Raising a daughter is all about balancing conflicting statements. We want them to be strong, but not domineering. We encourage them to be assertive, but not bossy. Be independent, but willing to rely on others. We teach them to be feminine, but shy away from anything that might be considered “anti-feminist.” There’s clearly a lot of confusion about what our daughters need. It’s hard being a girl in today’s world, but it’s just as hard to be a girl’s mother.

With all these conflicting statements, it’s easy to lose sight of what our daughters actually need. Sure, we can all agree that we have to build her confidence and self-worth. But did you know your daughter also needs these 5 things?