Your Daughter Needs a Hero (3) Book GIVEAWAY
I’m over at Simple Mom’s today posting about 8 Simple Steps to Planning a 4th of July Party! It really isn’t as hard as you might think … I learned years ago that delegation is the KEY.
#8. Pull it all together with a healthy attitude that things do not have to be perfect. When everyone contributes, it becomes more “community” and less about you.
Read more, => HERE
I was recently asked to review a book for a friend of a friend (The Nester), called, Your Daughter Needs a Hero, by Maria Furlough. The subtitle caught my eye right away … Helping her handle insecurity and poor body image.
(my daughter and some of her beautiful friends)
Years ago I started a Balcony Girls group with my daughter, from 3-8 grades. It was such a special time, with awesome girls, as we worked through relationships, friendships, and virtues. You can read more about my 2 eBooks, here.
One of the lessons in my eBook teaches on beauty: How to be able to look into the mirror and see your heart, as well as your face or your body, and learn that God loves you just the way He made you. And overcoming the “Barbie” image, or standard-of-beauty, of having to look “perfect.” To defeat these lies: You are not pretty enough. Your body isn’t perfect enough.
So, if you’re interested in building up your daughter’s self-esteem and self image, then read on … you can ENTER TO WIN a copy of this fabulous book that I’m giving away today! (3 copies)
Today’s book takes this subject of “image” much further. Maria Furlough shares her perspective on growing up as an insecure girl, her teens years, and now married several years as a young mom and mentoring young teens. She writes about self-image, confidence, and self-esteem. I’d say this book is a must-read if you have a daughter because she really shows parents how to counteract the constant pressures and influences that affect teen girls every day.
This book is for mothers and fathers to read, and includes discussion questions at the end for parents. Such a valuable ending to the book. Your daughter may not be crazy about you reading it, but … later she will thank you.
Here are some of the chapters which helped me decide that this book was for me, and something I could wrap my mind around. I feel we can always improve our parenting, so when I read something as inspiring as this book, I want to gain the wisdom myself, and share it with others.
Chapter titles (and my two-cents).
-How Teen Bop Magazine Ruined My Life (I too, remember reading Tiger Beat and wishing I could look like them. Ugh … I remember all too well, never happy for who I was.)-Not My Daughter! (No one has a perfect daughter. It’s tempting to turn a blind eye and not deal with things that should be dealt with. Especially when we moms have hangups ourselves. I mean, how much do we talk about food, dieting, exercise, what clothing looks good on us, etc.)
-What if I Do Nothing? (What if I do something, should be what we are asking ourselves. I’m thankful for a healthy relationship with my daughter. Parenting is hard work, it doesn’t just happen overnight.)
-A Thankless Job (The goal as a mom is to be the source, strength, and guidance that our girls need. It’s not always easy and sometimes I question if I’m doing the right thing.)
-Mom’s Contributing Behaviors (Our actions, words of “diets,” what we watch and read, our appearances and insecurities … I pray it’s my faith that my daughter remembers the most.)
-Dad’s Contributing Behaviors (Healthy affection, adoration, and acceptance, HUMOR, leadership in dealing with everyday life’s pressures. It’s not about what she wears that makes her beautiful.)
-What Mom and Dad Can Do to Help (Be real with struggles you had. Ask a lot of questions, communicate, compliment. Don’t talk about your weight. (ouch))
-The Hope of a Different Future (Confident and secure women have the power to change our world and our family’s world. Not insecure women. I’ve learned that who I hang out with really makes a difference in so many ways.)
-My Mom’s Perspective: Beauty from Ashes (Maria’s mother shares about her daughter’s struggles with insecurity, self-image – how she feels Maria got these traits from her. She confesses to being a people pleaser.)
-My Dad’s Perspective: Man Your Battle Station (Maria’s father shares his story and mess-ups. He now says: What is the legacy you want to leave? He includes a challenge for grandparents of granddaughters.)
I have to say, I was really touched by Maria’s father’s story. I’ll let you read it to form your own opinion.
Self worth is something that most have struggled with at some time, and Maria gives very real examples in her new book for how to address these situations! Powerful!
Now for the GIVEAWAY. THREE people will win a copy of Your Daughter Needs a Hero.
ANSWER TO WIN:
What’s one example of how you address self-esteem issues with your daughter?2 EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN (come back and tell me):
-Follow Maria’s Your Daughter Needs a Hero Facebook page-Follow Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
Good Luck and spread the giveaway, if you can, to those who could benefit by Maria’s ministry.
