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By Daniella Gray
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Two parents from the Florida Gulf Coast are going viral for how they're raising a confident toddler.
Molly, 31, (@itsmollymellon) and Drew Mellon, 32, parents to their 2-year-old Birdie, shared a post on TikTok of the everyday strategies they use to build up their daughter's self-esteem.
"We just want her to feel safe, loved and self-assured as she figures out who she is," Molly told Newsweek. "In today's world, especially as a little girl, it's so important to us that she knows her voice matters."
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One technique the couple uses includes talking positively about Birdie while she's in earshot.
Molly shared two examples in her post: "Did I tell you Birdie helped someone who fell down at the park? She's so compassionate. Don't you just love how Birdie always helps to feed the dog?"
The results, Molly said, are immediate. "She beams! Her whole face lights up, and she'll sometimes jump into the conversation, adding a proud little, 'Yeah mama, I did it!' and clapping her hands."
Drew and Molly are also intentional about giving their toddler independence.
Instead of jumping in to fix every problem, they encourage her to "give it another try first"—whether it's opening something or putting on clothes.
They also offer her small choices, like picking between two outfits, two snacks or two activities. "I think it's shown her that we value her opinion and her thoughts matter to us," Molly wrote.
For Molly, one of the most important techniques is being deliberate with compliments.
"We don't want to praise her for perfection or appearances, but for how she tackles challenges, how she treats people, how she moves through the world," she explained. "It's made me more thoughtful, too. I've had to rewire my own instincts and really shift my perspective on what's worth praising."
Molly's post has over half a million views and over 137,000 likes. Dozens of TikTok users praised the parents' techniques.
"My parents always let me choose and I swear it was such a huge part of how I'm a confident, successful adult," one user wrote.
"As someone with a bad childhood filled with trauma and mean words, this is exactly how everyone should be treated," added another.
Ultimately, Molly and Drew hope their efforts now will give Birdie a strong foundation as she grows up.
"We hope she has a deep-down, unshakable belief that she's capable and loved," Molly said. "With that kind of foundation, we hope she uses her confidence to lift others up. I want her to be someone who's gentle with people and encourages them the way we've tried to encourage her. I hope she makes people feel seen."
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