Recently, I was at the park with my son when I overheard a mother instructing her young son, “Remember, you’re a boy. You have to treat girls like flowers!” This comment, intended to instill gentleness, struck a nerve. While I appreciate her good intentions, the notion that girls are fragile beings made my blood boil. In moments like these, I often find myself at a loss for words, but upon reflection, I wish I could have shared a different perspective.
Girls, and by extension women, are not delicate flowers. They are powerful trees. Flowers may be beautiful, but they are also delicate and easily damaged. Trees, in contrast, are robust and enduring. They grow strong roots, provide shelter, and contribute to the ecosystem by producing oxygen. They stand tall against the fiercest storms and continue to thrive. This is the kind of strength I want my son to recognize in girls and women.
As a mother of a son, I feel a deep responsibility to shape how he interacts with girls. Instead of teaching him to view girls as fragile beings to be protected, I aim to instill in him the understanding that they are his equals. I encourage him to respect their space, just as he does with his male friends. The girls he plays with are not weak; they are fierce and unapologetically strong. They are like saplings, firmly rooting themselves and asserting their strength. Watching these girls confidently navigate playtime, unbothered by the boys around them, is a sight to behold.
One of my close friends has a daughter named Mia, who is almost two. In our gatherings, she is the center of attention, demanding inclusion in every activity. While we remind the boys to be gentle with her because of her age, we know she can hold her own. If either of the boys tries to hug her when she’s not in the mood, she simply pushes them away as if to say, “Back off, I’m busy.” Mia embodies the spirit of a tree—strong, fearless, and full of life. Her confidence is something to admire.
This is the type of confidence I believe we should nurture in girls. They should start as small yet resilient saplings, developing a strong sense of self-worth, and then grow into formidable trees. By giving them the support they need, we allow them to spread their strength out into the world, becoming sanctuaries for others and standing tall against life’s challenges.
It’s crucial for both our sons and daughters to understand that girls are not just fragile beings to be handled with care. They are powerful forces, more akin to trees than flowers. Let’s encourage that strength and confidence in them, fostering an environment where they can flourish.
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Summary:
Girls should never be viewed as delicate flowers; they are mighty trees capable of great strength and resilience. It’s essential to foster this understanding in our children so that they treat girls as equals and recognize their inherent power.