Raising a Powerful Girl

Today's episode I am chatting with Jennifer Roth of Gaia Dawn studios in NJ. Jen is not only an incredible photographer and yoga instructor but she also coaches women on a variety of issues from self-esteem, body image, confidence and more. Jennifer joined our team at the empowered girl movement as one of our ambassadors running empowered girl experience days in her community. Today's conversation we talk about How important it is that we model self-love and a positive body image of ourselves to our daughters so that they do not feed into the societal standards and views on what women are "supposed to look like". This toxic cycle is what creates low self-esteem and self-hatred​ and it is our power and responsibility to break that cycle and teach our daughters how to love themselves as they are... We must do it for ourselves first.

In 1998 Tanya Fox she started her own Accounting and Bookkeeping company in Ottawa, Ontario specializing in startup and small businesses. In 2005 she got news she was waiting years for! She was expecting her first child. She left her career behind to focus on being a full-time Mom. After 1 year her family begged her to go back to work as she was driving everyone nuts with knitted and crocheted items. She again, stepped into the President role at her accounting company and opened its first western branch in Camrose Alberta. She also stepped back into her role as Vice-President of Fox TaeKwon-Do Schools a 28 year old company owned by her husband. Her biggest passion is as a Speaker, Motivator, Podcaster and Collaborator who specializes in business education and how sharing your legacy can change your life and others. Tanya Believes In raising powerful girls we also need to raise knowledgeable boys. Having an only child and a son has made Tanya want to be sure that she send him out into this world truly understanding that no matter what your background, race, or gender nothing should stop you from reaching your dreams but in that we also need to be the champions to help those that are struggling on the path and lift them up along their journey for one day we may need that hand up also. That it is not ok to only know what is right but that we must be willing to stand up and speak up against those that do not.

Teri Yuan is a social entrepreneur, feminist business consultant, and the host of the weekly podcast, en(gender)ed, which explores the systems, practices and policies that enable gender-based violence and oppression and the solutions to end it. The podcast uses gender as a lens to better understand power and oppression and its impact in the private realm, so as to better recognize and confront it in the public sphere. Teri's journey as an intersectional feminist began in college, where she studied feminist film criticism, post-colonial pedagogy and cultural criticism. Along the way, she has added to her identity--survivor and survivor advocate. She believes that by developing a cultural literacy around power and abuse of power, we can reclaim how we define liberty in relationships and in civic life and solve many of our most urgent social (justice) challenges.

Stephanie Nichols is a first-time author from MilwaukeeShe is known for her passionate personality and telling it like it is. She is a strong believer in the ripple effect. She believes that if we moms can do the work it takes to find that calm and heart-centered place inside ourselves, we can make a difference in the lives of our children. We can raise children who value their true selves and find worthiness in who they are as people, simply because they have moms who are fully committed to the same. Her mission as a Life Coach is to help overwhelmed moms learn how to take back their lives without feeling guilty in the process. She's working to create a world where moms stop judging and comparing and start living their best lives.Join us on this powerful conversation where we share real truths of how to find moments of calm in the middle of parenting chaos, how creating calm in your life is a powerful force to combating todays mental health crisis and increasing anxiety in not only girls but boys today and how we can learn so much when we take time to reflect on those moments of chaos that make us often times feeling less than.

Marilupe de la Calle is the mother to two marvelous girls who inspire her to grow, be present and let go of fear every single day. Very early on her parenting journey Marilupe found herself overwhelmed and lonely, oblivious of her own needs, and unsure about how to help her daughter with the intense emotions she was showing around the clock.Then she discovered Hand in Hand Parenting and, with it, the good information, practical tools, and support she so desperately craved.When laughter, sparkly eyes and healing for everyone in her family followed, she decided to become a certified instructor to share this gem with others and, since 2016, she enjoys empowering parents by sharing the beauty of the Parenting by Connection approach through online and in-person classes, consultations, talks and during rich, juicy conversations like the today

