Daughter - Guest Post by Kate Erdel

Today, I introduce you to Kate of Expanding Erdels! Kate married one of Tyson's best friends & Beta brothers, Blake.  I've known Kate since we were freshman in college.  Our sophomore year we became neighbors - as she lived in the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, which is next door to the Alpha Phi house. This past May, Kate and Blake proudly welcomed their beautiful daughter, Audrey.  I absolutely love following Kate's blog! She has such a unique writing style and I almost always find myself in tears when I'm finished reading her heartwarming & insightful posts.  I know you'll enjoy Kate's guest post today! 

What I Learned About Raising a Daughter from Being One

I have high hopes for this beautiful little girl we call Audrey…

I hope that she will be good at things. I hope that she will have friends and be popular enough. I hope that she is smart, athletic, creative, and successful. I hope that she has big dreams and that I can do something to help her reach them (other than just dressing her for the part – even though that is a super fun thing about having a little girl). 

But more than anything, I just hope that she loves herself, even when the world tells her not to.

I hope that she laughs in the face of self-doubt and self-loathing. That she emphatically tells anyone who tries to tell her that she’s not skinny, pretty, witty, or bright enough to “bug off.”

This hope, though, isn’t one I can just send out with luck and a prayer. If she’s going to love herself as much as I love her, I’m going to have to teach her.

I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to do this yet, but I’m pretty sure it starts (and maybe ends) with just setting a good example. I’m lucky because my mother loved herself, as far as I know, unconditionally until the day she died. She was a perfect example to me of self-love and respect. Her example has given me no alternative but to love myself as much as she loved me and to pass that lesson along to my daughter. To do anything less would be a dishonor.

So with that… I will emulate my mother and serve as the best example I can for Audrey by loving myself. By never expressing self-doubt or self-loathing. By never tearing myself, or other women, apart. I will love myself unconditionally and in the moments where I find myself not so in love with myself, I will make myself someone I can love.

Cheers to loving ourselves and our daughters,

Kate {www.expandingerdels.blogspot.com}

P.S. Just so we’re clear, it’s a father’s responsibility to teach his daughter everything else.

Thank you SO much, Kate! Everyone make sure you jump over to Kate's blog to see what she and Audrey have been up to!