Since reviewing their first novel ‘Being Brave’ I have been following Sema & Hester’s journey and sharing their 1st book with all my friends who have daughters. I got to chat to the ‘Being Brave Girls’ this week, and asked them for their advice on how we can encourage our daughters to be brave during these uncertain times.
The Being Brave Girls
Hester Leung and Sema Musson are the co-authors of Being Brave and Being Brave Too, middle grade novels and personal development guides for girls on being brave. These books are inspired by their friendship and their daughters’ friendships.
The inception of our series began through the many years of talking about everything and anything. Our daughters are friends, and so we became friends! We have shared our life stories and struggles, from parenting to being working mothers, from stressors when we were growing up to relationships now. Therefore, our friendship led to the creation of Being Brave.
At the time of writing our second book Being Brave Too we find ourselves in quite unusual times. It’s like a parallel universe. We are in a world of social distancing. We are all at home. We are working from home. Our daughters have been schooled from home. We have replaced our weekend catch-ups with virtual coffees and lots of phone calls and messages. When before we looked forward to seeing each other on Saturdays at our daughters’ sports, we now look forward to connecting in a totally new way, more than ever needing to support each other in a most unusual year.
Social media becomes more pronounced as we think about what our new normal will be – one where we interact more online, where social media has an increased role for connecting with friends. We want to equip girls to manage the use of these tools positively. Our second book focuses more on this theme.
During this time we discovered that we need to remain soft and strong. We need to remain kind to others and be confident that everything is going to be okay. We need to stop the negative self-talk, that little voice inside that tells us we can’t do something or that we will fail if we try.
Here are our top five tips to help all the mums and daughters who need a little support on being B-R-A-V-E at this time.
Breathe — Breathing helps calms your mind and is a good way to relax. Try this simple exercise. Place one hand on your upper chest and one hand below your rib cage. Breathe in and count to 4, hold for 4 and breathe out for 4. Feel your tummy expand as you breathe in and shrink as you breathe out.
Relationships — Family and friendships are so important. They support and encourage you in times of joy and distress. They can give you a little confidence boost when you need it most. Give someone special a call today or send them a message to check in with them.
Affirm — Positive affirmations are statements that can overcome that little negative voice on your shoulder. When you repeat them and believe in them they can help you to make a productive change. Try these — I am kind, I am capable and I am worthy.
Visualise — What is the best thing that could happen? How would it feel? How would it sound? Using positive visualisation makes it easier to achieve your goals. In your mind it will be as if you’ve done it before! It makes your goals much more familiar and achievable.
Energise — Do what you love. For each of us, there are things that bring you energy and those things that zap your energy away. Find those things that fuel you and bring them into your day.
Sending you a little bit of hope and motivation at this time. We see you and we’re here for each other.
Find The Being Brave Girls at thebeingbravegirls.com or follow along on their socials.
The Wilsons of Oz 