I'm proud to say, I have two daughters.

Being a father of two girls has changed my life. I mean, having kids, in general, will change anyone's life. BUT the impact of having two girls as a young father has really changed my perspective on everything.

It's amazing how many times my wife and I get asked " Are you going to try for a boy ? "

It's offensive. It's almost like, we are missing something? Should I be feeling like I have a gaping hole in my life because I have daughters and not sons? It's as if society has created this false sense of gender fulfillment, oh wait they have.

pa·tri·arch·y

• a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.
• a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.

Now I am not going to lie because I too was once a programmed product of society. When I was a boy and pictured my future and my kids what I saw was sons. You know, playing ball, going fishing, someone to carry on the family name, the legacy I want to create.

When my wife was pregnant with our second child, I will never forget the day we had the ultrasound appointment to find out the sex. I would be lying to you all, if I said the little boy in me wasn't hoping to hear the Ultrasound Technician say "It's a Boy" my wife had tears of joy, she already had a feeling it was a girl and the thought of Ava having a little sister made her happy. I was happy of course either way, but I had this deep feeling almost of disappointment, and I felt AWFUL for having it, but that's my truth. It was there.

I had this misconception that there goes all blue for pink, cars for barbies, baseballs for tea parties.

But that's all bullshit, and those misconceptions stem from the exact womanizing stereotypes that are the problem.

I don't exactly always follow the rules in life, I always push against the grain, think outside of the box and question, if not challenge "the norm" ... and I always will.

Having my girls made me realize how bad we were programmed from a young age with womanizing BS. It's everywhere, in the music, the movies, the media. It was at one point, the norm. But it isn't anymore.

I am inspired daily by amazing women accomplishing amazing things in business and in life. I am so unbelievably proud to be a father of two daughters.

“I have been blessed with the chance to raise and put into the world a pair of strong, confident, thoughtful, kind, independent and creative women.”

We can fish, play ball, ditch barbies for cars, or, ditch cars for barbies, that's cool too. I have a responsibility to let them know that they can be anything they want, and they can accomplish anything they want.

Because they can grow up and be anything they want to be. My daughters have taught me that sensitivity and compassion are qualities to be desired. I’ve never met anybody as thoughtful and caring as my girls, and in a hyper-masculine society, those traits aren’t always valued. They’ve got me wrapped around their little fingers, and I love every minute of it.

#MyFeminism #PressForProgress #IWD2018 #InternationalWomensDay