so delighted to get to talk with Rachel about self-criticism- and its antidote self-compassion- as well as how to raise our girls to live authentically and joyfully in our culture of perfectionism.
Click the video below to watch.
Once you’ve gotten a chance to check out the video, leave a comment below.
What’s one take away to help guide your daughter to health and fulfillment (besides getting Rachel’s book!) that you were inspired by and want to put into action this week?
— because collective wisdom rocks,
and we want to hear your take.
We need each other, mama.
Love,
Sil
P.S. Forward this video to a mama who’s against perfectionism. Because sharing is caring, and everyone could use a stronger bond.
Thank you Syl and Rachel for a great converstation. Though disturbing, as you said, I did find the stat that teenage girls are getting the least sleep in the US population reassuring. And your story, Rachel, of “giving up” your Rhode scholarship was also so interesting. Expectations and more options, which of course are wonderful things for today’s generation of girls and women, can also be crippling.
I know Syl has talked about this before, but the issues for today’s adolescent girls makes me wonder too about the effect of the “neglect” of past generations to conscious mothering (through no fault of their own of course).
I will get my hands on your book Rachel.
Thanks again for this community. I am not US based, so appreciate being able to be part of this conversation.
Hi Libby- So appreciate your wondering about the effect of the “neglect” of past generations to conscious mothering. Certainly by no fault of their own, but so present there for us to acknowledge, feel and heal in our motherlines. Love that you feel part of our community. And thrilled you will be getting Rachel’s book. It is so excellent. Hugs, Sil
I got teary at a few points during this interview, which is the signal that something said shed a light on something hidden in me. I love the idea of celebrating failure! As I was listening, I immediately forgave myself for something I had been feeling guilty about. This week my daughter is out of the country playing soccer, but when she returns I will open a fun conversation about failing.
Thank you!
I know! I love the part about celebrating failure… teaching our girls it is a part of life and welcoming it!
Love knowing that this helped you forgive yourself about something you were feeling guilty about. Gosh we moms
can be so tough on ourselves. Love to you Aviva
Thank you Sil for all your beautiful interviews. Our wisdom is expanding! Love you!
You are so welcome Teresa! Thanks for your beautiful feedback. Love you!