I know. It’s like an unspoken mom rule that we’re not supposed to call our children names like badass. But, the facts are the facts, people, and I’m just here to report what I see… My daughter is a badass.

Because we have 2 girls and are done with the whole child-bearing portion of life, my husband and I often get asked if we want a boy. Deep down, I think I’ve always assumed my husband felt he was missing out, not having a son. But, it turns out, he’s not. Because over the last (almost) 3 years, we’ve come to learn that having a daughter is just as badass as having a son. 

Yesterday, my daughter picked her nose and wiped it on her frilly pink shirt. While I was throwing up in my mouth a little bit a lot, I had a thought: it seems that gross knows no gender.

Girls are totally just as gross as boys. (Oh, another gem: her favorite word is “butthole.” That’s fun at playgroups.)

Then, I started thinking of something else… Boys get the reputation of being tough, while girls are sweet and polite. But here’s the thing: they don’t know that.

So, while we’re busy labeling and judging, our girls are busy being just as tough and gross and strong and, well, TOTAL badasses as your boys…

Girl climbing a rock wall

SHE IS TOUGH  Jumping from the coffee table to the couch, terrorizing our senile Yorkie (even after a few nips on the hand), climbing anything and everything in sight. She’s had 2 black eyes before her 3rd birthday and tells me “I’m OK, Mama.” numerous times each and every day.

THE DIRTIER, THE BETTER  Sure, she might be wearing her favorite princess dress while she stomps in muddy puddles and plays in the dirt, but my girl loves to get her hands dirty, even if her nails have a fresh coat of nail polish. She loves everything pretty, sparkly and pink, and it’s even better if it’s covered in dirt and grass stains.

SHE’S BRAVE  This little girl is willing to try anything. A new gymnastics class? She’s in. Climbing the 6 foot tall wall by the lake with her Daddy? Done. Walking up to a group of kiddos she’s never met? Here she comes. I love that my little girl already knows that brave is beautiful and totally badass. 

GIRL KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS  On the long stay-at-home mom days, I call this trait annoying and exhausting. But, given a bit of perspective and some sleep, I call it strong-willed and independent. She has an opinion about anything and everything and isn’t afraid to let it be known (over and over and over again) and her integrity would put some adults’ to shame. She might just rule the world one day. 

SHE LOVES HARD The snuggles might be few and far between these days, but in those rare moments when she slows down enough to cuddle up next to her mama, she is the best in all the land. She loves big and hard.

And I think that’s pretty damn badass. 

5 ways my daughter is as badass as your son

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