THE TRIALS OF RAISING STRONG GIRLS AND TRYING TO KEEP UP!

Written by Lance Green

Let me tell you something they don’t write in those cute parenting books, raising strong girls? It’s like signing up for a 24/7 adventure where you’re both the supportive sidekick and the clueless guy in the background who’s always two steps behind. Yes, dads of daughters, especially strong willed, fierce girls, you know what I’m talking about.

The Chief Negotiator

Forget about bedtime negotiations being a mild back and forth over five extra minutes. Raising a strong girl turns every bedtime routine into a masterclass in negotiation, one where you will lose. The skill set these girls have could give UN diplomats a run for their money.

Bedtime usually goes something like this:
Me: “Time for bed, kiddo!”
Her: “How about this? I go to bed after I finish this chapter. Then you owe me an extra bedtime story tomorrow. Deal?”
Me: “But it’s already late!”
Her: “Okay”, (thinks for a minute, then the counter-offer) “I’ll go to bed now, but I want pancakes for breakfast, and I’ll still get that extra story.”
Me: (Wondering when I lost control of this conversation?)

You think you’re teaching them life skills, but really, they’ve already got you outmatched. She’s five steps ahead, and you’re just trying to remember why you walked into the kitchen.

Dressing Like a Boss

Look, I grew up in an era where clothes were just… clothes. You wear what’s clean (hopefully), and you move on. But raising a strong girl? Fashion becomes a daily battlefield. My daughter once came down to breakfast wearing a tutu, a superhero cape, and rain boots, on a sunny day! I asked, “Why the rain boots?” Her answer, “Because it’s Tuesday and I feel like stomping in puddles.”

Tough to argue with that kind of logic. Strong girls don’t follow fashion trends, they make them. And if you’ve ever tried to suggest something “more practical,” let me just stop you there. They’ve already planned a detailed defence strategy involving “self expression” and “creativity,” and you’ll end up thinking, “Maybe I do need a tutu.”

The “I Can Do It Myself” Phase

Ah, the hallmark of a strong girl, independence. It starts early and it comes with a ferocity you’re not ready for. Remember when they actually asked for help? Yeah, that was cute while it lasted.

Now, it’s all, “I can do it myself, Dad.” Whether it’s tying shoes, making breakfast (a pancake and syrup situation that results in a kitchen explosion), or fixing toys with tools she absolutely shouldn’t be using, it’s all fair game. She wants to handle it, even if it means disaster.

As a dad, you learn to smile through gritted teeth as she pours cereal and milk all over the floor in the name of independence. You’ll resist the urge to step in because strong girls don’t need rescuing they need space to conquer their world (and spill some milk along the way).

Debate Team Champion (in Training)

I once thought I’d have the last word in my house. What a naive fool I was. My strong girl could argue the sky into a different shade of blue if she really set her mind to it.

One time, she decided her stuffed unicorn needed to come to school because “he hasn’t been to school in, like, a month, and he’s definitely lonely.” You’d think explaining school rules would be simple, right? Nope. Not with her. After a series of counter arguments that would make a lawyer proud, I started considering maybe I should take the unicorn to work. I mean, the poor thing probably was lonely.

The Heart of a Lioness

For all the trials, challenges and frequent self doubt as a dad raising a strong girl, one thing’s clear, she’s fierce and you wouldn’t have it any other way. When she stands up for herself, you’ll feel a swell of pride that no bedtime argument or mismatched outfit can diminish.

She’s learning to speak her mind, defend her choices, trust her instincts and isn’t that exactly what we want for our daughters? Strong girls grow into strong women who don’t back down. They’ll know how to navigate this world with courage and sometimes, yes, with a tutu and rain boots.

So, here’s to all the dads raising strong girls, keep up, enjoy the ride and get ready for more pancake messes. You’re doing just fine.