Don’t let your boys grow up to be cowboys

And for that matter don’t let your daughters grow up to be princesses.

A fantastic book by Eckert Tolle talks about how we are training our kids to be something they are not and ultimately fulfilling stereotypes. The reality is that boys cry and girls punch (as any mom knows). The problem with reinforcing these stereotypical behaviors is that we end up in a society that is not “aware” or self realized. And this impact has led to world wars, terrorism, prostitution, and many of our worlds woes. 

Really each of has Yin (passive, gentle, feminine) and Yang (active, bright, masculine) in us. I often worry that my daughter is a bit… too much. She is very strong, fast, agressive… or put another way vivacious, dynamic, exciting. I have no doubt she’ll be the next Meg Whitman or Oprah!

Imagine a world where people were free to express themselves, be present, and live without constraints. Let’s stop teaching our daughters to sit still and our sons to be tough. Let’s teach them how to be the best they can be.