A Perfect Girl’s Getaway: For Me & My Daughter

In the past month or so, I’ve seen two Black mothers share the feelings of joy, accomplishment, and wonder at being able to take their young daughters to Paris. Naturally, these moms posed with their beret-wearing babies in front of a gleaming Eiffel Tower. These trips are more than just another stamp in a passport. They represent our ability to expose our children to various parts of the world. I love that for them. It’s aspirational. And in a world that often elevates the Black mother and son bond at the expense of the mother and daughter one, it’s beautiful to see Black moms loving on their daughters out loud and challenging this narrative.

But you don’t have to take an international flight to enjoy a girl’s trip with your little one. There are plenty of places and activities you can do locally that will encourage you to spend quality time with one another, learn something about the way you each navigate the world, and allow you to impart some life lessons along the way.

Bookstore date
Literacy is vitally important to a healthy society. Perhaps a lack of literacy among our children and our adults contributes to the state of our country right now. Do your part in ensuring that your children have a healthy love for reading by taking your little girl on a bookstore date. Perhaps you do a little research and find a Black-owned bookstore near you. Let your child pick out as many titles as you can afford. The date doesn’t have to end there. If she’s open to it, you can read the book in tandem and discuss with each other later at home.

Collect supplies for a women’s shelter
You might not be able to actually go inside a women’s shelter. But you can go around town collecting supplies to drop off. Whether you pack lunches, buy period products and other toiletries, or make clothing donations, giving back together allows your daughter to not only understand your values but learn more about the circumstances that women face in the world and how they manage to stay resilient and bounce back from them. Giving to a shelter can open up conversations about domestic violence, financial literacy, reproductive choices, and so much more.

Mental health day
Our children need to know that their value and worth are not solely tied to their performance and accomplishments. They are worthy simply because they exist. And because they are inherently special, they deserve to honor themselves with rest. Allow your child a mental health day every once in a while. Whether you allow them to stay home from school or you take off work on a designated holiday, allow them to relax, watch their favorite shows, and eat their favorite foods. Say yes more than you say no. You may find giving them a little bit more autonomy produces a different level of openness and honesty with you.

Dress up in mommy’s closet
For most little girls, their mother is the first beauty standard. If you’ve seen your little girl playing in your closet or watching closely as you apply your makeup—turn this into a bonding moment. Let her wear the pieces she admires. While she’s admiring herself in the mirror, you can share what that item of clothing meant to you, where you wore it, what happened, and when you plan to wear it again. This will help your daughter see you as more than just her mother but as a woman.

See where we end up
For the planners, search day trips you can take near your home, pack some snacks, curate a bomb playlist, and hit the road. For those of us who like to fly by the seat of our pants a little bit more, grab the keys, hit shuffle on your iTunes, pick a cardinal direction, and just start driving to see where you end up. Some of the best conversations happen in the car, and the sense of adventure and newness is sure to create a lasting memory.