Privately, girls hate their bodies. They need to know that being a girl is special, that the changes happening in their bodies have a beautiful purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/p>\n~Peggy McFarland MS<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy Do Girls Ages 8 to 14 Need Healthy Transitions for Girls<\/em> Coaching?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAs girls experience the physical changes of puberty, they unconsciously seek belief systems to make sense of these changes. It\u2019s as if their brain is \u201ctaking snapshots\u201d and building a photo album of \u201cselfies\u201d based upon what they see and experience during this critical stage. These mental “selfies” become their identity. Unfortunately, girls experience thousands of messages that represent unrealistic, sexualized concepts of what it means to be a young woman in today\u2019s society. Their brain stores these images and says, \u201cThis is what I am supposed to be like,” even if it is impossible and unhealthy<\/em>. It sounds like a powerful form of \u201cbrain washing,\u201d doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAs a mother, a faith leader, and a counseling professional, I have worked with hundreds of girls. Growing girls are developing a psychological \u201cdisconnection\u201d from their bodies that causes them to feel disconnected from God’s voice and their own true identity.<\/strong> Sexualized images of women are everywhere, even at the grocery store. These images cause young girls to feel shame about their bodies. Body shame contributes to a shame-based view of God and religion. It contributes to perfectionism and performance-based self-worth<\/strong>. This terrible harm is happening during the critical ages of 8 to 14<\/strong>, yet<\/strong> you may not see the signs until girls are well into their teens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nPuberty has always been an awkward time for girls, but today’s girls need help more than ever.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe are experiencing a social contagion of girls who believe that there is nothing special about being a girl. They privately hate their changing bodies. Girls\u2019 changing biology is designed to prepare them for nurturing and mothering. Girls need to acknowledge and awaken their powerful maternal natures and begin first to care for themselves.<\/strong> Nurturing, compassion, and tenderness, as they are uniquely expressed by women, need to be seen as power tools. Indeed, aren\u2019t these the very qualities our world needs most today? God made them to be powerful creators<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow Early is Too Early?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you have an eight or nine year old and wonder if it is too early to start preparing her for puberty, the answer is<\/strong> NO! The moment their bodies start to change–that’s when they are at risk. Let’s stop problems before they happen!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n