I can't believe I haven't written in a couple of months. My life has been crazy, you know just quitting my business and doing my business full time, getting an antique booth, having a garden, setting up every Friday at the Farmers Market, completing 15-20 custom painted signs every week and taking care of a house and two little girls...plus my 32 year old baby (my husband). So with our schedule there just hasn't been much time to sit down for 5 minutes, much less write a blog. BUT something happened the other day and I HAVE to write about this as it really touched my heart on many levels.
I had the honor to judge two rodeo queen contest this past week. As I was interviewing these cute little cowgirls I always end my interview with, "Okay this is your time to shine, tell me why I should choose you to be rodeo princess, what makes you the best candidate?" It was at this moment I questioned, what are we teaching our children? What has society as a whole taught our little girls?
I interviewed three princesses (all under the age of 10) and they weren't able to tell me one good thing about themselves. They shrugged their shoulders, one little girl had tears in her eyes. I sat there, almost had tears in my eyes....thinking WOW. I tried to help them by telling them how pretty they were and how they had a love for horses etc. What made them so nervous that they couldn't come up with one positive trait about themselves?
As I was driving home from judging I couldn't help but wonder, "What will my 5 year old beautiful daughter say when I ask her?" As I got home I sat outside with my cup of coffee and miss Riley comes outside and sits down beside me, I look at her and tell her, "You are so beautiful." She smiles and says, "I know mom you tell me that all the time." I look at her little freckles, her button nose, her dark brown eyes, blondish long hair and looked her right in the eyes and said to her, "I really mean it Riley, you are so beautiful, don't you ever forget that." I then ask her the dreaded question (what have I been teaching her?) "Riley can you tell me three great things about yourself?" She sits there for a short minute and says, "I am beautiful, I am cute and I am funny. Mommy there are three good things about you too. You are nice, sweet...well most of the time and you are a hard worker." I had a slight smile on my face and said, "Thank you baby."
I just wanted to share this as we are so busy with our day to day life, please remember to tell your kids HOW and WHAT makes them unique and special. Which brings me to my soap box of Hollywood, it is essential for our little girls and boys too but especially little girls to know what actual BEAUTY is. Not only is beauty on the outside it is on the inside too. Attitude is true beauty to me, I love it when a woman is confident. Confidence is contagious and is a beautiful thing....have confidence and teach confidence to your children. Yes I know there is a fine line between being cocky and confident....find the line. I want my girls to capitalize on their talents and know they are beautiful on the inside and outside.
I am going to start complimenting my kids everyday....How about you? How do you compliment, how do you teach confidence? Leave me a comment :)
My beautiful Riley Mae
