First, Natalie (almost three months) and I were playing on the floor. We enjoyed some tummy time, but when she got tired of holding her head up, I rolled her over to her back. It just so happened that she was lined up so that she could see herself easily in the mirror. She was captivated by herself. She would not take her eyes off of that mirror. Now maybe I'm taking what is a simple developmental stage and extrapolating too much from it, but I loved that she loved herself so much. She was not looking in that mirror wishing she had straighter hair or smaller nose. She was looking and loving what she saw.
Julia (age 5) and I went to the park later. She and her brother darted off when we got there, clambering over all of the playground equipment. I sat on a bench and watched their fun from afar. The park was full of children, and these kids don't have trouble making friends. However, after we'd been there for awhile, Julia came walking over to me. I could tell something was wrong, her shoulders were slumped forward and her lip was sticking out. I said "What's wrong?" She said, "That girl over there told me I was ugly."
My first thought was, "What is wrong with that six year old that she would tell some girl she had just met that she is ugly?" (Especially when Julia is just as cute as a button.)
Of course I tried to comfort Julia and make her feel better, but her whole demeanor was already altered. She sat next to me sadly for about 10 minutes (which is a really long time for a kid to sit still at a park). She eventually went back to playing, but she didn't forget what that girl said to her. When we got home, the first thing she told her mom was what the girl had said to her.
I've been thinking about both of these instances ever since. It's made me wonder a couple of things. First, when do we lose that uncomplicated appreciation of our amazing bodies that Natalie showed me by being transfixed by the mirror? Again, maybe I'm trying to pull too much out of it, but I think it's a reminder we all need -- to love ourselves as we are. We are wonderfully made.
Julia's experience made me start thinking about how people can be so mean to each other. There was no reason for that girl to be so blatantly rude. Maybe as adults, we're not quite as blunt, but we can still be pretty vicious. And on the flip side of that, why do we let other people's hurtful words affect us so much?
Is this too serious a post? I'd like your thoughts, if you have any, on the topic. In the meantime, here's my two beautiful nieces.
Julia (age 5) and I went to the park later. She and her brother darted off when we got there, clambering over all of the playground equipment. I sat on a bench and watched their fun from afar. The park was full of children, and these kids don't have trouble making friends. However, after we'd been there for awhile, Julia came walking over to me. I could tell something was wrong, her shoulders were slumped forward and her lip was sticking out. I said "What's wrong?" She said, "That girl over there told me I was ugly."
My first thought was, "What is wrong with that six year old that she would tell some girl she had just met that she is ugly?" (Especially when Julia is just as cute as a button.)
Of course I tried to comfort Julia and make her feel better, but her whole demeanor was already altered. She sat next to me sadly for about 10 minutes (which is a really long time for a kid to sit still at a park). She eventually went back to playing, but she didn't forget what that girl said to her. When we got home, the first thing she told her mom was what the girl had said to her.
I've been thinking about both of these instances ever since. It's made me wonder a couple of things. First, when do we lose that uncomplicated appreciation of our amazing bodies that Natalie showed me by being transfixed by the mirror? Again, maybe I'm trying to pull too much out of it, but I think it's a reminder we all need -- to love ourselves as we are. We are wonderfully made.
Julia's experience made me start thinking about how people can be so mean to each other. There was no reason for that girl to be so blatantly rude. Maybe as adults, we're not quite as blunt, but we can still be pretty vicious. And on the flip side of that, why do we let other people's hurtful words affect us so much?
Is this too serious a post? I'd like your thoughts, if you have any, on the topic. In the meantime, here's my two beautiful nieces.
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| Taken with my phone, so sorry for the quality. |
I LOVE THIS!
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That girl is probably just jealous of Julia. She's the cutest lil thing ever.
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