It’s time for a special girl in your life to write her first resume. While you might see it as an exciting rite of passage; she feels flustered about how best to promote herself. Ruby Hunt, Director of Human Resources at the Dallas Museum of Art, understands applying to gain experience before having experience can feel daunting. This is why she put together the following list of tips to help girls show off their unique skills. What Every Girl Needs on Her First Resume Volunteer Efforts and Activities  Resumes that stand out include volunteer efforts and activities. Look around the community for volunteer programs. Is there a nonprofit that aligns with your girl’s passions? Many volunteer programs have training, which means she’ll learn new skills in addition to working with others. For example, the Dallas Museum of Art has a Teen Ambassador Program that emphasizes the value of teamwork, collaboration, and communication with peers. It also offers mentorship with DMA staff members. Additionally, participating in the school orchestra, performing in a ballet recital, joining a teen writing group or being part of organizations like Girls Scouts, all of these are valuable on a resume. Involvement shows initiative, passion, and commitment to supporting communities. Highlighting Achievements Make sure your girl is not shy about sharing her achievements. They show what is important to her and sets her apart from other applicants. For recruiters, past achievements can be a predictor of future performance. Examples of early resume achievements include: honor roll, promotion to leadership positions (such as student publication editor or …

This week I attended an advance screening of the new Little Women film. Greta Gerwig wrote and directed this 2019 adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel (warning, if you haven’t read the book or seen one of the previous Little Women films, SPOILERS). What sets Gerwig’s movie apart from others is viewers no longer follow the story of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy in chronological order. Instead we see chapters intertwined in a new outline with flashbacks. This storytelling method works and the acting is spot-on for the entire cast. Powerful Themes in Little Women Understanding: This film beautifully captures Marmee’s complete acceptance of her girls. The March sisters have extremely different personalities. Marmee tailors her parenting so that each always feels secure and loved. Even with old Aunt March offering tsk-tsk judgments on the sidelines, Marmee does not demand her girls ignore their true nature. As a result each girl flourishes. For Marmee, the most important thing is for her girls to have strong morals and character that act as their compass throughout life. Intuition: There have been countless debates on whether or not Amy and Laurie should end up together. This film does not shy away from the magnetic relationship that is Jo and Laurie, but it also does a great job of helping the viewer understand why he comes to love Amy romantically. The script and Florence Pugh, who plays Amy, brought a depth to the role I had not seen before. Speaking of scenes, the SCENE where Jo breaks Laurie’s heart is …

Christmastime is here again, and its music is coming at us from every direction. Whether you love it or hate it, I am confident you’ll find these songs sung by women worthy of your attention. A little rock, a little soul, and some delightful spins on classics, this playlist shakes the bah humbugs from even the most determined holiday grouch. 10 Fabulous Christmas Songs Sung By Women 1) It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Diana Ross Born and raised in Detroit, Diana Ross rose to fame as the lead singer for the Supremes (one of the world’s best-selling girl groups of all time). Ross is the only female artist to have number one singles as a solo artist; as the other half of a duet (Lionel Richie); as a member of a trio; and, as an ensemble member. Watch her perform It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year with a full orchestra. 2) Go Tell It On The Mountain: Dolly Parton Oh Dolly, how we love you. A lot of folks have been talking about the new podcast Dolly Parton’s America from NPR (and rightly so). However, look no further than this video of Dolly performing Go Tell It On The Mountain to grasp the power of her voice. 3) One More Sleep: Leona Lewis Singer, songwriter and actress Leona Lewis recorded this tune in 2013; it peaked at number three on UK charts. With this chart entry, Lewis became the first British female solo artist to reach the top five with eight …

