How Piyush Chooses to Raise His Daughter?

I have a daughter. How should I raise her? Should there be a difference in the way I choose to bring up my daughter from my son’s? Or should I proudly tell everyone she is not my daughter, she is my son and she will get everything a son should?

Well, first of all, she is my daughter, not my son. I will never feel proud in saying she is my son, not my daughter. Why should I feel pride in that? Is she being a girl anything less? If I call her my son or as good as my son, am I not saying daughters not good enough?

Okay, I may have asked too many questions but really in the race of gender equality we are unknowingly still comparing the two genders, so the point is, treat a daughter like a daughter and don't try to find a son in her. In terms of what you would do for a son versus a daughter, there should ideally be no difference at all but that is really in a very controlled environment. In the real world, although the basics do not change--love, respect for everyone, good nature--have no substitutes but you may want to ensure a few different things for boys and for girls.

What to Take Care while Raising Daughters?

I would personally take care of the following for raising my daughter. Read on...

• Believe in her and let her take on all opportunities she thinks she can manage,  be it as small as playing cricket to as big as being a rally driver or joining the air force. It is all fine, she is not as delicate as you think she is!
   
• Studies are not the only option for being independent or making a living though I am not saying here that we let her choose whether or not to study. Education has no substitute but if she excels in something else, let her pursue that skill to the extent possible. This is a world of masters not the jacks and no one cares you are master of what till the time you are the best.
   
• Put as much emphasis on learning self-defence sports and other physical exercises like dancing, outdoor sports etc. as you do on studies.
   
• There are things she would see at her school, at home and other places she visits and she might develop an interest in any of those but she may not see a lot of things if we do not make effort. Take her to places where she can do different things like a shooting range or maybe ice skating, or even boxing etc.
   
• Teach her to turn mistakes into useful things. I spoke about making a food pot for the birds from a broken jar example in my earlier blog Try to convert every possible mistake into something useful.
   
• Talk history. Talk about your family history, paternal family and maternal family and whenever possible try to ensure she is able to meet some of her cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents etc. A lot of us are now planning just one child and these small discussions and meetings keep the child connected with her family and help develop in her that sense of belongingness.
   
• Help her learn differently and make her education fun. Try to find ways to bring her subjects to life. Twinkle-twinkle little stars is fun when you actually see a twinkling star.
   
• To the same point, take holidays and travel together. Could be as small as a day trip or a weeklong trip. Do not make it too hectic and plan the day(s) to cover her subject contents. It is easier for her to remember that Cauvery flows in the southern part of India or the apple is red when she has seen it. She can then link it back to her studies rather than just showing it to her on a map or book.
   
• Our world is filled with information to grab and with so many things coming in and the kind of people she would meet she might also make some perceptions. Keep a watch, she will not be able to enjoy life under perceptions. You will never touch a rope if you thought it was a snake but you may build a swing if you did not have that perception.
   
• Let her live her dream, she is not born to do what you wanted to in life but could not due to whatever circumstances. It is her life and she is the best judge, just be the right tool of guidance for her and she will be able to take it from there.
   
• Most important point: always be her friend. She should be able to talk to you about anything and everything. The reasons why she will not be able to talk to you include: you might get angry and scold her, scold the boy she is with, embarrass her in public or when she is with her friends, you might say outright no, you may not even listen, etc. So, if you do not give her a reason to lie or hide stuff, she will not. She will be able to talk about everything. Also with time you will need to reiterate that she has friends in the house and no discussion is taboo. So this one is completely on you.
   
• And in the end please ensure she never feels she is just a replacement for the son you wanted. I am repeating this again and again because this is most important for her self-esteem and confidence. 

I don't see why most of these would not be applicable to a boy but then this is what I have thought for my daughter. Would be glad to hear from other fellow parents as well.