You know how you have certain images from your childhood that are sort of stuck with you? You may remember the pattern of the Formica in your childhood kitchen, or the look of your bedroom. You may remember a certain day, or a wonderful event. I have always had the memory of "the assembly".

It was the first day of school, 1975. I was just starting junior high, and sat waiting for the opening day assembly to begin. I had my friends around me, and we were wearing our new clothes we had bought that summer. I remember looking up across the gym to the eighth grade section, and seeing my sister. She was sitting alone, trying to look like it didn't bother her.

Man, those years can be tough. One day, you are riding high and surrounded by friends. The next day, you are a social pariah - for no other reason than that you are too smart, or too quiet, or too uninterested in boys. Whatever the reason, my sister had entered the "tough years," and as her best friend, it just about broke my heart to see my big sister sitting there alone that day. I still remember the image. Heck, I remember the green checked shirt she wore. We had bought it together, full of excitement about the coming year.

My oldest child is just about to enter the "dark years," years when girls can be incredibly cruel to each other. So, hoping against hope that we can give our daughters the support system they need, four of my friends and I formed the "Girl Power" Club. Once a month, we get together with our girls and do something of together, moms and daughters. Last month we watched "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and talked about what lessons the movie taught. One month we played games together. In the end, the goal is to give our girls a group - a group that will enter middle school together next year.

We also want to show them that parents can hang out, have fun, and spend time with their daughters.

We even have made a "pledge". It goes:

I am a girl!

I have the right, the power and the ability, to create a beautiful, joyful, and, peaceful world for myself and others!

I have a body, but I am not my body!

I have a face, but I am not my face!

I am the most important thing in the world to me!

I try new things, and know it is okay to make a mistake!

I can be an example of how to treat others with kindness!

I can give back to my world!

I can give my best and do my best!

I am it!

I don't know. Can we spare our kids all the pain and tough times that are ahead? Nope. Can we make sure they never get hurt, or suffer the slings and arrows of growing up with other girls. Certainly not. But, I would like to think that we can give these girls a place to turn to, and some friends to look after them ... and sit with them at assemblies.

So in this holiday season, here is my wish for all of you girls out there. Find a way to make yourselves strong. Unite with others, and find your own support system to bolster you as you negotiate the rocky road ahead. Find your own "Girl Power" Club. And invite your moms. You may be surprised to find out that they can actually be kind of fun sometimes.

In the end, we all survive the teenage years. My sister did just fine. She is cool, popular, and very busy - heck, she makes me envious. Those tough teenage years seem a long, long time ago.

But I can still remember the green checked shirt she wore, the look on her face. I bet she can, too.

A friend that day would have made all the difference in the world.

Lauri Hennessey has written her award-winning "Children and More" for the West Seattle Herald for seven years. She runs her own public relations business, and is the mother of three, as well as a member of a Girl Power Club. You can reach her at Lauri@hennesseypr.com.