Raising girls

I truly thought it was the joke of the century when God decided we should have girls. I have seen countless "girls gone wild" moments lived out in reality that the thought of girls terrified me. This week I am reflecting on the fact that Kiley is seven years old. We are beginning to have those conversations about her body and modesty. We have never shyed away from this topic but I continue to see my inadequacies bubbling as I address these issues. Perhaps unfortunately, I am a child of the south. Sometimes I think it would be much easier to be a nomadic, hippy mother who really doesn't have a problem with pot or nudist colonies. I could live and parent as irresponsibly as I wanted and society would be amazed by whatever achievements my children had in spite of their upbringing. But, alas, I am a southern girl in the end who has a high sense of how I want my daughters to be received by the world. But mostly, I want them to have e high sense of self. I want my daughters to respect themselves in every way. I am realizing that this is not accomplished easily. I can't believe she is seven, and Robyn four!!!! My time with them is so limited. I pray for more teachable opportunities. I pray they compensate for my failures. Mostly, I pray for grace in parenting them.