#LikeAGirl Tampon Commercial Made Me Cry #LikeAGirl – And That’s Okay!

I've been seeing this commercial floating around the internet for a few days and I haven't clicked on it until now.

I knew in the back of my mind that it would make me cry.  I get emotional about things that I'm passionate about, and my daughter is something that I'm very passionate about.

I remember when I found out that I was pregnant with a girl.  I was so excited because there is just something so special about a girl!

I couldn't wait to hold her and teach her and do all those things that moms and daughters do.  But then a wave of fear washed over me.

I am having a girl.  I'm bringing another woman into this world.  A world where many women are still treated like second class citizens.  A country that has still not seen a female leader, a nation where women still get paid 80 cents to a man's dollar.  And a society where we are more concerned with a girl's cup size than her IQ.

I was going to send her to school where she would lose her passion for math and science by middle school, where she would get picked on and made fun of until she had no self esteem left, and where she would most likely stop doing the things she loved, like soccer, running, playing in the dirt, etc. because she's "a girl."

And then, I'd ask her to go out into the world and try to make it in a career where there would be a boy's club and a giant glass ceiling waiting for her.

I was a little sad.  Especially because advancements for women seem to be coming more slowly than ever.

And I was right to be concerned.  Last year at field day, Madelyn got second place in a running race.  I asked her who won and she told me that a boy in her class did.  She said "I was winning first but I wasn't sure if I should, cause he's a boy."  Imagine my disgust.  She was 6.  She wasn't sure if it was okay for her to beat a boy at a running race.

"Um, yes, baby, it's okay, and encouraged.  Run, girl, run!"

But then I see something like this ad, and it makes me think there is still hope!

Every time I hear someone insult another by using the words "like a girl" I literally get a pain in my side... and it turns out I'm not alone.  The team at Always is taking a stand.

They are trying to turn "like a girl" into a good thing.

I'm not sure if it will work, but I really hope it does.  I would love to go to a tee ball game and not here "Don't hit it like a girl!" Come from one of the coaches, or go to the playground without hearing "you run like a girl!"

Yes, women have come a long way, but if we continue to raise awareness about the little things that are still holding our girls back, we can continue to break those barriers down.

Now, I can tell Madelyn to keep running #likeagirl because she's fast and fierce!  And I can tell her that she can be anything she wants to be when she grows up, and she can do it #likeagirl!