Most parents have hopeful dreams of raising their children to be independent, healthy and successful adults. However, looking at the current relationship landscape with its pervasive emotional and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and male domination and control, begs the question as to why have so many parents and caregivers have been so unsuccessful in translating their visions into healthy, self affirming realities for our girl children? How much of our girl children’s relationship choices are influenced by the emotional environment created by their parents and caregivers? How do parents and the quality of their relationships impact a young girl’s resultant definitions of womanhood, masculinity, self esteem and intimacy?

How many of these women are trying to make up for the neglect, absence, or abuse of their parents, experienced as children in their current romantic relationships? What can we do to assist our girls, the women of our collective futures, who will be partners, wives and mothers and who again replicate, in subsequent lives, what they, in turn have been taught by experience and example?

Join The FLOW and guests Yasmin Shiraz, author and lecturer of the issues regarding girls and young women, and Ernestine Heldring of Scenarios USA, a nonprofit organization that that uses writing and film making to foster youth leadership, advocacy and self-expression in under-served teens as we explore Preparing Our girls for Healthy Relationships on Heart of the Matter, the Relationships Magazine on Sunday, November 22nd at 6PM.