We are a society focussed on raising strong independent girls – and this I fully support and practice this whole heartedly. But what about our boys?

The dynamics of the world are changing , it’s a rise of “girl power”, as a result beautiful boys are being raised in a world of strong independent women. We should still be promoting and focusing on raising boys, by promoting the same independence and self worth… in order to know they’re equally beautiful in every way, just the same as our girls.

Gender inequality is a debate me and Terry discuss often and although I hate to say it sometimes, Terry raises some good points, that we are raising a very strong generation of women, but at what point does a gender equality switch and society notice that we are neglecting the importance of our boys. Are they equipped with the emotional resilience to “cope” with this generation of strong minded women?

One situation this really hit home was when Scotty was about 7 months old and we were attending one of our many baby classes. Scotty was playing alongside another baby girl of similar age and he reached out for a toy that the baby girl was playing with, the little girl grabbed the toy and her Mum said “good girl don’t you be pushed around by a ‘boy’”. Now this comment I’m sure wasn’t meant in any other way but in encouragement for her little girl, and a comment that I would have probably said to Layla at a similar age. But as a Mother of a sensitive boy it struck a nerve. A nerve that most Mothers have of defence and protection for their beautiful bundle of joy, who is absolute perfection in their eyes. My poor little boy, labelled at a young age as someone that needs to be stood up to already as though he was a predator.

This is the indirect view, that most of society now portray. We develop these gender differences from a young age and although we mean well, WE create these gender normalities that we constantly battle.

We do this without even knowing, with passing comments or neglecting that the self love we preach for our girls needs to be reflected in our parenting for our boys as well.

I am so proud of the independent and resilient girls we are bringing up and proud of the change that we have influenced in society, but let’s remember at the end of the day our fight is for equality. Our little boys that are growing up today will grow up with great values and respect for women so let’s respect this and offer them the same level of support, with recognising their own self values and protecting their emotional wellbeing.