Last month an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association made me stop in my tracks. It revealed one in 16 women said they were raped by force or coercion the first time they had sexual intercourse. As a parent of girls, I almost felt paralyzed as to what action I should take knowing this information. Thankfully I have the good fortune of being friends with Dr. Shanna Garza who specializes in adolescent medicine at the Girls to Women Health and Wellness practice in Dallas. Dr. Garza wrote the following guest post for Girls That Create about this important topic.  Talking Openly With Your Teenage Daughter About Sex Conversations with your teenage daughter about sexuality are built on years of open communication and emotional closeness. It’s important to start these discussions at younger ages and speak frankly about the physical mechanics of sex, use anatomically correct terms for genitals and talk about the physiology of conception. Before puberty starts, I recommend reviewing what changes girls’ bodies and minds will undergo. I’ve used the book The Care and Keeping of You 1 and The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls, from American Girl with my own daughter and routinely recommend it to my patients. The Decision It’s beneficial for teens to consider the decision to have sex way before they put themselves in situations where it might happen. As with many potentially risky behaviors, I recommend teenagers consider if their actions reflect their values and who they want to be. We …

Ever since reading the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I always found the idea that a simple wardrobe could be an entryway to another world fascinating. Imagine my delight when my oldest daughter and I saw a travel show snippet about a fantastical slide whose entry point began in a laundry room dryer. At the bottom of that slide was a world unlike any we’d ever seen. The woman who slid down shared she was at Meow Wolf, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My daughter looked at me and said with 100 percent assurance, “We are SO going there”. This month her wish came true. What Exactly is Meow Wolf? First, you need to understand the Santa Fe location is just one chapter in the Meow Wolf story. Meow Wolf started in 2008 as a small collective of artists who could not find their way into the “traditional” art world. At their very first meeting everyone put two words into a hat. They then picked two random words out and got “Meow Wolf.” The group’s goal was to create immersive, multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of storytelling. Through many ups and downs (well captured in the documentary Meow Wolf: Origin Story), these determined artists brought several brilliant exhibitions to life on their own terms. Then, with the help of longtime Santa Fe resident George R.R. Martin, Meow Wolf took over a vacant former bowling alley, transforming it into a multi-use art complex. House of Eternal Return  Today Meow Wolf Santa Fe …

If you’re a fan of the classic novel Little Women, 2019 is a very good year. Writer-director Greta Gerwig is returning to the big screen with her adaption of the beloved coming-of-age story. We’ll have to wait till December for the film, but a new cookbook lets readers bring the world of Little Women to their tables. Food writer and editor Wini Moranville has put together 50 easy-to-make recipes, all updated for the modern kitchen. The Little Women Cookbook: Tempting Recipes from the March Sisters and Their Friends and Family contains recipes inspired by specific dishes mentioned among the novel’s pages. These include Buckwheat Pancakes, Milk-Toast, Apple Orchard Chicken, Gingerbread, and more. There are also full-color photos, fun and uplifting quotes from Little Women, and anecdotes about Louisa May Alcott (the novel’s author). Harvard Common Press, publisher of the cookbook, was kind enough to share two recipes straight from the pages with Girls That Create readers: A Better Omelet for Marmee Makes 1 omelet (repeat the recipe for as many omelets as you would like to make) The boiled tea was very bitter, the omelet was scorched, and the biscuits speckled with saleratus, but Mrs. March received her repast with thanks and laughed heartily over it after Jo was gone. One morning in June, bored after a few long days of too much time on their hands, Meg and Jo make breakfast for their mother. Sadly, things don’t go quite as they might have hoped for in the kitchen. Follow this foolproof recipe, however, and you’ll …

It was serendipitous a review copy of Sarah Centrella’s book #futureboards: Learn How to Create a Vision Board to Get Exactly the Life You Want came to my mailbox. A few days earlier I had been blown away by the exhibit “Dior: From Paris to the World” at the Dallas Museum of Art. From a cathedral-like room packed with remarkable designs to areas filled with the works of Dior himself, imagination ran abundant throughout the exhibit. Several pieces in particular caught my eye…the mood boards by current Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Mood boards (aka vision boards) let designers establish a theme for their lines with visual details and inspirations. In the same mindset, Centrella asks readers of her book to take the concept further with what she dubs #futureboards. She defines them as a physical board (proudly displayed) that has beautiful photographs intentionally chosen to visually show the creator’s future dream life. #futureboards What I appreciate most about Centrella’s concept is #futureboards focus on experiences and not things. Experiences matter because, as Centrella writes, “they teach you to focus on what brings you happiness and joy. When you are building your life around experiences, you are training your mind to seek happiness and receive joy. It’s one of the fastest ways for you to tap into a sensation of happiness at any given moment, by thinking of an experience you want to live. When you feel that happiness in your mind, you will soon manifest it in real life.” The book is divided into three parts: Exercises …

