Here is a blog I did as a guest blogger for a recent mommy blog.  Feel free to share your comments.

Confessions of a newbie blogger by Stacey Roberts-Ohr, Executive Director, Expanding Your Horizons Network and guest blogger

Confession part one… this is my first experience as a guest blogger or as any blogger for that matter.

Confession two…I’m a childfree by choice chick.   My husband and I never really wanted kids. Since we don’t have them,  I have never experienced the joys and tribulations of motherhood.  I don’t know if this makes me any less qualified to contribute charming witty banter to a mommy blog. You be the judge.

What possibly can a happy, childfree by choice, 44 year old woman possibly contribute to a mommy blog? Well, I actually got some good advice, on how to raise a confident and happy teen daughter who one day might want to change the world- I’ve been asked to share this advice with you today as the Director of a non- profit that works with teenage girls to motivate them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

I work at The Expanding Your Horizons Network,  motivating young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  Fact… girls tend to lose interest in science and math during middle school.  During these turbulent years, girls often subconsciously feel that “pretty” is better than being smart. Smart girls don’t have boyfriends and they don’t get asked to school dances or to parties.  Yes, that’s the message many girls internalize, even if it’s not the true.

Enter The Expanding Your Horizons Network. Through our one-day hands-on math and science conferences, we present a safe and fun environment where girls can become innovative and creative thinkers, ready to solve 21^st century challenges.  Middle school girls gather at a local university and meet with professional women engineers, computer scientists, and even female astronauts. They listen to their stories, learn about their career paths, and glean some cool details about their personal lives, (fact: some astronauts and physicists sport stylish tattoos, skydive and some are even moms themselves)  Then the girls dive in and participate in an interactive hands-on activity. They might build lego robots and then participate in a robot demolition derby, or  they will extract and then bottle their own DNA, whatever the activity, these women are amazing role models and the girls have a blast.

Sometimes, I wish I was one of the smart scientists I interact with in my job. I wish I was designing buildings that are impenetrable to terrorists, or inventing a new medical device to help improve the lives of the disabled, I wish I could develop a new mathematical formula that would do something cool, And, if I had a teenage daughter, I would want her to pursue a STEM focused career and I would do everything in my power to help her understand that these careers pay well and are within their reach.

If I did have the darling teenager, that you have, (let’s call her Clementine– my secret, cool girl’s name) here are a couple of smart, subtle things I would do to influence her choice of career.

• First, I would send her to the nearest EYH conference. They cost as little as $10 and they are located worldwide.  Visit the EYH website at www.expandingyourhorizons.org.to find one near you.
• Secondly, I would introduce Clementine to STEM role models every chance I got.  I would help her interact and meet female STEM professionals both in social and professional environments. I would encourage Clementine to spend a few days shadowing a successful female scientist at her place of employment.  I would also encourage Clementine to participate in her school science fair and sign up to attend a rad” summer sleepover science program where the kids would call her “Clem.”

Okay, it’s true that Clementine only lives in my head, but if I did have a daughter like her, I would do everything in my power to convince her that it’s Okay to be smart, and that math and science careers are a cool career option.

Do you have someone like Clementine living in your house?  What have you done to encourage her interest in STEM?   I would really like to know. Send me an email at Stacey@expandingyourhorizons.org.

Check out more about the Expanding Your Horizons Network at www.expandingyourhorizons .org.  And, learn more about our recent honor.  We recently won the 2010 Public Service Award of the year from the National Science Board.