How inspiring is it to spend time with someone who is 100% comfortable being their true self?

It’s awesome, isn’t it? Doesn’t it make you feel empowered to be your authentic self too?

The older I get the less f***s (pardon my French) I have to give about what other people think of me. And honestly, I wish I had lived my entire life this way. So that’s what I’m going to strive to teach my children to do… to be their authentic, mighty selves.

What does a kid who is being mighty look like? This looks like a child who is able to hold eye contact, has open body language, and perhaps is running around the house in a cape- or whatever their costume of the day is. When our oldest is being mighty, he is telling a very colourful story, dancing around our living room, and inviting others to join in on the fun he’s having… “Dance pawty!! You come too!!” He’s an extroverted dude, though. Maybe your little one is more introverted and can be their most mighty self when they play make-believe with stuffed animals, or when they create a play dough masterpiece. Obviously, you know your kid best and you know when they’re letting their freak flag fly.

Here’s a quick story on how I gained insight into what makes our toddler feel mighty.

This past summer we were trying to find a parking spot at a local farmer’s market that was insanely busy. We were driving along when all of the sudden our toddler yells: “MOMMA LOOK, LOOK!” and is frantically pointing out his window. Low and behold there was a giant blueberry mascot walking around the parking lot of a grocery store, trying to lure in customers. It’s important to note that blueberries are his favourite fruit. So naturally, we parked the car immediately and walked over to the mascot to give him a chance to see his favourite fruit up close. And then… the music starts. Then the dancing starts. You know in romantic comedies when the narrator goes on about how two lovers can feel all alone even in a crowded room? That’s what was happening with my child and the giant berry. These two danced their little butts off and our boy was beaming with joy. It was something so simple, but the fact that he was able to let loose on the busy streets of a market with his favourite fruit, made him feel so so mighty.

So, screw the norms. If your kid wants to dance during an inappropriate time, let them. If they get caught up telling an animated story to their grandparents… how about you prompt a plot twist to take it to another level?

These are little things we can do to pump our kids’ tires and encourage them to keep being mighty.