Clipping their wings

Dressed in sparkly jeans with rhinestones, a cowboy shirt and sunglasses big enough to make Nicole Richie jealous, my daughter walked out the door this morning on her way to middle school. The days of kissing her goodbye as she boarded the bus dressed in cute outfits and pigtails are gone. Her character themed backpack has been replaced with a messenger bag and Kate Spade purse filled with lunch money and glistening lip gloss. My daughter has truly entered the realm of middle school, she has begun to soar.

I watch her walk on her way only to ponder what has happened in such a few short weeks of entering middle school to cause such a drastic change. Obviously I know her friends have become more of an influence. I'm sure the older girls and the way they dress are impacting her thinking as well. I can only pray that she will remain the confident little girl I've worked so hard to raise.

As mothers, we raise our daughters to become women. Hopefully strong women. But at times I wonder do we slowly clip their wings or ultimately do they clip ours?

"You kids are.......Hello.."

We at Go Girl & Co have asked fellow friends to help us brainstorm for a new candy line, asking them to come up with fun sayinga that independent women say or do. The response has been wonderul, infact joyous even to share an email that was sent "outlining ideas" and sharing an amazing story. It was a must share. Hope you enjoy it...

My Mom was my role model. Growing up in the 60's and 70's, the typical Mom usually played the "June Cleaver" in daily life. We were a very typical suburbia family living typical suburbia lifestyles.
Mom stayed home every day with the kids. She was the "domestic engineer", no doubt! On Sundays she took 6, or 7 of us to church. Her faith was her home base, her survival. She was at the top of her game! She was an incredible example for all of us!
We had two older brothers followed by four sisters. Our "happy surprise" brother came along six years later. With that said, Mom was very busy for a lot of years! A 14 year span for 7 children.
It was typical back then for the Father to pour into the boys in the family, as it was in our home. After our oldest sister wanted to play on the boys baseball team my Mom decided to do something for us young ladies!. The "Pixie League" softball league was birthed! Girls in our town loved it! Mom's loved it! It was a great success! Girls ages 6-14 played on the baseball fields in the afternoons before the boys played in the evenings.
She was one of the most positive examples in my life. Her "light" shined through in all that she did!
In a family our size, one could easily "lose it". But my Mom had patience like no other! Her famous, "count to ten" method to get through things was her way of cooling down. Of course you had to have her "dagger eyes" while counting to imitate her!
One of my favorites was the way she could be hollering at any of us 7, or all of us 7, and the phone would ring. Without missing a beat she would be saying, "You kids are.......Hello.." In this sweet and calm voice. I think they even used that on a Saturday Night Live episode. (hehe)
Empowered, yes! I was by this loving, caring, faithful woman! I only wish I could be half the woman she was!

Have a story to share? Send it to us. (info@gogirlandco.com)

No returns, exchanges or credits: the item is being sold "as is".

Learning how to shop is a necessary skill that women must learn. Whether we shop only for the most shi-shi of items or are a bargain betty - we all learn the skill of buying an item that is being sold "as is". You know the item that is marked down for clearance to be sold without any hopes of a return, credit or exchange. The one that says something is wrong with me, but you have to figure out what it is. Sometimes the flaw on the item is obvious; a broken piece, missing part or chip. Other times the the item looks fabulous and you ponder how the item ever even made it to the "as is" bin - a true bargain betty. Okay, so we are familiar with the process - but have you ever thought of your friends, husband, co-workers also as being things that come into your life "as is"?

As humans we are not perfect, we all carry a flaw. Yet our expectations of others is to be perfect. We dream of our mates sending flowers for no reason at all (yes, men we love this) or calling us at work to remind us of how great and beautiful we are (we really love this) - yet we don't get the flowers or the call and are disappointed. While we see our own flaws and expect others to be patient with our mistakes, we are quick to judge others on their imperfections. Divorce rates are high, affairs are happening right now - all because we are unhappy with our choice of the item we "bought" thinking it was bright, shiny and never opened, only to find that it was infact a piece in the back of the store for sale "as is" and we've just uncovered the flaw. Knowing that we can't return it or exchange it - we simply toss it, nevering spending the time to repair it.

So here's a thought:

Remember that your husband is "as is", he comes with flaws and the next guy would has his too. Be forgiving and look to the positive aspects he does have. That he is "as is".

Remember that the girl or women that you look up to be perfect has her flaws too. That she is "as is".

Remind your daughters that you are not perfect and have flaws on your own. That you are "as is".

Remember that your co-workers are not perfect and they too are "as is".

Even remind yourself that when your husband is rough housing with the dog and causing all kinds of commotion while you are trying to type a blog on an early Saturday morning that both of them are "as is".

Cheers to a happy weekend.