We love hearing from proud moms and bloggers like Becky Beaupre Gillespie. She posted recently at The New Perfect to share the news about her daughter joining the Girls Editorial Board of New Moon Girls. Becky, thanks for sharing B’s great news with the world.

Over the (New) Moon: Girl Power and My Daughter’s Great News

My daughter got her first journalism job this week. Which means, at just 9 years old, she’s a fourth-generation member of the family profession. I didn’t start stringing for my local weekly until I was 15. So, I need to warn you: I’m going to be an insufferably braggy mom here for a minute.

But bear with me: This is really a post about girl power and a truly inspiring social network and magazine called New Moon Girls. I swear that my main point isn’t to tell you that B is awesome. That said, she is — and I feel compelled to say it because she was born with a host of challenges that sometimes make life difficult. Things have been particularly tough for her the past few months, though I’ll refrain from saying more since it’s her story to tell, not mine. But suffice it to say that we’ve been struggling — really struggling some days — to help her remember how many beautiful gifts she has to share.

B is overflowing with spirit and conviction. She’s an animal rights activist, a vegetarian, an environmentalist and a kid who wants to change the world. She’s baffled by conformity (“Why doesn’t everyone just want to be themselves?”), she isn’t afraid to speak up (even though this sometimes gets her into trouble), and she can spot inner beauty a mile away. Her aunt and uncle gave her a giant painted sign for Christmas that reads:

“BE BOLD – BE THANKFUL – BE QUIET – BE ORIGINAL – BE SPONTANEOUS – BE PUNCTUAL – BE A STAR – BE YOUNG – BE LOVING – BE CRAZY – BE LOUD – BE RANDOM – BE ADORABLE – BE UNIQUE – BE DARING – BE OBNOXIOUS – BE YOURSELF.”

And it was perfect because that’s B’s life philosophy in a nutshell.

Last fall, she discovered New Moon Girls, a safe, ad-free magazine and online social network aimed at girls age 8 and up. Their mission: “To help girls … discover their unique voices and express them in the world.” Instead of articles about fashion, celebrity and being thin enough, B found girls discussing the things she cared about: dreams and passions, favorite books, real beauty, plans to change the world. She could share her original short stories and poetry, advocate for animal rights, chat with other girls — all in a moderated community filled with positive messages designed to boost self-esteem. (That’s the part that clinched it for me, though, honestly, they probably had me at “unique.”)

But here’s the best part: The magazine and website are created in part by other girls — all members of an international Girls Editorial Board that collaborates with adult staff to choose and create content.

So, in December, when B saw that New Moon was accepting applications for spots on this board, she knew right away that she wanted a shot. The commitment was big: She’d have to be available five hours a week and attend two online editorial board meetings a month. She’d have assignments, deadlines and meetings that she’d have to remember. She’d be expected to have opinions, speak up, and consider other ideas with respect.

That’s a lot for a 9 year old, and I worried at first about the time commitment. But what an amazing experience: to make a difference while learning important lessons about responsibility, leadership, deadlines, commitment and group debate. And how wonderful to learn these things while doing something she truly loves.

Some things are just worth it, no matter what.

Anyway, long story short: She worked hard on her application, and then patiently (OK, not always patiently) waited to hear. This week, the email arrived. B has been chosen to join the board, which includes 30 other girls from the United States, Canada and the U.K. She and I were both assigned mentors to guide us through the first three months, and instructed to keep her selection a secret until it was formally announced on the site on Saturday.

The smile on B’s face when she saw this email is something I’ll never forget. The boost to her self-esteem was palpable: We could hear it in her voice and see it in the way she carried herself. The smile lasted all day and stretched the entire width of her face.

That’s when my gratitude really kicked in. I’d been wishing for an opportunity exactly like this: A place where B could blossom by being exactly who she is — a place where being a little different would be valued as an advantage instead of viewed as something to overcome.

And this, actually, is my real point. I love that this community exists, and I want the families of other girls to know about it. I love that there’s an alternative to the constant barrage of messages that steer so many girls away from their real dreams. I love that New Moon wants to lift girls up and show them that their voices matter.

It’s what B, and all girls — all children — deserve.

Becky Beaupre Gillespie is co-author of the new book Good Enough Is the New Perfectwith Hollee Schwartz Temple.