On this Mother’s Day weekend, I look back over the years my girls were growing up, and smile at blessing of having them in our home. While Dale was always outnumbered in population, I think he knew it was pretty great to have the love and adoration of all his girls!
Being a mom of daughters was so sweet. Tea parties, dress-up clothes, playing house and store, baking together, baby dolls, and all things girly was a part of their early years. Then came music lessons, clothes, shoes, accessories, clothes, shoes and boys!
It’s such a wonderful privilege to be a parent, but it’s also so weighty, isn’t it? There’s so much to teach a child to prepare them to know and love God, to know who God made them to be, and to be ready to live independently as adults. But where do we even begin? May I give you moms who have children at home a few ideas of things you need to be teaching your daughters? Here’s a short list in several categories
Spiritual matters
- What sin is.
- What Jesus did to pay for their sin.
- How to pray about everything.
- What it means to be saved.
- Eternal security
- Who wrote the Bible and why we need to read it daily.
- Verses about salvation, God’s character, the significance of the Bible, God’s love
Household matters
- What it means to “clean their room.” Show them what you expect, then inspect what you expect.
- How to change the sheets on the bed and make it neatly.
- How to dust, sweep and vacuum.
- How to cook simple meals and clean as they go along.
- How to do a load of laundry by sorting the whites and colored clothes separately.
- How to iron.
- How to clean the bathroom thoroughly.
Graciousness to others
- How to be hostess. Teach them to greet guests (also their friends), invite them in, take their coat, ask them to sit down, offer a beverage, walk them to the door when they’re leaving.
- How to be a good guest.
- That giving a gift is a great blessing!
- How to accept a gift.
- How to write a thank you note for the kindness of others.
- How to treat others with the love of Christ.
- How to forgive.
- To be kind to their siblings. No shouting matches or physical outbursts.
- How to listen and look in the eyes when others speak.
- How to give a firm handshake.
Personal Matters
- How to match their clothes
- How to fix their hair neatly
- How to dress appropriately for the occasion
- How to manicure their nails
- How to sit and walk like a lady
- That being a girl is God’s design for her and it’s wonderful!
- About the change that will happen in their bodies.
- To protect themselves in purity and save the gift of sex for marriage.
- Before they marry, talk to them about marriage, their wedding night, and the Scriptures about being a godly wife.
- Teach them to keep confidences of others – especially their mate.
The lists could go on and on, but I think the most important truth is that most of what our daughters learn will be caught from us! That’s a frightening thought, I know, but it’s so true.
“As is the mother, so is the daughter.” Ezekiel 16:44
Let’s ask the Lord to allow us to live faithfully before our daughters. Though we will fail, pray that He will live His life out of us daily so that our girls will see Christ, more than their broken, sinful mother.
Being a “girl mom” is a blessing with so many things to teach. Take one day, one opportunity at a time, and pour loving truth into your daughters while you have the opportunity. It’s a privilege and a great joy!
RefreshHer 