⇑ Photographer and father of two Josh Rossi transformed his daughter Nellee into Wonder Woman for an epic Halloween photo shoot. Feature pic courtesy of Huffington Post.

Ok so I’m no expert when it comes to raising little girls. In fact the thought of raising one at times leaves me feeling quite nervous! However, I think I’m slowly beginning to master the art of raising little boys, and in a way that ensures they grow up confident and kind.

While watching Wonder Woman the past weekend though, made me realise, that I don’t intend to raise my daughter very differently to the way I raise my sons. What I mean by that is that I have every intention of raising my little girl to be tough and to believe that she is capable of anything. And that ANYTHING includes anything a man can do too.

While I know i can anticipate more tender moments and perhaps slightly more sensitive topics to cover at times and although I want my daughter to own her femininity as she matures, I want her to know primarily that she is strong and brave and courageous and that she has the potential to make a difference in this world, to leave strong womanly footprints on this earth.

So here’s what I want my little girl to learn from a character like Wonder Woman. Here’s what I want her to learn  from all all the strong and independent women throughout history who have fought hard to stand up for our place in society and see gender equality triumph.

The princess of the Amazons, armed with powers of a god, Wonder Woman is one of Earth’s most powerful defenders of peace and equality and a member of the Justice League. She is often considered an archetype for the comic book superheroine. She stands for Love, peace, and above all else, truth! Her original origin depicted her as a clay figure brought to life by the gods, but in recent years she has been depicted as the daughter of Zeus and the Amazon queen Hippolyta.

1. Like wonder woman I want her to fight for justice and not back down when things get tough or when others (and especially men) tell her she can’t. I want her to know she is capable of moving mountains and being part of a greater revolution, a greater good.
2. I want her to make no apology for being fierce and strong in her opinions. That she wouldn’t let people intimidate her into a corner, where her passion is boxed into what’s considered “appropriate”. But instead that she would let her passion burn like a wild fire and spread to all those around her causing a ripple effect like no other!
3. I want her to own her sexuality with grace as well as confidence. I want her to know that being ALL woman is amazing and she should never let a man make her feel inferior because of it. I want her to be aware of her femininity but not let it rule who she is, but rather concentrate on what’s inside. I hope she displays her heart and mind for all to see, with conviction and courage.
4. I want her to stand up for the underdog no matter what, that she would know what it means to empathise with others and that she would live a life that is pleasing to God.
5. Like Wonder Woman, I hope she learns that it’s okay to be a little different! That it’s ok to go against the grind of the ordinary. It’s ok to challenge peoples thoughts and opinions and think for yourself.
6. I hope that she, like Wonder woman will be unaffected by the effect she has on the opposite sex as she matures. That she would be the kind of girl who loses little sleep over what boys think about her. I hope she uses her charm and femininity in a way that shows others what she’s truly made of.
7. In a nutshell, i want my daughter to know it’s ok to be a bit of a bad-ass, someone who is strong and capable in every sense of the word. I want her to realise that it’s great to be a woman and that she can lead by example and show others how it’s really meant to be done.

You see, at the end of the day I don’t know what this little girl is going to be like. She may be soft and gentle and tender and a little unsure of herself and the world. And that’s ok too.  But I do know that I want the very best for her. I know i don’t want her conforming in a world where men seem to take preference at every turn or where she has to make apologies for who she is. I want her to know from a very young age, that she is powerful and strong and holds the world in her hands. ♥

Hi I’m Leigh! Did you enjoy reading this post? I really hope so and would love you to stick around a little longer! Please feel free to browse my blog for other articles or to keep up with all the latest news and to be the first to hear about some great competitions, come and find me me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also email me directly at leeloobaggins@hotmail.com or simply subscribe below and never worry about missing out!