It’s back-to-school shopping time, which means things could be said in the dressing room that will make your blood run cold. No, not expletive language, but your daughter harshly criticizing her body. Witnessing a child unleash physical self-deprecation will break any parent’s heart. How can you help your girl have a healthy body image?  It’s no secret consistently putting down one’s appearance harms social, physical, and emotional growth. What’s a caregiver to do in a world filled to the brim with doctored “perfect” images? For starters, understand that self-esteem and body image are two separate things. Self-esteem is how we think and feel about ourselves as a total package. Body image is how we think and feel about our body; it’s just one piece of self-esteem. Five Steps: How to Help Your Girl Have a Healthy Body Image 1. Know that how you personally view your body plays a role in how children see theirs Do you stand in front of the mirror and nitpick everything you don’t like about your body? Your child will think she should do the same…that this behavior is part of growing up. Do not body bash yourself or make negative statements about the weight and body size of others (including celebrities). In addition, tell your daughter what you love most about your body. Express gratitude for the things it makes possible. 2. Have a blunt talk about media’s depiction of girls and women, how advertising works, and the truth about altered images A “perfect” body does not exist. Neither do magical products …

10 powerful quotes from women in the arts are a great antidote to a creative rut. Here is a collection of inspiring words by several women artists. Consider it a thought-provoking pep talk. Trust me; these women know what they’re talking about, and their wisdom deserves to be shared! 10 Powerful Quotes From Women in Arts  “I love creation more than life, and I must express myself before disappearing.” ~Sonia Delaunay, multi-disciplinary abstract artist “The world is full of fictional characters looking for their stories.” ~Diane Arbus, photographer “Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with the ax of art.” ~Yayoi Kusama, contemporary artist “The only thing I have learned is to find strength in yourself. No one can help you, no one can do anything for you, you have to do the work yourself.” ~Marina Abramovic, performance artist “Dreamers are those who have achieved in love and life, because it is a dream that got them there.” ~Cindy Sherman, artist photographic self-portraits “I try every time for a project to have a natural ending. As much as I can, I try to follow the story and to give it its own end.” ~Sophie Calle, writer, photographer, installation artist “That’s what I’m interested in: the space in between, the moment of imagining what is possible and yet not knowing what that is.” ~Julie Mehretu, contemporary visual artist “Inhale possibility, exhale creativity.” ~Laura Jaworski, author and artist “We have to laugh. Because laughter, we already know, is the first evidence of freedom.” ~Rosario …

It inevitably comes, the school project where your child must interview someone. Whether for career day, a research paper or family genealogy project, asking questions can make youngsters feel queasy. However, interviewing others is a skill that lasts well beyond the school-age years. Here are five tips to help your girl interview someone for their life story. 1) Emphasize the importance of research  Knowing background information about a person or topic is the best way to create questions. It also shows respect towards the person being interviewed (and their time) and will make the interviewer feel more confident. Talk with your child about how they’re preparing for the conversation. 2) Discuss what it means to listen, to truly listen to someone There are many adults in the world who struggle with this, even though listening comes up again and again as one of the most important skills for leaders. Tell your kiddo body language is important and that they need to both face forward and make eye contact with the person they’re interviewing. Nonverbal feedback, like nodding, also goes a long way. Recommend your girl not interrupt someone who is sharing a story or thought, even if what they’re saying doesn’t seem relevant. It could be a stepping stone to something valuable later in the interview. 3) Suggest open-ended questions and paying attention to details What was that like? How did it make you feel? What did you learn from that? These are open-ended questions, which makes for good dialogue. If your kiddo is going …