National Daughters’ Day was Thursday last week, and my heart is so full thinking about my 2 daughters and 4 daughters-in-law.
I have huge admiration for these strong, resilient women who inspire me every day.
Each of them is navigating the wild, demanding stretch of life that combines motherhood, career, relationships, and (often silently) the physical changes of perimenopause.
While I was raising my 6 kids it felt like a blur, sometimes a mess of stress, alternating with incredible joy. It seems from my vantage point as a grandmother that these gals are doing it better – with grit, good humor, and tons of love.
My 2 Daughters
My eldest daughter is a mother of two little girls, and working full-time as a guidance counselor and professional therapist. She writes and performs music with her band, The Well Wish, and whips up creative, nutritious recipes. She’s tending to others, holding onto creative fire, and maintaining solid relationships among her siblings.
My younger daughter is in the phases of both toddler and tween life, balancing long, demanding workdays and commutes, even when she’s running on fumes or those dreaded daycare illnesses, she’s so grounded and wise (and an actual trained chef!), giving her own kids, and the whole family the love and loyalty that matter most.
Both of these wonderful women make the most of their time, even including some strength training and cardio, and the’ve chosen good men to be their partners.
My 4 Daughters-in-Law
One daughter-in-law is juggling work with raising four children, including two teenagers with full slates of activities like crew and high school academics, while making time to organize amazing travel (even to Europe!) with all of the kids.
Another is balancing her job with the needs of three athletic, energetic kids, weaving together the sports schedules, meals, and musical moments, (plus camping trips!) that hold a family together.
Another daughter-in-law manages a demanding job with travel for herself and her husband, while juggling daycare for two little ones, coordinating, pivoting, and maintaining equilibrium, including at-home virtual workouts with her coach, me!
My daughter-in-law in New Hampshire is campaigning for Congress, and wow, what a courageous undertaking, requiring many daily hours on the phone and attending events, while keeping track of 2 littles, ages 7 and 4 .This past weekend, we drove up to help with the grandkids while she and my son poured their energy into her campaign. Watching them work together for something bigger than themselves reminded me that resilience runs deep in this family.
These daughter-in-law gals all stay strong and fit even with little or no time to get regular workouts…I am so proud that I raised good men to be their husbands.
My grandma superpower.
And then there’s me. I know my superpower is resilience. Add energy, strength, and mobility enough to sit in a car for six hours on the drive to New Hampshire this weekend (stretching and squatting at rest stops, ignoring funny looks), and ready to hop to the business of playing with kids non-stop while the parents worked on the campaign every minute from breakfast time to bedtime. There’s no question about skipping workouts in favor of quality time with each family on trips like this – usually exercise is dog walks, little bike rides, and hanging around playgrounds, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Lucky me to have a solid partner too.
Reflection – we are all daughters too.
National Daughters’ Day is about honoring these women, and let’s reflect on ourselves being daughters too, deserving of the honor and self-appreciation we deserve.
My own mom passed away when I was in my 30s, but as a mom of 6 herself (me being the eldest), I think she would have been right there with me.
I see in these 6 young women strength that isn’t about perfection – it’s about them building resilience too. It’s being willing to adapt, to keep moving, and to build a life that has meaning, even in the messy middle.
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💡 Do you see yourself in these stories? Maybe you’re juggling work, family, caregiving (for kids or aging parents), and trying to fit in time for yourself. If so, know that strength can be built right where you are, whether your workouts are in a gym or in your living room, regular or irregular.
Let’s work together to maximize the time in your life to enable you to be resilient, stronger, healthier, and more confident without adding more stress now or at any time in your life.
x
Polli
