They Are Watching Us

Nothing will impact your daughters view of herself more than seeing how you treat yourself.

Let her SEE you smile while looking in the mirror.
Let her HEAR you talk positively about how grateful you are for your body.
Let her FEEL the confidence that exists in the home of a mother who knows her worth has nothing to do with her appearance.
They look up to us, so if you haven’t prioritized modeling body love for your daughters it’s time mama, and it has to start with YOU♡

I want Mabel to look in the mirror and love the way her eyes sparkle.

I want Mabel to walk with wonder and curiosity. 

I want Mabel to discover her true purpose on in this life and to embrace childhood and womanhood gracefully and happily.

I want Mabel to be kind to herself first so that she can show kindness to others.

I want Mabel to dream as big as she can and chase after those dreams with confidence, soul, and heart.

I want Mabel to see food as it should be seen; FUEL. 

I want Mabel to try on a swimsuit and embrace and show kindness to what she sees in the reflection.

I want Mabel to know her worth from the inside out and not the opposite way around.

I want Mabel to bask in her talents and abilities, strengths and intelligence.

This all starts with me, as her mama, I have to be that example to her. It starts now. Instilling kindness and self-love into our kids starts from the moment they are born. “We must teach young girls how to love themselves before the world teaches them the opposite.” 

I made the promise that I will never make negative comments about my body, especially in her presence. I focus on complimenting her character twice as much as complimenting her appearance; for every “you are beautiful” there should be a “you are kind & strong” and “you are smart & curious.” More than words, our children watch our actions. If we go to the pool and we cover up our swimsuit and are reluctant to get in the water due to insecurities about our body…our children will notice. If we go and jump in the pool with confidence and play and be present…our children will notice. THEY ARE WATCHING US. If we stand in front of the mirror and pinch our unwanted areas and make faces of disgust, our children will notice! Let’s start expressing gratitude for a healthy body that helps us work, and love, and play in front of our children. And let’s not just speak positively about our bodies, but also SHOW positivity towards our bodies. 

Our children are watching us, modeling the behavior we want them to have as they go through life is key. The old adage “Do as I say and not as I do” just does not fit anymore. They are going to reflect the behavior that they see from day to day as they grow and develop. “You may not know it, but your day-to-day behavior, from the way you drive to the tone of your voice, is shaping the way your child will act. For many children, the most important role models are those who have a regular presence in their lives.” The way I speak about my body and the way I treat my body is shaping how my children will speak about, and treat their own. I want Mabel to see her mama jump into the pool with no hesitation to play with her in the pool, I want her to hear her mama express gratitude for her working muscles and organs for helping her to take care of, and play with her kids. I want Mabel to see that her mama shows kindness towards her body, no matter its current size, and see that what really matters is what is on the inside:

That I am kind, brave, resilient, compassionate, and authentic. I want her to know that, above all, those are the things that matter. That our bodies are just the vessels that carry our souls throughout this life. I want her to know that our bodies are a precious gift. And when society tries to convince her that the size of her thighs or the shape of her nose aren’t good enough, I want her to be RESILIENT and hold on to her mother’s example. I want her to be confident in her knowledge that the size or shape of parts of her body is not of importance, that her worth is unchanging, despite what society is telling her. I want her to remember her mother telling her that her soul is beautiful, that her kindness will change lives, and that her confidence will MOVE MOUNTAINS. Let’s shape a resilient generation by being examples to our own children, starting today. 

xo,

Ash

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