Yes, It's a Girl! : 9 ways fathers can empower their daughters

You wake up one day and realize you’re the father of a baby girl. The excitement hits first, then the questions follow: “What do I do now? How do I raise her right? Should I learn about ‘girl stuff’?”

You start thinking about everything women face today and wonder what kind of future your daughter will have. It feels daunting, but here’s the truth: you have far more influence than you think.

Fathers shape their daughters’ confidence, curiosity, and courage. Girls are often drawn to their dads, and that bond can define how they see themselves and what they believe they can achieve for the rest of their lives.

My Dad, My First Role Model

My dad was a police officer. I still remember the day I wore his department badge to school, so proud, so certain I was the coolest kid there. That confidence was shattered when a few classmates laughed at me.

But my dad’s quiet support turned that moment into a lesson: never let others define your pride.

I was always curious. I loved tools, projects, and anything that involved fixing or building. My dad never pushed me away from those “boy things.” He handed me a screwdriver, made space for me beside him, and let me learn.

That’s where it began; the mindset that later helped me thrive in a male-dominated industry for more than 30 years.

9 Ways Fathers Can Empower Their Daughters

1. Break the “Girly” Rules

Forget the “girls wear pink, boys wear blue” mindset.

Let her explore. Let her get messy. Let her love what she loves.

I was a Barbie girl and a tomboy. I wore jeans and had short hair and built things with my dad. He never judged; he encouraged me to be myself. That freedom gave me confidence that still drives me today.

2. Teach Her She Doesn’t Need a Prince

We grow up hearing fairy tales about the perfect man who will “take care of us.”

But what if you teach her to take care of herself first?

Show her that independence isn’t selfish, it’s strength. Encourage her to build a life she loves, with or without a partner. My dad’s words still echo in my mind:

“Dale pa’lante” — Go for it. And I did.

3. Let Her Help You

Whether you’re fixing a car, hanging shelves, or mowing the lawn , invite her in.

When I was 13, I wired a phone line into my bedroom by myself. My parents were stunned. That confidence led me, years later, to lead 200 men in a Public Works department, and even hop into heavy machinery to learn firsthand.

That courage? It started in my dad’s garage.

4. Make Time for “Lunch Meetings”

Have daddy–daughter dates. Call them lunch meetings.

Talk about her dreams, listen to her ideas, and share your own. Let her know her voice matters. These “meetings” taught me how to express myself confidently and communicate with respect.

Now, it’s me who invites my dad to lunch, and I let him do most of the talking.

5. Celebrate Confidence, Not Perfection

Praise her curiosity. Celebrate her courage. Remind her that failure is part of growth.

Women often take failure personally; we think “I failed” means “I am a failure.”

Teach her that failing simply means she’s trying, learning, and evolving.

6. Talk About “Boy Stuff”

Help her understand boys, not fear or resent them.

When I was younger, I thought boys had it easier. My dad helped me see that men and women face different challenges, and both matter.

We often say men should understand women, but women also need to understand men. That’s where empathy begins.

7. Be Open About “Girl Stuff”

Let her talk about everything: crushes, body changes, emotions.

When I was 15, I finally opened up to my dad about a bad experience at school. He listened, then said something that changed me: “When have I ever said life is easy?”

It taught me that pain and joy coexist, and both are part of being alive.

8. Share Your Fears Too

Dads, it’s okay to be vulnerable.

Talk about your own fears and failures. It shows your daughter that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s moving forward despite it.

That lesson helped her become strong and compassionate.

9. Just Be There — Always

Show up. Stay curious. Keep cheering her on.

There’s nothing more powerful than a girl who knows her dad believes in her.

Now that my dad is retired, our roles have reversed, I’m the one looking out for him. And when people ask if he’s my father, I see that same proud smile I wore years ago when I wore his badge to school.

A Final Word to Fathers

If you have a daughter, congratulations. You’ve been given an extraordinary gift: the chance to raise a strong, confident, and kind woman.

One who believes in herself because you believed in her first. So go ahead, teach, talk, laugh, fix things together, and build memories.

Or as my dad would say, “Mi’ja, dale pa’lante.”