If We Could Change the World for Our Daughters…

Ricky Cortez
Oct 16
3 min read

Updated: Dec 10

A question has been circling in my mind ever since I read a local post that said:

“If you could do one thing to change the lives of teen girls in America, what would you do?”

It stopped me. Not because I had an answer, but because it hit something deeper.

I think most of us raising girls right now feel that ache: the pull between wanting to protect them and knowing we can’t shield them from the world they’re growing up in.

The world our daughters are stepping into is both breathtaking and brutal. They are connected to everything and everyone, yet often feel more alone than ever. They’re brave and outspoken, yet privately burdened by comparison, fear, and pressure to “be okay.”

And then there’s us: the parents, caregivers, mentors, trying to guide them while still figuring out our own place in this constantly shifting culture. We scroll articles, trade late-night texts with other parents, worry about screens and stress and belonging. We try to stay calm through slammed doors and silent tears, reminding ourselves that connection still matters, even when it’s quiet.

But what if the moonshot isn’t only about changing their world?

What if it starts with changing ours the way we see them, listen to them, and regulate ourselves around them?

Because when we slow down our own nervous systems, they feel safer in theirs. When we repair after we rupture, they learn love isn’t fragile. When we model curiosity instead of control, they start to trust their own voice again.

This blog begins there. It’s for the parents doing the unseen work. Showing up on hard days, learning how to breathe through the storm, trying to raise girls who know they are worthy, loved, and capable of belonging without bending themselves out of shape.

So, if I could do one thing to change the lives of teen girls, I’d start here:

by helping the grown-ups who love them feel steady enough to see them clearly, hold them gently, and walk beside them as they find their way.

Because that’s how change begins. Not in grand gestures, but in quiet, everyday acts of connection.

🌿 “Root Before Responding”

The next time your daughter’s energy spikes, frustration, sadness, or silence, simply pause before you speak.

Feel your feet on the floor.
- Notice the weight of your body supported by the ground beneath you.
Inhale slowly through your nose for 4 counts. Exhale through your mouth for 6.
- Repeat twice more, letting your shoulders drop.
Name your state.
- Silently say, “I’m safe. I can stay present.”
Then respond softly, slowly, or maybe not at all right away.
- Sometimes the calmest response is presence without words.

Over time, this simple reset helps your body remember: we can root before we react.

And when we root, our daughters feel it.

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💚 Ready to Root?

Whether you’re showing up solo, with your partner, your kids, or your work team—you are welcome here. My job is to hold space, guide practices, and offer a roadmap for reconnecting to the wisdom already inside you.

I invite you to come curious, come messy, come as you are.

Let’s connect. Let’s get rooted. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE 🌿

Find Your Calm with CARE. If you’re not able to participate directly, I’d be deeply grateful if you’d share CARE with friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit.

🌿 CARE Mantra