Book Report: Girls Will Be Girls

Last week I posted a book report about this book, but then deleted it. I was afraid it was boring. Catte and Mare said it wasn't and wished I hadn't deleted it. All it takes is a few words of encouragement so I will keep writing my boring book reports and try to rewrite this one.
Girls Will Be Girls is the equivalent of So You Want To Raise a Boy. The only thing I didn't like about this book is that it does not have an index. I think ALL books should have an index, and usually end up making my own for everything I read. So, know that in advance if you buy this book, you'll have to create your own index.
The author suggests having your girls tell you something they are proud of each day. I liked this, and have added it to our daily morning devotional. The Original Four and even The Littles have been taught to do two nice things for someone each day. One that they will report on at the end of the day, and the other, something only they and their Father In Heaven will know. They always like to tell what it is they have done, and I thought adding something that they are proud of is worth doing, too.
I recently read and liked what Michal Johnson had written on her blog about teaching her children, "We Can Do Hard Things." Interestingly enough, this was also mentioned in General Conference by Sister Dalton. I believe in this, and know that children benefit from trying and doing. I have told my kids, that it's important to do difficult things, and that difficult things often become important things. This is usually said when they don't want to do something; piano practice, waterpolo, seminary, etc. The author writes about the importance of Doing, and that Doing Works. Doing creates self esteem. The three C's of self esteem are Competence, Confidence, and Connectedness.
What was most interesting was that there is much correlation , "that indicates that girls who participate in sports not only develop the useful skills of leadership, problem solving, and physical coordination, but also often add to their reservoir of confidence, competence and connectedness. In fact, probably more than any other category, SPORTS CAN DO IT ALL." (I thought Dad would be happy to read this.) "Sports can do it all." ( I also love that Sarah Palin was a high school basketball player, among all of her other accomplishments and capabilities.)
She also writes about Creative Doing and that writing, painting, dancing, singing, playing musical instruments and computer programming are all forms of creative doing.
Another book I think every parent should own is Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D. He writes about the importance of projects, and activities, particularly for boys. It also discusses differences in the best way to teach girls and boys.
In Girls Will Be Girls, Dr. Mary Pipher who wrote Reviving Ophelia is quoted, "Girls whose anchor is reading, may use it to disappear from the world, or escape into one, and it steadies them." I know this is true, and it still steadies me. Although I'm not exactly escaping, since I love Non Fiction. I am always looking for explanations, knowledge and understanding. (I love information, and neuroscience, and studying intricacies of human behavior. I am currently reading a book about a man who read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica. (I would do it, and go to bed with an encyclopedia all the time when I am in between books and waiting for the next interest to take hold.) The encyclopedia author is funny which makes it easier to absorb the facts and information. It is called, Know It All by A.J. Jacobs.
In Girls Will Be Girls it is sugggested to always, always, prolong the part of your daughter that is a child. She also says to always tuck her in at night like she's a little girl, and always tell her good night.
And lastly, I loved her definition of Happiness. "Happiness is Someone to Love, Something To Do, and Something To Look Forward To."
See why I loved this book? I really do love to write about what I have read, and I love to share and discuss what I've read, too. Laurie is so good about listening to my book reports and she loves it because she feels like she's read the book herself when I get done telling her about it. Well, I hope some of these books will interest you, as well. Please post what you have learned or what you thought was most important from the books you are reading. I am always interested.
Thanks again for reading along, everyone. I promise I won't delete it.