Advice I gave my daughers
Who you are
Keep hold of your own separate identity (not just wife of, mother of, daughter of).
Hold your head high. Be confident in who you are.
Keep a journal.
Get as much formal education as you can, and then keep on learning all through your life.
Keep following your interests/passions even if they are not of 'practical' value
Read a daily newspaper.
Read lots of books and keep some sort of record of what you have learned or understood from reading.
At some stage do Myers Briggs or another personality test and enjoy what you learn about yourself.
Mention your achievements sometimes, in passing, to men.
In Christ
Nurture your faith - in many ways and personally.
Stay close to Jesus - there are so many women in the gospels who did just that.
How you look
Look stylish and be classy.
Develop your own style and enjoy it.
Get your colours done - it saves money and time in shops.
Don't keep weighing yourself, but try not to go up (or down) a dress size.
Pay a bit of attention to hair, makeup, glasses - but not too much
Smile lots.
Marriage
Hug your husband a lot.
Take mini- breaks with your husband - aim for once a year.
Take your marriage vows very seriously.
Make sure your best friend is your husband.
Children
Children grow up very quickly, so enjoy every moment.
In family life follow Bernard of Clairvaux's motto: notice everything, turn a blind eye to something, chastise a little and cherish the brethren'.
Your children are usually cleverer and more mature than you had thought
Children need to know they are loved and secure (much more than they need things or activities or even education.)
Friends
Take time to encourage other women, and value them for who they are.
Try to remember friends' birthdays and send a card.
Be hospitable, and relaxed in entertaining.
Be hospitable, and relaxed in entertaining
Learn to cook some signature dishes.
Always provide lots of food.
Host extended family occasions and value cousins and in-laws.
Take photos of the ordinary mundane occasions to look back on years hence.
Write thank you letters - for big and little thing.s
Keep some time and space for just you, and for just family.
Living
Don't try to be perfect or a perfectionist - it doesn't work.
Be happy multi-tasking.
Work out which deadlines need to be hit and then hit them.
Keep dancing.
Be a confident traveller - know how to book a trip and make sure you can lift your own suitcase.
Keep hold of your own separate identity (not just wife of, mother of, daughter of).
Hold your head high. Be confident in who you are.
Keep a journal.
Get as much formal education as you can, and then keep on learning all through your life.
Keep following your interests/passions even if they are not of 'practical' value
Read a daily newspaper.
Read lots of books and keep some sort of record of what you have learned or understood from reading.
At some stage do Myers Briggs or another personality test and enjoy what you learn about yourself.
Mention your achievements sometimes, in passing, to men.
In Christ
Nurture your faith - in many ways and personally.
Stay close to Jesus - there are so many women in the gospels who did just that.
How you look
Look stylish and be classy.
Develop your own style and enjoy it.
Get your colours done - it saves money and time in shops.
Don't keep weighing yourself, but try not to go up (or down) a dress size.
Pay a bit of attention to hair, makeup, glasses - but not too much
Smile lots.
Marriage
Hug your husband a lot.
Take mini- breaks with your husband - aim for once a year.
Take your marriage vows very seriously.
Make sure your best friend is your husband.
Children
Children grow up very quickly, so enjoy every moment.
In family life follow Bernard of Clairvaux's motto: notice everything, turn a blind eye to something, chastise a little and cherish the brethren'.
Your children are usually cleverer and more mature than you had thought
Children need to know they are loved and secure (much more than they need things or activities or even education.)
Friends
Take time to encourage other women, and value them for who they are.
Try to remember friends' birthdays and send a card.
Be hospitable, and relaxed in entertaining.
Be hospitable, and relaxed in entertaining
Learn to cook some signature dishes.
Always provide lots of food.
Host extended family occasions and value cousins and in-laws.
Take photos of the ordinary mundane occasions to look back on years hence.
Write thank you letters - for big and little thing.s
Keep some time and space for just you, and for just family.
Living
Don't try to be perfect or a perfectionist - it doesn't work.
Be happy multi-tasking.
Work out which deadlines need to be hit and then hit them.
Keep dancing.
Be a confident traveller - know how to book a trip and make sure you can lift your own suitcase.