When you become "mom" you begin a huge and some days overwhelming new job. Like most of us you had not planned, trained or was educated for this position. If you're anything like I was, it arrived with a good amount of anxiety, ratcheting even higher when I realized that I would be raising daughters.
The year this mom's cry for help was launched the best insights I found weren't from those that touted credentials. It wasn't the experts in parenting, or philosophers that hadn't spent a whole day with anyone under the age of five. It was other moms, the ones that had completed the job, possessing the bruises and knowing smile to prove it. Their tales both entertaining and encouraging helped me the most.
These ladies took the time to explain to this young mom that motherhood was more than just one job and it was the most important one you'd ever do. They were the ones that gave me the practical advice that really worked. They were often the ones that by their very actions kept my head afloat making me believe all would be well.
In Help Wanted: moms raising daughters I get the opportunity to now tell you what I learned.
This book defines 13 of the jobs that I found an absolute must: Coach, Creative Counselor, Time Manager, Media Director, Academic Advocate, Professor of Gender Studies, Relationship Counselor, Sex Ed Teacher, Financial Consultant, Bodyguard, Communications Specialist, In-Home Demonstrator, Military Strategist.
I've included stories and strategies I developed along the way as well as some of that great advice I received from others. I'm sure you'll find the journey of raising daughters like I did, exhilarating, terrifying, rewarding, difficult, delightful, and most days a real joy. When the end of each day comes I can tell you is two things; you don't have to be a perfect mom to be a great mom, so go easy on yourself. Then raising daughters is absolutely the best job you will ever have.
