If there's anything about raising daughters that worries me, it's the thought of what the world may try to do to their self image as they grow into adulthood.
All you have to do is look at magazines and read its articles to get a taste of what's out there. Haven't picked up a magazine recently? Just read this post.
Those are truly the pictures that the author used to describe women who needed to help to "appear thinner." The article still makes me gag.
OR not one for reading? The, turn on the TV. Apparently women are supposed to be fearless and completely devoid of need for men. Until the urge to kiss or other such...*cough cough*... urges come upon them.
Those same fearless women get all weak in the knees. Because then, she needs her man. You know, to fulfill her carnal desire. All the while flaunting an enormous amount of cleavage. Dolly Parton style, of course.
Give me a break.
Yet. this is the world that my girls will be growing up in.
And the thought of sending sweet little ladies-in-training... who, at present, innocently live to twirl around so all the world can marvel at their uniqueness and beauty... into a world who makes it casual sport to dissect women's bodies and harshly criticize it at every angle... Well, it doesn't bring me peace.
BUT... *somewhere angels are singing the Hallelujah chorus*... Yesterday did!
Because something that I've been saying has obviously stuck in the mind of my 6 year old daughter, Charis...
We had to arrive at church early so Charis could prepare for the Christmas play. Last minute instructions. Pep talks. and Stage Make-up were on the Director's To Do List.
It came Charis's turn for the blush and eye shadow. Monica, make-up sponges in hand, positioned herself to paint her face.
"This is going to make you really pretty."
Being that I wasn't there (this was all relayed to Jet after the fact), I can only imagine Charis sitting there for a second and then in all sincerity announcing what Monica told Jet she said:
"My mommy told me that I'm already beautiful. Without make up."
I about cried with joy when Jet told me. Have I ever said that?! Maybe? But being that make-up hasn't become an issue yet, I highly doubt it. But I do remember conversations like this:
Charis: "This dress makes me look pretty."
It came Charis's turn for the blush and eye shadow. Monica, make-up sponges in hand, positioned herself to paint her face.
"This is going to make you really pretty."
Being that I wasn't there (this was all relayed to Jet after the fact), I can only imagine Charis sitting there for a second and then in all sincerity announcing what Monica told Jet she said:
"My mommy told me that I'm already beautiful. Without make up."
I about cried with joy when Jet told me. Have I ever said that?! Maybe? But being that make-up hasn't become an issue yet, I highly doubt it. But I do remember conversations like this:
Charis: "This dress makes me look pretty."
Me: "No, YOU make that dress that good. You're already pretty."
I cannot explain the feeling I have knowing that conversations like that...one liners that sound like they originated from corny pick up lines in movies... obviously stuck with her.
And impacted her enough to encourage her to speak up and correct a perfectly harmless statement. Just so she could clarify that she didn't need anything else to be attractive. ...that she already embodies it.
*insert a large motherly sigh of relief*
I cannot explain the feeling I have knowing that conversations like that...one liners that sound like they originated from corny pick up lines in movies... obviously stuck with her.
And impacted her enough to encourage her to speak up and correct a perfectly harmless statement. Just so she could clarify that she didn't need anything else to be attractive. ...that she already embodies it.
*insert a large motherly sigh of relief*
Moments like this show me that all I'm doing...all the small moments that I fear go unnoticed and unheard by their distractable attention span...are worth their weight in
