And a Couple of Bonus Recommended Podcast Episodes
I'm a boy mom, but who do you go to when you are curious what parenting resources are most highly recommended for girl moms? The girlfriend who is the ultra parent who has read all the books, listened to all the podcasts, done all the research, works in healthcare and who is consistently always offering up the best parenting advice. That's who. She is a very trusted girl (and boy) mom and friend. There were three books that immediately came to her mind and she is sharing her thoughts below. Good luck girl moms! It sounds rough out there, but we're all cheering you on!
Three great books to get you started in all things girls.
Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
Untangled by Lisa Damour
Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein
I'd say have these three read by the time your girl is finished with 4th grade...because things start changing quickly!
Is this a comprehensive list? No. Might there be another fantastic book? Maybe...and by all means, Babble about it because I love a good read! Let's dive in...
Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
QBAW-I felt this was a fantastic read for anyone interested in understanding the complexity that exists in social structures and relationships both in girlhood and adolescence. The book offers insightful perspectives regarding the challenges that girls face while navigating friendships, cliques, and other types of social pressure. It's also full of practical advice and valuable tools that parents/caregivers/educators can use to help empower girls to be their best selves, especially while wading through the intricacies of girl culture.
As a side note, I bought it on Audible first. I listened to the first half before I realized it was a book that would be best in physical book form.
Untangled by Lisa Damour
Even though I loved QBAW above, if you only have time for one of these books, read Untangled. In this book, Lisa Damour breaks down the transition girls take while going from childhood to adulthood into seven stages. She describes each part really well and even though I am personally only seeing the first part of this in my own life, I feel like I am at least knowledgeable of what it may look like over the next handful of years. As with QBAW, the author of this book also provides advice and practical strategies for anyone who cares for teenage girls going through this transition into adulthood.
Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein
Girls and Sex is the sister book to Orenstein's Boys and Sex. Both are great reads and while some of the information overlaps, the majority of both books stay focused on navigating sexuality for the gender in the title.
Girls and Sex is an eye-opening book that walks the reader through the sexual landscape that exists for girls and young women today. Orenstein delves into hot topics like consent, pleasure, and the impacts of the media on girls' perceptions of sexuality. I really love the way she interviews a wide range of girls, both in age and socioeconomic class, to create Girls and Sex...and while I like to think that I'm pretty hip and progressive, I have learned A LOT from reading this book.
Here are a couple of podcast suggestions I've found helpful, girl mom to girl mom:
Face Care:
For moms who have girls between the ages of 10-12, is your kid really into "face care?" Maybe has a "face care routine" that is so ridiculous it's made you wonder if you're doing it all wrong?
Lisa Damour, the author of Untangled, has a fantastic podcast called "Ask Lisa:The Psychology of Parenting" that has a recent episode (#164-April 2) on this. While it isn't completely mind-blowing, it did give me peace of mind that this too shall pass. It's only 30ish minutes and is worth the listen.
Smartphones:
For ANY parent grappling with the question of whether or not to give your child a smartphone, This is a MUST listen. Both of these podcasts interview the same author about the same material. I listened to both and got so much information...so if you have the time, listen to both.
If you only have 30 minutes, listen to the New Yorker Radio Hour-Jonathan Haidt on the Plague of Anxiety Affecting Young People.
If you an extra hour+, listen to Honestly with Barry Weiss-Smartphones Rewired Childhood. Here's How to Fix It.
Okay girl moms- what else would you suggest? It takes a village for sure and it's great when we can collectively share the best of the best with each other.
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