Girls of courage, confidence, and character! Scouting has a rich history of aiming to help young girls cultivate each of these values and then some.

If your daughter would like to participate, registration is coming up! The Beijing Girl Scouts Chapter is hosting an info session for their program from 10am-12pm at both the International School of Beijing (ISB) on Aug 24 and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) on Aug 31.

The Girl Scouts team will also be recruiting leaders for newly forming troops and parents can also volunteer to help out. USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) serves girls living overseas and girls attending American or international Schools. All girls with foreign (non-Chinese) passports can join and there are places available for kids from K-12.

USAGSO has been working with communities and volunteers in Beijing to bring outdoor experiences to the many girls attending school here and to help the Girl Scout Promise flourish all over China:

On my best to be

Honest and fair,

Friendly and helpful,

Considerate and caring,

Courageous and strong, and

Responsible for what I say and do,

and to

respect myself and others,

Respect authority,

Use resources wisely,

Make the world a better place, and

Be a sister to every Girl Scout.

USAGSO has been part of the national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA since 1925. There are Girl Scout Chapters across China, in cities including Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Suzhou.

It’s time for G.I.R.L – go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders. There’s so much positivity and wonder to be had for young girls who participate and plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, forge new friendships, and have fun! What are you waiting for? Get your daughter signed up. For more information on how and where to register please contact Amy Kennedy (beijinggirlscouts@usagso.org, 185 1505 3922).

Photos: Pixabay

I have a pre-tween daughter, Leah, who is exercising her independence these days. She tests me with her words, and she certainly challenges authority. She’s still a little girl, yet she knows that bigger things are just around the corner. To provide her with some much-requested liberation, I don’t meet her at the bus stop anymore, and she doesn’t have a great desire to hang out with me if there are other — better — options around.

I know it’s all part of growing up. It’s bittersweet to see; alas, all parents and children go through it. 

But there are moments when I realize she still needs me — wants me, even. She won’t tell me so, but it shows up in other ways. When there’s something going on at school — should I be there to watch? Or stay away as to not embarrass her? 

Luckily, I also have a younger daughter, Ava, who wants me there as much as possible. I enjoy that, even though going to school so often gets cumbersome at times. But I go when I am able, and I’m always glad that I did. She is, too.

The latest opportunity for me to go to school and enjoy seeing both of my daughters was just before Chinese New Year — the annual school parade and temple fair festivities. I waffled between attending both morning and afternoon events or just choosing one; after all, I had holiday packing to do and plenty to keep myself busy. After much pleading and some guilt-inducing by my youngest, I decided to go to both events, even though my oldest "didn’t really care."

Well, one look through the parade ensemble, where Leah was in costume and "performing," I knew I made the right decision. She didn’t want to show any excitement about seeing me there, of course, but she did notice that I came, and she gave me a smile that indicated it was what she wanted all along. I saw both girls in their moment, and I got to enjoy it with them.

As parents, we get so very busy with life — work, house management, our own education, social lives — it’s easy to not want to be bothered with the numerous and sometimes menial school events we’re invited to attend. But kids grow up way too fast, we all know that. Even if they tell you they don’t want you there, that it doesn’t matter if you come, it does. One small smile from Leah told me so. No matter what the attitude about staying away or being more of an embarrassment than a support to her, Leah wanted me there. So I was, and I’m glad of it.

Make the choice: Be there.

My 10-year old daughter is in that tender pre-adolescent stage that can be difficult for all involved. She no longer wants to be a little girl, certainly not in public, yet she’s not confident enough (nor old enough) to go it alone. She’s gradually maturing, sometimes stumbling along the way. Yet ask for help? Mom is beginning to fall into that you-don’t-know-anything phase that I’m so not looking forward to.

How do you keep your daughter close? How do you make sure those lines of communication stay open, especially when the tough stuff is right around the corner?

About a year ago, I started journaling with Leah. This isn’t your typical diary, nor is it a concurrent activity we do together. Rather, I bought a lined journal for us to share. When she has something she wants to talk about, she’ll write to me in it and leave it at my bed side. I don’t have to return it immediately. I can respond in due time, answering her questions or maybe sharing some of my own thoughts. We aren’t really writing letters back and forth to each other – although sometimes it turns out to be doing just that – but we give each other the opportunity to say what’s on our minds and share it. Sometimes we’re mad. Sometimes we don’t pass the journal back and forth for several weeks. But it’s always there and it’s always a chance to “talk” when words don’t seem to find their way.

I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I can’t. I read about it in a magazine somewhere. I think that the daughter was older, and the journal may have been more regular. But it was a keepsake this woman remembered because of the respect her mother paid her by recognizing the need to back off and give some space.

I hope to start this with my younger daughter soon, allowing her, too, to share private feelings and thoughts, just with me. It’s a safe, easy way to let your daughters know that they can talk to you about anything, anytime.