Dear Daughter- beauty comes from within

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.” ~unknown.  We learn everything from our mothers, including the fact that true beauty comes from within.

How very true.  When I think about the kind of mom that I want to be, it is simple: just like my own mother.  Someone that I can confide in, that sees my strengths even when I don’t, an encourager, someone to lend an ear when you need to talk… and best of all: a friend.

Today, I am working with Dove to talk about what mothers can do to help their daughters have a positive view of themselves.    I interviewed mothers to find out just how they were teaching their daughters to embrace their inner and outer beauty.
1. How did you create body positivity in your children growing up?

•  Never criticize yourself in front of your children. According to a study by Harvard Medical School, “mothers who over-emphasize their concerns about body weight are significantly more likely to pass on these attitudes to their children. Girls who thought that their mothers wanted them to be thin were two to three times more likely to worry about losing weight.”
• Don’t talk negatively about food, such as “That looks great, but I’d gain five pounds if I ate that!”
• Let her have a voice in making decisions.
  “Whenever possible, let her make constructive choices about her life. Let her choose her own clothes, within appropriate limits. Give her a voice in what after-school activities she participates in and how many she wants to do (as long as it works for the rest of the family, too). Remember that knowing what she cares about most will come from trying some things and finding she doesn’t like them, as well as from finding things she loves to do,” recommends Jane Katch, Ed.D., author of They Don’t Like Me. “Your daughter might need to make a commitment for a short time for an activity (one soccer season) but when that’s over, it’s okay to try something different!”  (via PBSkids)
• Listen to your child.  Make your children feel appreciated, respected and important.

How did you inspire your children to reach personal well-being goals?

• Talk to your child.  Find out their dreams and talk about what they can do to accomplish those dreams.
• Help them discover their dreams.  If they are interested in softball, take them to games, sign them up.  If they want to get straight A’s, help them with their work at night.
• Inspire.  Motivate your children with praise.   Encourage your children & congratulate them for sticking with their dreams.

How do you help your child find their inner beauty?

• Compliment your children often.  ~Liz Rongstad
• Remind your child that they are SMART!  ~ Rebecca Miller
• “I constantly tell my girls that they have beautiful hearts. When we pray I also thank God for their beautiful hearts and kindness towards others so they can hear me. And lastly, when they start to focus on their outward appearance, I like to remind them that Jesus cares about the inside.” ~Kristi Dalnoky
• Remind them that God made them just the way they are. ~Page Biance
• “I make sure that every time her physical beauty is mentioned we bring up her intelligence, humor, kindness. I never want looks to overshadow her other amazing attributes” ~Keely Winchester
• Tell your daughter that she makes you proud to be a woman. ~Holly Wilson
• “I always tell my children that life is about choices. Good or bad they are your choices to make. But be prepared for the consequences or proud moments.” ~Jennifer Johnson

4. What’s the most important piece of advice you have while instilling these values with my daughter?

• Be strong in front of your children.
• Remind them of their greatness.
• Be honest & humble and admit when you’ve made a mistake.
• Be kind and patient with your children.
       

5.  Over the years, through the generations, these values have changed.   
“As the era of the housewife was coming to an end [in the 70’s], the motherly curves was out, and the cinema icon was no more.  Instead, it was replaced by the free-spirited new ideal, of the independent, youthful and naturally skinny woman with a tan and rosy cheeks.
After the cinched waists of the 50s and the super-slim models of the 60s forever changed the way women viewed their bodies, by the 1970s, the thinking-thin phenomenon was in full force.”    I like to think that now women are beginning to embrace their beauty for all that it is… and realize that inner beauty shines through.

6. What is some beauty advice that your mom gave you?
Always eat in moderation, moisturize your skin and remember that happiness comes from the inside and shows on the outside.

I am proud to work on this post with Dove, because real women have always been at the heart of Dove. Strong, independent and confident women who aren’t afraid to be exactly who they are. And Dove has been caring for their skin for 60 years now. It’s true. Pioneered first-of-its-kind in cleansing technology, Dove Bar’s formula has remained unchanged since its launch in 1957, and now along with the bar are even more products, designed with the same amount of care.    Dove truly has come a long way in providing its customers with quality products and instilling confidence in generations of women.

My mom has been using Dove for as long as I remember.  Our favorite Dove products are:   

• Dove White Beauty Bar – (I like the Limited Edition Engraved Bar Pack).  Care for your skin every day with the classic Dove formula and ¼ moisturizing cream that you love in the Dove White Beauty Bar — specially engraved for this limited edition package.
• Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash: Enjoy softer, smoother skin after just one shower with this moisturizing body wash that leaves skin feeling cared for.
• Dove Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Body Wash: You deserve silky hair every single day! Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo offers gentle cleansing and everyday moisture for your hair.
• Dove Advanced Care Original Clean Deodorant: Care for your underarms and help them to recover from shaving irritation while feeling comfortable, fresh and dry every day.

You can find all of these Dove products at Walmart 

Just for fun, I wanted to include this 100 years of fashion in 60 seconds.