Awhile back my wife wrote a blog about “The Ultimate Guide of Things to Teach Your Daughter“. I thought it would be good to do write an article of the things to teach your daughter from a dad’s perspective. Keep in mind, like everyone’s son and daughter, my daughter is very unique. Even though she is into dying her hair and talks to me about ‘boys’. She is the same kid that almost every month has weekends of her kicking people in Taekwondo or attending a wrestling event. To this day if you ask her, her dream profession would be a wrestler such as Nia Jax in WWE.
Top 5 Ultimate Guide of things to teach your Daughter
- Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin – This is easier said than done. It took me almost 40 years to be comfortable in my own skin. Many of our conversations on this surround doing what you are comfortable with, not what “the group” may want. Try to live a healthy lifestyle but at times if you want that donut, get that donut. Just be happy with who you are on the inside and the outside. Life is too short to worry about what you may not be.
- Experiences Over Materials – Travel while you are young. Get those memories of travel when you can as you never know what tomorrow brings. Memories such as going to the wrestling event and seeing your favorite wrestler or going and sitting in the white sand on Siesta Key in Florida with friends can’t be replaced. Those sports figures and cards can be. Going for a road trip in the Polaris Slingshot and feeling the wind on your skin is better than sitting in front of the television. We have been fortunate as we travel a fair amount, we do our best to make sure she realizes our travels are not like most families. Work hard to enjoy each little trip and journey along the way.
- Even When You Do Your Best, Sometimes You Still Need a Little Luck, but Never Give Up. I have seen most of my daughters taekwondo tournament matches. I have seen her dominate, I have seen her squeeze out a win. She has lost, She has been rocked and I thought for sure she would give up. She never backed down. Over the years, you hear people say “I am the best”. When she started her Taekwondo journey, I started from the beginning telling her “There are millions of others doing this, you most likely will never be the best”. A lot of people disagree with telling their kids that there will be someone better than them. I fully believe the honesty will help her prepare more than a false sense of security.
- Boys have Cooties – I am still working on this one, it was a lot easier when she was younger. Just having issues continuing to convince convincing her of this.
- Family Time – Each weekend, Cheyenne and I have a breakfast date. Her and I go out every Saturday and Sunday and go get breakfast and sit in the car and eat and then go to Target. We have done this since she was around five years old just allowing for open conversation and her to see that her and her opinions matter. I am hoping that she remembers to do the same when she is a parent many years down the road.
2 Bonus things to Teach your Daughter
- Save and Budget – Cheyenne does not get an allowance, she gets a chore chart. Since she was seven, she had separate cans to put her money in; one for travel, one for spend, one for electronics. Some of those jars give a bonus if she saved a certain amount or she’d only have to save 1/2 of the real cost of the item such as a new iPad. My mom taught me a long time ago to make sure they are invested in the items they want. Most likely they will care for it a lot more if they have something to lose in the deal. I really am hoping this will when she is older and has to her own monthly budget
- Her Dad is Human – This is probably the one that people may have the biggest exception to. I have an agreement with Cheyenne that “Ask any question, I will never lie to you, but I do right to refrain from answering”. This has led to many interesting conversations. She is smart enough to figure out that if I refrained from answering, that means she probably got the answer. This has led to her realizing that we all make mistakes. We are all human and nobody is perfect.
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