Why I Tell My Girls They’re Beautiful. Often.
by Mandi on February 16, 2012
source: Mandi Ehman
Last June Lisa Bloom wrote a post for Huffington Post, How to Talk to Little Girls, and she makes the point that so often strangers greet little girls by commenting on how cute or pretty they are, what they’re wearing, etc. instead of trying to get to know them for who they really are.
On the surface, I totally get what she’s saying, and I would love for people to appreciate who my girls really are despite how they look, even when just meeting them for second.
For example, I have one daughter who can wow you with the random factoids stored in her head, one who is incredibly sweet and thoughtful, one who loves life and makes us laugh with her exuberance for all it offers, and the baby, who is pretty funny herself these days and also has a wide repertoire of songs to share.
But I’ve also sensed this undercurrent since that post — in conversations about the “princessification” of our culture, gender-neutrality and so on — that seems to suggest that even we as parents should be careful about telling our children, especially our girls, that they’re beautiful.
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9 Lessons I’ve Learned in 9 Years of Marriage
February 14, 2012
I’m not sure if it’s because we got married so young or just because my ears only heard the negatives, but I heard so many times that marriage is hard, that it takes so much work and that love is a choice that sometimes the pitter-patter of my heart when my husband walks into the [...]
Printable Valentine’s Day Tags {Last-Minute Teacher Gifts!}
February 13, 2012
Looking for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift for a teacher or co-worker? Although I can’t supply the jar or candy for you, I did makes these Valentine’s Day tags that are ready for you to print, hole punch and attach to a little somethin’ to show someone how much they mean to you! I happen [...]
How a “Clean Kitchen Counter” Will Make You a More Peaceful and Happy Mom
February 9, 2012
The following post is from Kat of Inspired To Action: You know that feeling you get when your kitchen counters are nice and clean? If you’re like me, you might need to jog the ole memory banks.So let me remind you… It’s a feeling of peacefulness, like all is right with the world. It’s a [...]
Valentine’s Day Printable Subway Art
February 8, 2012
What words do you think of when you think of Valentine’s Day? This sweet, printable subway art showcases some of my favorites, and it’s an easy way to dress up a shelf or mantle for Valentine’s Day without spending a lot of time or money! I added it to a shelf in my office in [...]
February is Heart Health Month…How Will YOU Improve Your Heart Health?
February 7, 2012
February is Heart Health Month. That hits especially close to home in the days following Sean’s grandfather’s heart attack and surgery to get a pacemaker, as I’m sure you can imagine. Unfortunately, heart problems don’t just run on Sean’s side of the family. My grandfather also had several heart attacks and multiple bypass surgeries (I [...]
Printable “Flying High” Valentines
February 6, 2012
I absolutely love this pink paper airplane, and the minute I saw it, I knew I needed to use it for printable Valentine’s Day cards! Whether you’re writing a note to a friend, child or the love of your life, these bifold cards are the perfect way to tell them how you feel. They come [...]
Giveaway: $50 Tango Gift Card {A Flexible Gift Card!}
February 4, 2012
This giveaway is now closed! The winner is Ashley (hewella1@…)! If you are racking your brain trying to think of the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day — or any occasion — let your sweetheart pick it out using the best gift card yet…the Tango Card! The Tango Card is a versatile gift card where the [...]
A Day in the Life of a Work-at-Home, Homeschooling Mom
February 2, 2012
I’m joining the Day in a Life series from Simple Homeschool to give you a peek into our day! Here’s what Wednesday, 2/1 looked like in our house: Please note that this was a very productive day, both because of my early wakeup and because I was keeping track of what I was getting done [...]
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