The 3 winners will be announced on RE Facebook page on Monday night, July 2.
I damaged my own daughter while raising her by verbally putting myself down, hating my body etc…She has little to no self esteem when it comes to her appearance, nor do I. She now has a 3 year old daughter and I’ve reminded my daughter to not do what I did to her. Hopefull this book will help us both.
My daughter is 5 and so far has enough good self esteem for 3 kids. I recall her 1st day of preschool, she came home saying, “Mom! Everyone just adored me!”
But, I’m certain that as she grows she will come up against peer pressure and I want her to have an arsenal of good coping skills to help.
My daughter is almost two and I am already worrying about how I’m going to help her self esteem. I am dealing with body image issues that I have had for 15 years and it consumes me. I hate to think of my sweet beautiful daughter suffering from these same issues so for that reason alone, I need to get myself in control. I just don’t know how…
I’m a FB follower of RE
My daughter is 9 and already dealing with issues that I did not experience until 13 or 14. I try to really listen to her self esteem issues and let her know that she is not the only person with insecurities. Humor works well for her and I can usually get her laughing, I want her to learn to laugh at herself and not take life so seriously. I tell her all the time to lighten up and enjoy being a kid. I try to comment on her actions and words rather than her appearance. I also try to get her older brother to build up her confidence by using positive words with her.
I like your facebook page
Constantly reaffirm their beauty
i Follow Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
i Follow Maria’s Your Daughter Needs a Hero Facebook page
i do not have children of my own, but do coach some young ladies in various sports. i am sure to provide them with frequent positive reinforcement, and gentle feedback to help them improve in sports and in other ways
oh my goodness, this could not have come at a better time! My daughter and I just had a conversation 2 wks ago in which she was very down on herself and her looks. What I kept assuring her was that God makes us all different and unique and that by believing she’s ugly she’s actually believing lies from the enemy. I challenged her to stand on GOD’S truth and not let the devil convince her of these lies.
Kathy K
I follow RE on FB.
We go to a church that offers an amazing youth program. Open forum style discussions encourage honesty and “homework” includes parent/teen discussions afterward at home.
I think it is especially difficult for teenagers to build a healthy self esteem in the world we live in. I would love to see the ideas in this book to help parents.
I liked Maria’s FB page.
I like RE on FB.
My daughters are only 2 and 1, so no “real” issues yet. We actively do our best to guard their hearts and filter the messages they receive.
I am just startig to embark on this journey. I have an 8 year old daughter. I also have 13 and 15 year old sons, which is a whole different game, but I also want to teach them that physical beauty isn’t everything. I am planning on putting together a Balcony Girls group as I really want her to have a solid group of godly friends that can tackle life together. This book looks like a great start for me to help my daughter with self esteem and self image issues. One of the ways that I have started to help my daughter is to encourage her to do “her” best, and remind her that I am interested in what she did and not how she compared to others. I think it is also important to praise things other than physical beauty and I try to point out positive things like “you were very kind today”. I hope I’m on the right path, but of course need and will welcome guidance!
I Follow Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
My daughter is young enough that I haven’t had to worry about esteem issues … yet. But I hope to remind her often how much she is loved and how important it is to have beauty on the inside.
I’ve always felt I am barely a girl myself – ( grew up with all brothers and was ok with little drama, and teeny problems being solved within 10 minutes by a swift kick in the pants, and then they were all friends again. ) I always envisioned myself with a house full of boys if I ever married. Now I am married and God has a great sense of humor. We have 3 girls. AAAACKKK! The whining, bitterness, pettiness… sigh. So you see why I totally need to win this giveaway and prep before they hit the teen years.
Thank you for providing this post..what an important topic. I have had to help my daughter’s self esteem dealing with girls excluding each other from a group of friends and just not being kind or happy for each other. I could really use a copy as my daughter just turned 11!
Jennifer I love what you wrote “A strong spiritual mindset goes a long way to creating strong esteem in the world.” You have hit the nail on the head with that one! When we are able to focus on THE ONE who is so much greater than we are we can begin to wrap our minds our how insignificant a number on a scale is or the size of our dress. Love it. Thank you for sharing!
I have taught my 13-yr. daughter thus far to try not to compare herself with others her age. I would love to win this book and give her and my 8-yr old great wisdom as well. Thank you.
I tell her she’s beautiful and strong and can do wonderful things.