Emily Akins is an Editorial Director at Hallmark Cards, Inc. She is also the host of a podcast called The Beginning of Your Life Book Club, which explores the transformative power of children's literature and the magic of picture books. She loves books, coffee, local vegetables, crossword puzzles, and real mail with interesting postage stamps. She lives in Kansas City, MO with her partner, Sergio, and their daughters, Julia and Clara. TO check out the infographic discussed during this interview you can find it at  https://readingspark.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/picture-this-reflecting-diversity-in-childrens-book-publishing/

homeschooling can be an empowering avenue for raising powerful girls. Trained in nature-based coaching and permaculture design, Katie is passionate about homesteading and connecting with nature as a vehicle for living her own version of what Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes calls “the handmade life”. Katie on a mission to empower herself and others to create a sustainable, custom-made life that empowers every person in the family and sacrifices no one. These individual choices also end up helping build more sustainable, compassionate communities and a regenerative planet as well.By designing our own hand-made live, spending our times on exploring curiosities and building on strengths instead of constantly focusing on deficits, discontinuing the pattern of hammering the square peg in the round hole, we create a new pattern and platform for our children to share their gifts and connect with the world.More than just catering to her girls, Katie has found homeschooling to be a powerful vehicle for living life on her own terms as well, and making sure their life reflects and is aligned with their deepest values and intuition.

Althea Bates has worked in social services and workforce development for over 16 years. She is a Jamaican native, an entrepreneur, a professor/lecturer, a nonprofit leader and a champion for women empowerment issues. She received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Temple University, Masters of Science from Springfield College in Human Services with a concentration in Organizational Management and Leadership and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Capella University. Althea, is the CEO and Founder of A. Bates Consulting which provides a range of training -related consulting services to nonprofits/municipalities relative to topics and areas in youth development, case management, workforce development and human services practices. As well the CEO and Founder of Project Resiliency Movement one of the most fasting growing social movements to encourage and empower women of color in areas of resiliency and self care through conference, seminars , workshops and forums. She also has recently helped her Mini Mogul daughter Sakinah Bates to launch a mobile doll spa party event business which teaches girls about healthy hair maintenance and positive self-identity through hair care tutorials sessions for girls ages 5-12 and their dolls.

When girls grow up feeling confident in their own bodies they can do important things that matter and change the world. Confidence is like a snowball effect. When we have more confidence we try more things, which builds confidence, etc. When we are pre-occupied by weight and food, we are less likely to go after (and get) what we want out of life, which is a snowball effect of its own.Cassandra Padgett is a Health Educator, certified health and nutrition coach, pediatric health coach by day and owner of VivFitness after bedtime. (viv rhymes with steve).She's passionate about helping moms be a healthy and confident example to their kids by teaching foundational nutrition principles (no diets here!) -but most importantly- she teaches women to learn to listen to their bodies by practicing intuitive eating, while saying goodbye to diets for good. She's on a mission to help women show love to their postpartum bodies and feel comfortable in their skin... because our daughters will do as we DO! Cassandra spends her days coaching families in a pediatric clinic, privately coaching women on the side, and loving on her little family by the beach in Sunny San Diego.

The best way to change the health of women is to start when they are girls! Stress from an early age is what led rebekah to suffering from adrenal issues in her 20s, which subsequently lead to a number of other health challenges. From the stress of school and activities to the pressures of maintaining and certain weight or image, girls are bombarded with ideals that they have to live up to. While this can push them and cause them to grow, it can also create an environment that leads to future mental and physical health issues. There are ways to support their mind and body to prevent future challenges.Rebekah Fedrowitz is an integrative health speaker, writer, and consultant who helps strong, purpose-driven women restore their mental and physical health so they are free to live their lives to the fullest. Rebekah has experienced many of her own personal physical and mental health challenges so she understand and empathizes with what so many women go through. Rebekah is the founder of You Are Well and the host of the You Are Well Health podcast where she works to change the way women’s health is addresses so we can be better than just “okay.”

