Such a great post, Lynn! Every time I hear a young woman or someone else say, "Every little girl dreams of marrying her Prince Charming..." I want to scream. I didn't, and I didn't raise my daughter that way.

Many thanks to all you who did read my big congrats and well wishes for a congratulatory Happy International Women’s Day. I know that we all have very personal memories of how we’ve lifted and encouraged our own daughters/ granddaughters/nieces or friends to soar in this world. All I can add is , “You go, Girls!!!.

I loved Fairy Tales growing up, but was raised by a single mom who had to do domestic type work (babysitting and ironing) to earn money until I didn't need a babysitter. So I never seriously considered the Prince Charming part of the stories more than fantasy...I knew women had to make their own way. That was more real to me than the fantasy that someone was going to save us or take care of us.

I weep for the women here and around the world, fighting for equality and freedom from violence against them and join them in standing against those who will take our freedoms, our lives, our bodies, our choices, our education and our dreams.

Every day should be Women's Day!

I have no kids so can’t really relate to the nurturing of daughters and granddaughters situation. And I’m more like Olychick - no nurturing and modified fairy tales for me. My career goal was to support myself without being dependent upon a man. That I figured out entirely on my own. It served me well. I married a great guy but ended up being far and away the primary breadwinner.

Funny, recently I had been thinking about fairy tales with strong messages for girls, and what I would include if I were editing such a book. I would definitely include the tale of Molly Whuppie. Maybe Hansel and Gretel. But girls in most fairy tales lack agency.

Cawaps there’s a great book titled Feminist Fairy Tales that rewrites all the traditional tales and gives the girls their power.

There’s always The Paper Bag Princess!

"Ronald," said Elizabeth, "your clothes are really pretty and your hair is all neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum."

They didn't get married after all.

Lynn thank you for sharing your daughters lovey post!

I didn’t have girls but I did my best to bring up my boys independent of thinking a women would be expected to do their laundry, cook their meals, clean or any other jobs traditionally thought as women’s work. When they were tweens I trained them on doing their own laundry, cleaning their own rooms/bathrooms and forced them to go grocery shopping with me and with meal lists. When they complained I told them it was training to be a good mate in the future. I did have to sneak in cleanings of the bathrooms though.

I feel I did my part.

I don't want to rewrite fairy tales as to track down the few that exhibited female agency in the original. Clever Gretel had agency, though she's not exactly a role model.

Editing to add another: One Grain of Rice (Indian folktale). Sorry, I know I'm off topic...

That is a wonderful testament to your mothering, Lynn.

My contribution is having brought up sons who respect strong, independent women.

To all the strong, kind, inspiring women in our lives!

What a beautiful tribute to you Lynn.