At Least You're Pretty

What comes to mind when you see that blog post title?  I bet you thought of a girl.  I bet you thought of someone who is, by our cultural standards, "beautiful".  

I heard this quote as my daughter watched a Disney program that she loves.  Now, it was said as a joke, but it got me thinking.  My 9 year old daughter hears that phrase....what does she think?  Why is it important to be pretty?

The debate over the focus on looks is nothing new in our country.  Sex sells and we are constantly judged by our appearance.  We are all guilty of it, some more than others.  The real task at hand is to be aware of it and decide how you will address the issue with your children (particularly girls, but boys, too). 

My daughter has always been wise beyond her years; she's head smart and quick witted.  She's starting to ask more questions in regards to religion, race, and related topics.  It's just a matter of time before she starts delving deeper into other topics.  

I tell my daughter how pretty she is everyday.  I'd like to think it's partially biased, but based on a combination of smarts, dedication, aggressiveness in her sports, kindness, and ultimately, a combination of all those traits contributing to a unique inner beauty.  

When we are out and about, my daughter is inquisitive (not in a hurtful way) if she sees someone who is short, tall, silly, or stands out from the crowd.  I am always quick to explain their situation (if necessary), and I am quick to point out the courage and resulting beauty that comes from people that do stand out from others. Everyone has an inner beauty in their own way.

Now, when I heard that line on the show, it wasn't like I was in a state of shock and awe, jumping from my seat to lecture my daughter on the implications of that sound bite.   But it was a good reminder to keeping doing what I'm doing with her, setting a good example about what should be the balance of all beauty in this world.  

Moving forward, I'm not going to be strict with the censoring of shows and magazines.  I don't believe in an extreme sheltered environment.  But you can bet she is going to know what editing techniques are and Photoshop is!

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