Some people seem to think that growing up means we need to become serious and stop playing around.Danielle believes that the best thing we can do for ourselves as adults is to remember how to play. Playfulness is not an activity, it is a way of thinking. Danielle writes about how to have fun. Why?Fun is motivatingFun is universalFun is easy to understandFun is freeFun is engagingFun is… funnyDanielle Radden is passionate about motivation especially in regards to fitness and mental health. She is a full time writer and mother in Colorado. Danielle’s new book, Become A Streaker, is all about fun ways to motivate yourself to get outside and run. (And no it’s not about running naked)

Stephanie LaBonte is a wife, mother, author, and speaker. With over a decade of experience teaching in an inner city school, she found her passion in helping young girls find purpose in their lives.  She believes in bringing the community in to inspire and to be a support system for these girls.  She has seen great success with her girls empowerment rallies because of the relationships that are formed with other peers and the community.  She hopes that bringing these movement packages to schools will nurture the potential and instill a sense of belonging to girls all over.  Stephanie enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family, especially her two little girls, Hailee and Aubrey.  She is a co-author of #GirlConfident: Discover Your Most Confident Self workbook for girls. 

My daughter and I were playing. She was the doctor, and I was her patient. She pretended to give me a shot. I pretended to be nervous in anticipation of the pain. She gently put her hand on mine, whispering, “Don’t be scared. Be brave… Like a Girl!”I was blown away. Only four years old, she hadn’t heard this expression before. It was one of those moments when you feel like you are just totally winning at the parenting thing. And it stuck with me for the greater picture of raising a girl. - This is an excerpt from Mark Loewens blog. Mark Loewen is a psychotherapist and a dad. He was born in Asuncion, Paraguay and moved to the United States to pursue his counseling career. He met the love of his life shortly after finishing graduate school. A few years later, they became dads through open adoption. Becoming a father to a girl further opened Mark's eyes to the challenges many girls and women face in today's world. Mark is the founder of LaunchPad Counseling, a private practice in Richmond, VA. He also started Brave Like A Girl, a website that helps parents who are raising Brave Girls. With his book, "What Does a Princess Really Look Like?" Mark hopes to add more representation of diverse families in the kid's literature, by featuring two (gay) dads.

They often say that a dog is a man or in our case a girls best friend! Pets can provide an incredible connection for girls teach confidence, independence and responsibility. But sometimes the relationship between children and pets of all ages can become rocky, sometimes scary and dangerous. Lots of dogs are relinquished to animal shelters because their families don't feel as if they can cope with parenting humans and dogs at the same time. Either it's too chaotic or it feels unsafe. But with adequate support from professionals, they can set up strategies and a training plan to help families regain peace of mind and keep their families safe. We can teach children to read dog body language so that they can learn to interact safely with all dogs, not just their family pet, and prevent problems before they escalate and become dangerous.By learning to read dog body language and do basic training, girls can grow up to be confident with the family dog and other canines they may encounter in their lives. We can help to keep them safe, and they, in turn, can feel empowered by helping others learn the same life skills. Michelle Stern is a San Francisco Bay Area native and currently lives in Marin County. She's a mom to a daughter heading to college next year, and a 16 year old son. She also shares her home with her husband, dog, service dog puppy and 4 mean chickens. After teaching high school biology and running a cooking school for children for 16 years combined, she has returned to her first true love. Dogs. Working with dogs also means working with their humans, which she adores. Michelle is a dog behavior consultant, a Licensed Educator for the Dogs & Storks®, and Dogs & Toddlers™ Family Paws programs and a dog training instructor for the Marin Humane Society. She is also a partner with The Family Dog, offering private in-home training lessons for whole families, kids included.

Girls are impressionable, especially when they're in their young adult years. Teaching them the value of self worth is one of the greatest gifts as parents and supporters we can give them. When you teach your girls that they are the most valuable asset they have, they treat themselves with respect and love. They will in turn share that with their friends and so on. Krista Rizzo is a Certified Professional Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, Author and the Creator of the #WhyAmIYelling? Brand. Known as the “Relationship Whisperer,” Krista’s passion lies in helping others overcome their fear of change, allowing them to become mindset masters, communication experts, and life balance achievers so they can ultimately step into their power by transforming their lives, careers, and relationships.