Advice to My Unborn Niece II

1. Jump in puddles.

2. Never skip breakfast.

3. Sometimes older kids think it's "uncool" to play with younger ones. Don't worry, they grow out of it. 

4. Ask questions.

5. Tell the truth.

6. Only the dumbest people don't wear seatbelts.

7. Grandpa David is going to pinch your cheeks, but he'll stop if you ask him enough times. 

8. Play pretend.

9. Don't worry about anything too much.

10. Don't let anyone trick you into thinking money is important. 

11. Daydream.

12. Be a humble winner and a gracious loser.

13. Never forget how lucky you are to have Hallie as your big sister.
14. Always double check your work. 

15. Try your hardest.

16. Rock-Paper-Scissors can resolve almost any disagreement.

17. If you're scared, ask to hold someone's hand.

18. Forgive easily.

19. Keep your promises.

20. Tell your Mom you're old enough to go to the theatre. 

21. Stop and smell the roses. This can be taken literally or figuratively. 

22. Don't play with doors. 

23. Hoarding Halloween candy never pays off. Just trust me on this.

24. You are stronger and smarter than you can possibly imagine.

25. Lead by example.

26. Popcorn and smarties. You're welcome.

27. Laugh until you cry.

28. If you want to know what bravery looks like, you can see it every time your Mom gets on an airplane.

29. Follow your hopes, not your fears.

30. There are few problems that reading a good book in a warm bath can't solve.

31. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

32. Think things through. 

33. Find that balance between washing your hands enough, but not too much.

34. Uncle Asher loves it when people tickle his feet.

35. Cake is meant to be eaten two slices at a time. 

36. Listen.

37. It doesn't matter what other people think of you.

38. Have secret handshakes with your friends. 

39. Walk outside barefoot. 

40. You and Hallie are on the same team.

41. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. 

42. Share. 

43. Your Dad will do anything for you. Use that power responsibly. 

44. Don't cheat. (I know you wouldn't anyway, I just have to say it). 

45. Remember people's names. 

46. Be silly.

47. Let Granny Lynne take photos of you. It means a lot to her. 

48. Dance in the rain. 

49. Learn how to play an instrument.

50. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't be exactly who you are. 

PS. I'm very excited to meet you. 

How I Became a Feminist (and You Can Too!)

"We can never go back to before." - Ragtime

I used to think I wasn't a feminist. I was for equal rights, I confidently told myself, not favouring women over men. I wasn't interested in getting into heated arguments about the glass ceiling or birth control. And I had never once burned my bra.

Part of this disavowal came from my annoyance with the possessive apostrophe in "women's history." Just because I was female didn't mean this was more my history than the male sitting next to me. I felt that with that apostrophe came the presumption that because I was a woman I should be interested in women's history. And I don't take kindly to presumptions. I was grateful for the civil rights this history had given me, but I was equally thankful for other gifts from my predecessors, like germ theory and the Emancipation Proclamation. I was a human. My history was the history of humanity - of women and men, West and East, Emperor and colonist, Native and settler. It was all my inheritance, and everyone else's too.

Advice to My Unborn Niece

1. Don't run with scissors.
2. Try to assume the best about people.
3. When Grandpa David speaks gibberish, Granny Lynne will translate.
4. Pink does not have to be your favourite colour and Princess does not have to be your career aspiration.
5. Do your best.
6. Some people will try and tell you that Shreddies cereal is not the best thing in the world. Do not believe them.
7. Keep your promises.
8. You will want to like me the best, but will fall for Uncle Asher. That is normal and happens to everyone.
9. Ask for help.
10. Offer help.
11. Don't be one of those kids that has to shout just because they're in a pool.
12. Trust people.
13. Return the things you borrow.
14. Be nice.
15. Treat your friends well.
16. Don't step on an ant just because it's smaller than you. It's okay to step on caterpillars though, those are gross.
17. Puns are never as funny out loud as they are in your head.
18. Make eye contact.
19. It is okay to be scared sometimes.
20. Be curious.
21. Some things that are easy for you will be hard for others, and vice versa. Don't get arrogant or discouraged.
22. Don't be one of those people who leaves their garbage in movie theatres. They are the worst.
23. Be confident.
24. You can call me whenever you need me, but calls before 10am have historically had the most customer service complaints.
25. Nap.
26. Try new things.
27. Do anything for a free t-shirt. Literally, anything.
28. Read. Start with Goodnight Moon and go from there.
29. Don't ruin an apology with an excuse.
30. Smile.
31. Be nice to your parents. They love you and are just figuring all of this out.
32. Don't settle.
33. The ticklemonster is real and warrants the fear you have of him.
34. Celebrate differences, don't fear them.
35. Sing.
36. Make mistakes.
37. It's okay to act against the majority.
38. At some point, your father will want to teach you how to throw a frisbee. Let him.
39. Don't compare yourself to anyone except your past self.
40. Go on adventures.
41. Lupin is better than Sirius. That is a fact that everyone has to come to terms with eventually.
42. Being able to do a somersault is an overrated skill.
43. Double-knot your shoelaces.
44. Say "please" and "thank you." People like that.
45. Don't spoil movies for those who haven't seen them yet.
46. Laugh.
47. Be a good sport.
48. Try and figure stuff out for yourself, but if you can't, Granny Lynne has the answer.
49. Floss.
50. Everybody is making it up as they go along; you'll be fine.

PS. I'm very excited to meet you.