Every morning this week, Sophie has bolted as soon as I’ve opened her bedroom door after she wakes and made a beeline for my bedroom – specifically, the full-length mirror in my bedroom. Before Monday, her routine was to bolt for the stairs – to get downstairs to her waiting sippy cup of milk, to have her morning computer-playing time, to get started with play.
But since Monday, she’s taken a few minutes each morning to stop and admire herself in the mirror. To watch herself jump around, to make funny faces, to giggle at herself. My favorite part is when she says, “Come here, mama!” and pulls me to her, squishing her face up next to mine so we can make big cheesy grins, stick our tongues out, and perfect the ancient art of mother-daughter goofiness.
Later in the day, when I let her watch her favorite move “Curious George” in my room, she’ll watch the mirror and the movie at the same time. She loves to watch herself imitate George as he jumps, dances, and climbs. It’s pretty hilarious!
She comes by her vanity honestly, *ahem*, but I wonder how long Sophie’s love affair with the mirror will last. I think there comes a point in every girl’s life when she no longer likes what she sees in the mirror. When instead of grinning wildly at her image, she picks it apart.
I wish I could preempt that point in my daughter’s life. I wish I could make it so that she is always awed and entertained by the sight of herself.
I love to look at my little girl. To take in her smile, her long eyelashes, her dimples. It is my prayer that when she looks at her reflection, she can always see what I see when I look at her – breathtaking beauty, unbridled joy, and the glory of God.
What do you want your daughters to see?
Wonderfully spoken. I too pray that for my daughter. I believe that we as parents (especially moms) need to begin with ourselves. We really need to watch how we behave and what we say around our children. I truly believe that poor self esteem can be inherited so to speak. If we love ourselves, our daughters will see that and want to emulate our self confidence 🙂
Oh, Honey, it’s genetic…you can start with Grandma!! And move down through the family palm from there!
UP
I couldn’t have said it any better than you just did.
I need to take a look at myself too. I was sans makeup and hunting for my makeup bag last week one morning. B wanted to know why. I told her that I needed the makeup to look better. She said “Mommy you ARE pretty!” while rolling her eyes like I should know better.
Lovely!
I love this post! It is such a wonderful feeling to see our children admire themselves in the mirror, huh? Plus, we can totally take credit for at least half of their good looks! Wonderfully written!
Love this post. It is hard to be a mom of girls and encourage all things girly and pretty but never placing emphasis on the outside. Walking a thin line over here!!