"There is nothing more fragile than one's self esteem. With a harsh word it can be crushed. However, with love, praise and kindness it can be lifted to great heights and sore." ~Mama HenWhen I look at my daughter I see a little life that is so full of potential! I try very hard to be careful with my words and actions so that she will always feel confident and special. The other day Little Chick said something about being pretty and I could not believe that she was already concerned about this, but I knew that I had to lift her up so that she would know how beautiful the world thinks she is. It truly is a very fragile part of being human. It is essential to foster one's self esteem and make sure it remains lifted. I know from my own experiences throughout life that there are areas I may not have felt at my best and it tampered with my self esteem. I want more than anything in this lifetime to fill my daughter up with positive praise and so much love. It is the basis for a strong foundation in this harsh world we are living in. We are all beautiful inside and out! It is just really important to hear it from the ones we love often.
They start so young. She is beautiful - inside and out!
ReplyDeleteSo true! Even a simple 'Good job' brings such a positive reactions. I try my best to say this to my boy whenever he accomplished even the tiniest things. Too often we think that it's just a simple thing that we forget to say encouraging words like this, but it really does make a lot of difference!
ReplyDeleteI work so hard at focusing on my girls inner beauty. Living in Los Angeles I'm especially aware of this. Self-esteem is so important. As they get older they're more and more open to outside pressures and influences so it's important to make sure they have a strong self-esteem foundation before you send them "out there." You're a great mom, Mama Hen!
ReplyDeleteSo, right on, MH! It is so important to teach children to value themselves, to appreciate their inner and outter beauty. I tell my Little Ones that "God made you special" every day and hope that all my efforts to build them up will lay the ground work for self esteen that will not be impacted by what other's think!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment today. Have a great day, My friend!
I so badly want my daughter to know that she is beautiful inside and out no matter what this world might throw at her!! That is something I really wrestled with for many years and it is not fun! Great post!
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful inside and out! It's amazing how quickly kids catch on to certain things, like looking pretty. It's great that you're there to guide her so that her image of herself is a healthy, positive one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today! My birthday is Thursday and my sister will be here for 4 days! Not looking forward to get older but seeing my sister is exciting! LOL
That is so true! I am also trying my best to be careful with my words. People aren't the same and the words which may seem to be normal to us maybe offending to them. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeletesad that they start so young these days. She IS beautiful and with a mother like you, she's probably being told that several times a day and she feels the LOVE. I remember teaching kindergarten and kids would ask me if they looked pretty that day...of course I praise them, give them a hug and send them on their way...never know what that small compliment might have done for their self-esteem :) At least I hope it did something?!
ReplyDeleteYou are the best Mom for doing this for Little Chick! It scares me when it starts so young, but you are right- it's all a result of the harsh world the little ones are growing up in today. Keep filling her up with wonderful words and nothing will bring her down! :)
ReplyDeleteSo very true! She's so lucky to have you. Ironically I am writing a paper about the effects of self esteem on children in my college class. :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Blessings,
Jill
It really is difficult with girls! I noticed it with my adopted sisters; one day they were innocent little girls, and the next they were concerned about what the boys were thinking. Wow. Not sure how I'll get my little one to be confident in her independent self!
ReplyDeleteWow, nicely done. I can't believe some of the things my son says (not necessary about being handsome, but comments friends make at school, etc) and he only just turned 4. Love the quote!
ReplyDeleteI also think that it is more difficult with girls compared to boys. But I truly think that Little Chick has nothing to worry about. She is beautiful not just on the outside, but also in the inside. :)
ReplyDeleteShe has the best messages of love sown into her by what you do with her everyday! You're an amazing mom, Mama Hen. I love that last line, it's so true - "We are all beautiful inside and out! It is just really important to hear it from the ones we love often."
ReplyDeleteSelf esteem is one thing my parents really got right. They always told me I was the best at everything. I think that came from their deep love for their children. That's something that I've been cognizant of as a mother. I think of different ways to tell Julia she's great rather than just saying she's pretty. Our daughters need to know to appreciate all of their characteristics.
ReplyDeleteso true, and there is a balance too -- so those compliments always hold meaning and value ..... that's something that i watch for myself with my girls -- and they do just light up and glow : )
ReplyDeleteGood job Mama Hen! I just heard on the radio last night that there is a new make up line targeting 8 year old. When I was 8 I wasnt concerened about all that but I'm sure todays 8 year olds are. Lil chick is a beauty, inside and out
ReplyDeleteMH great posts. I might piggy back yours over to my own blog as Savannah who is only 5 said on Sunday while we were channel surfing during the superbowl, there was a commercial on wrinkle diminishers. She looked up at me and said, "momma, I have wrinkle right here". I had to enforce that it wasn't a wrinkle. I now have another tool to add to my arsenal sprinkling of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteViola
You're such a good Mom, Mama Hen! The power of life is in the tongue so we have to be careful to bless our children with our words. You are doing a great job with that! Little Chick is beautiful...inside and out. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are such a great mama. Your daughter is going to grow up to be a beautiful confident woman with your love and support!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! I wanted to have a daughter so I could try to give her everything I didn't have in this department. I want to lift her up and teach her that she can do anything!
ReplyDeleteMy sociology instructor once told me that a child's personality develops from 0-6. After 6, it's hard to change much. So...it's so critical to give them the love and self-esteem they need in these formative years...otherwise, it's really hard to retrain what's already been formed. Little Chick is so super lucky to have such a positive light in her world to make her feel so special. You just have this way about you. You make all your bloggy friends feel special too.
ReplyDeleteoh yes! there is no better gift that we can give our children than to help them learn good self-esteem from a biblical lens. (especially our daughters!) good on you mama, for making it such a priority.
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