An inspiring woman. Well a girl actually. 365 #09

Inspiring women: my daughterThe fundraising force that is Team Honk has issued a blogging prompt in honour of International Women’s Day next Saturday 8th March. An inspiring woman; someone you admire, who changes your outlook, who you would work hard to be more like. I struggled, to be honest. In life I am influenced by many friends, they inspire me to try new things: better photography, running, dancing, writing. In blogging there are multiple women who support me, prompt me, and give me new ideas.

But one woman who makes me want to be a better person? For whom I am prepared to change? No.

There is a girl though. This girl.

She never stops smiling. Not when she was utterly deflated by the teasing of a friend; not when she hurts herself; not when she receives a telling off. She can cry, like anyone, and she is prone to melodrama when she feels challenged. But that smile is never absent for long.

Today I picked her up from her drama class. As I waited for her to appear from the classroom I idly glanced at the other students on their way out. There was a real air of gloom. A teenaged girl came out looking tearful. My girl’s best friend looked downcast. There was none of the usual chatter. She smiled when she saw me, and we headed for the car.

We walked past the teenager, now sobbing in her mother’s arms and I questioned my daughter:

Is L ok? She looked really grumpy…

Her response knocked me sideways:

We just got a lecture for our performance. We weren’t very good. That’s probably why. Lectures don’t phase me. It would be easy to get upset, but I know from my piano practice that if you’re getting told off, there’s a good reason. Being upset doesn’t help, you just have to take it on the chin and put it right.

She is 9 years old and she has this kind of wisdom.

These pictures were taken this afternoon, after we’d made a cake together. As I put the cake into the oven I heard a sickening crack behind me, then silence. I turned to see my always skipping girl on the floor, clasping her foot. She doesn’t often cry, but the tears really flowed. A sprain hopefully, but she can’t walk right now. An hour later as she breathed in the warmth of a ginger banana upside-down cake she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. And when she got a bit too close and came up with cake on her chin she was in fits of giggles.

This is my inspiring woman. A girl who knows how to look on the bright side, who has a beautiful smile that is never far from her face. I want to be like her. This is my daughter.

My inspiring woman has cake on her chin

These photos were snapped quickly, in poor light, with an eye on making sure no-one nudged her foot. So they are not the best images. But I’ve tried again with the black and white tips on Love All Blogs’ Better Photo Project, and it has really improved the pictures.

I’m also linking with The Boy and Me’s 365 Project, PODcast’s What’s the Story, I Heart Snapping’s Living Arrows, and Mummy Daddy Me’s Ordinary Moments. On all of them you will find gorgeous images, which have inspired me to improve my photography.

And if you have an inspiring woman in mind, do post about her for International Women’s day and support Team Honk.

59 thoughts on “An inspiring woman. Well a girl actually. 365 #09”

  1. She sounds like she’s got a better attitude than me and I’m 34 😉 Top parenting marks to you, she sounds ace 🙂

    Reply
  2. Such a beautiful post, Helen. Sometimes little ones can be more inspiring than all the age and wisdom in the world. Amy inspires me every single day. She’s the one who makes me try to be the best I can be in everything I do x

    Reply
  3. Ahhh Helen! GG! This made me sigh a happy sigh – she’s a real credit to you. And thank you for joining in the linky too xx

    Reply
  4. Beautiful inside and out. My 7 year old little girl has the potential to stop me in my tracks with her wisdom already. Very inspiring 🙂

    Reply
  5. For a 9 year old to have that wisdom tells me, her parents have done one fabulous job in raising her. You must be very proud.

    Reply
  6. Wow for a 9 year old she has such a deep understanding! The first picture is beautiful, you must be very proud xx #project365

    Reply
  7. She certainly is one special little girl, who I am sure will go far in her life. Wow, what insight she has for a 9 year old! I have no doubt this has a small something to do with the parents she has been blessed with 🙂

    Reply
  8. Some people just have a sunny disposition and are great to be around… the rest of us need people like your daughter. You photos look really great, the low light works to your advantage!!

    Reply
  9. Those are utterly gorgeous pictures. And wow, what perspective she has. You are obviously doing something very right!

    I hope her foot is better soon.

    Reply
  10. What a beautiful post, and you do indeed have a very inspirational girl. What a great thing that a smile is not far from her lips, as it’s such a lovely one.

    Hope her foot is ok? x

    Reply
    • Just a sprain Rachael, thanks. She’s constantly skipping and dancing, and always at top speed so we tend to get a few collisions. This was an extreme toe stubbing incident!

      Reply
  11. Oh goodness Helen this post is the most amazing tribute to your awesome daughter. As for the photos they really express the magic in her smile…really makes you melt. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
  12. honestly Helen the more i read about your GG and see her beautiful smile the more i just think wow what a daughter to be very proud of. I think you must be doing something so right as a parent because she is so wise and thoughful and brilliantly funny oh and beautiful too! she is inspiring because she is so brave and has wisdom beyond her years!
    she reminds me of another stunner too *looks at the screen at the author of this post* x x

    Reply
  13. What a wonderful post Helen, it made me very teary. Your girl sounds like a wonderful and inspiring little lady. You should be so very proud of her. x

    Reply
  14. What an amazing daughter! And what beautiful photos. I love her wisdom when faced with criticism. I can see many similarities between your daughter and mine, but one thing my daughter can’t cope with is criticism/ telling off.

    Reply
    • How old is she Sarah? A year or so ago she would never have said this. In fact I wrote about it because her reaction to a telling off was so extreme: https://actuallymummy.co.uk/2012/03/09/a-short-story-about-self-harm/. Hang in there because if GG is anything to go by, being consistent and kind will pay off x

      Reply
  15. Awww, she’s so lovely. Very mature for her age I would say *desperately hoping mine is not particularly immature*! That attitude will take her far x

    Reply
    • We’ve always said that Steph. In many ways she is incredibly mature for her age. She still likes to act the fool though!

      Reply
  16. What a lovely girl with a fantastic outlook on life! Gorgeous. I hope my daughter has the same insight when she’s older.

    Reply
  17. Wow what a great reaction from GG, not surprised it knocked you sideways! What a fantastic outlook especially in the face of criticism. You must have been so so proud and you should be too, it will be down to you (and Jason!). Beautiful beautiful post Helen, you nearly had me! Thank you so much for sharing with #whatsthestory

    Reply
  18. A beautiful tribute to your daughter who could clearly teach us all a few lessons, what a remarkable girl and a credit to you

    Reply
  19. Oh Helen! She’s such a credit to you – you must be so ridiculously proud of her. What a lovely post, and she’s totally got your smile too 🙂

    Reply
  20. “Looking on the Bright Side” is a very special gift – she is a very special girl indeed.

    Reply
  21. What a gorgeous post and tribute to your girl…. and how very wise she is too, don’t think I had that kind of wisdom at nine years old! X

    Reply
  22. And what an amazing girl she is! She has a good role-model after all though; someone I’ve always seen smiling, someone who is professional and courteous, hardworking and respected.

    Thanks for linking up to Project 365.

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Content is protected !!