Quotes from the book of the same name


For Mothers

Soon after your daughter is born, get a blank notebook and write down the funny things she says and does.

Keep doing this through her teens and, eventually, you'll have a hilarious snapshot-biography of your daughter that she will love reading at least as much as you do.


For Daughters

Share your latest favourite novel with her. You owe her for all the times she read your favourite bedtime story over and over and over.....

For Mothers - what a great idea! As long as mum has time.
For daughters - so true!

For Mothers

Enjoy dressing her up like a little princess if you want.
But if she prefers dump trucks to dolls, let her go for it. Even at the age of two, she is her own person.


For Daughters

Remember to tell her she looks great, especially when she makes an extra effort.

For Mothers

Be straight with her about the right names for things - say "vagina" and "penis", not "wee wee" and "pee pee"


For Daughters

Go through her photo albums together and ask her who all the old folks are. They may not seem important now, but ancestors become more interesting the older you get.

For Mothers

Even if it looks like one of the aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, praise the portrait she painted of you at kindy. It will become your most treasured artwork.


For Daughters

You really don't need to point out her every new wrinkle or grey hair. No doubt she saw them long before you did!

For Mothers

Don't buy her dolls dressed like fifty-dollar hookers. You know the ones I mean.

When someone else gives her a doll dressed like a fifty-dollar hooker, don't take it away. Just drop the odd, snide comment about how trashy and unhappy the doll looks and your daughter will get the idea.


For Daughters

Don't fight when she wants to drag you to the relatives place for dinner or even a weekend visit. What might seem like a chore now will pay off later in life when you cherish family more than anything.

For Mothers

From the time she can walk, give her little chores to do. It will lighten your load and teach her that theres no such thing as a free ride.

Remember that even a 4yr old can whack a placemat on the table!


For Daughters

If anyone is bullying you in the neighbourhood, at school or on the internet, tell your mum. She may seem like a sweet middle-aged lady but she will turn into a kick-ass, take no prisoners avenging angel if someone threatens her young.

For Mothers

Don't throw away your old party clothes or accessories. Instead, toss them in a dress up box for her to transform into magical fairy princess outfits. Never underestimate the power of your daughters imagination.

For Daughters

Don't pilfer stuff from her closet to dress up in unless she told you its okay. What looks like a cast-off to you may still be her favourite party frock.

I can relate to these. I look at my daughter and still see my little 'pumpkin' with vaseline smeared hair and a face lined with my fave lipstick. Alas if i really look, there is a beautiful young woman intent on spending more time with friends and becoming independent. I dread the day she moves out

For Mothers

The odd ballet lesson is fine, but don't schedule something "girly" every afternoon of her preschool years. Small females need to discover the joys of getting dirt under their fingernails.

Let her climb tall trees and swim in big waves.


For Daughters

Don't be afriad to tell her some of your secrets. The more you share, the more she will be your rock.

Except when not telling her about that recent near-death experience (that was in no way your fault) will save her unnecessary heartache.

For Mothers

if work permits, volunteer for the occasional school activity. helping to supervise the excursio to the dinosaur museum will give her and you some nice shared memories.

And its reassuring for her to see her home and school lives merge.


For Daughters

Ask her about how she and her mother got along. It might shed some light on your own tempestuous relationship.

For Mothers

No matter how young she is, take her with you when you travel.

On holiday, make sure you get Dad to take pictures of you in addition to the thousands you'll both take of her. There's nothing worse than recording a trip and having it look like you weren't even there.

(this is so true! I always take all the photos, so not many of me, must start to be in some for the kids!)

For Daughters

Even if you can'tdo it perfectly, cook her an occasional meal. Remember how many times she cooked for you, even when she was sick or tired. Or bad at cooking.

Once you know what you're doing, cook for her regularly. If you negotiated right, it means you won't have to wash up.

For Mothers

Reply to questions honestly, no matter how bizarre.
Death, disease and nipple-piercing are fascinating subjects to little girls, so get your answers ready.

For Daughters

Remember that your mum is a storehouse of secret women's knowledge, and she can teach you everything from cooking the perfect roast to removing spilled candle wax from the carpet.

For Mothers

Instead of throwing away outdated make-up, put it in her dress-up box and note how much better cobalt blue eye shadow looks on a 4yr old fairy than it ever did on you.

Playing dress-ups is one thing, but if your 8yr old wants to go to a birthday party looking like Amy Winehouse, bar the door.

For Daughters

Gift-wise, avoid kitchen appliances and anything that encourages her to clean more. Luxurious candles, soaps and perfumes will remind her that she's a woman and not just your mum.

For Mothers

It may be inevitable in front of random strangers, but try not to embarass her in front of the school.

For Daughters

be patient when teaching her how to use new technology like her mobile phone. Unlike youo, she wasn't born with a complete working knowledge of the digital universe