Own Your Beauty: When Your Girl Looks Like You

I don't have children, but I'm still touched by this<3

I look at my 4mo and say things to myself like, "God I hope she gets Daddy's hair, or Daddy's olive complexion..." And yet I am joyous that there's me in there. I hadn't realized that there's reason to celebrate just how much of me there is. I can do it right this time around and revel in what's there instead of bemoan what isn't. Seeing myself in her has helped me to own my beauty.

Jory Des Jardins
writes on business and career topics at BlogHer, and on her personal blog From Here to Autonomy ( http://www.jorydesjardins.com )

What a beautiful post here! I know that I have a hard time when people tell me my daughter looks like me. I always want to say, No, she's PRETTY! But that definitely keeps me from making many self-deprecating comments about myself, especially if she's around. I never want her to think she's not beautiful, because she really is!

I'm all choked up now. I get told all the time that my daughter looks just like me. When I think of the horrible things I tell myself, I can't imagine ever saying those things about her.
I do see myself in her though. Definitely it's the best of me, but even if there is some of what I don't like about myself in her...she's beautiful.

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My daughter looks so much like me - it's funny and strange and cute and disturbing all at the same time. She saw a picture of me as a little girl and she was convinced it was her, but she just couldn't remember ever having those clothes!

I sometimes look at her in all her beauty and wonder how that could ever look anything like me (with all my flaws and imperfections). But she thinks I'm beautiful so that's good enough for me. My husband and I focus on health and activities rather than looks and weight but man, I'd still love to have my daughter's style and be able to get away with wearing pink tights and a headband!

I have stopped making negative comments about myself when any of my children are in ear shot. It's just a good idea.

Contributing Editor Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )) blogs at Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ). She is a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

I have three girls and the most convicting thing has been to really consider how I evaluate myself because what I think of me will speak much louder than what I tell them to think of themselves! I want them to be free.

I've seen this sentiment from bloggers I know.
And, dude, you are totally beautiful in the photo! Maybe not your picture of yourself, but still lovely. ;-)

SO right!! When I had my first daughter I started making a huge effort to compliment myself in front of her. I'd say things like, "Mommy has beautiful, creamy skin" b/c I've always hated the fact that I'm so pale. 7 1/2 years later I LIKE my skin color! AND I compliment myself when my daughters are not around. My husband often asks me, "Are you rockin' those jeans today?" And I most often answer, "Yes!" even if I'm not. I found my oldest standing in front of the mirror at 3 years old, stark naked, rubbing her round belly. She saw me and declared, "I bootiful!" Why do we wave to lose that?
Kim

This is an interesting topic. One thing that always concerned me about the makeover show - cant remember the name but the one where people undergo major cosmetic surgery- is what happens when you have kids that look just like you?

Can you really expect them to believe you when you tell them they're beautiful?

Own your beauty - I love it.

http://www.readinghaspurpose.com

Ah. Yes. All of it. Yes.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Sarah can also be found at Sarah and the Goon Squad ( http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/ ) and Draft Day Suit ( http://draftdaysuit.com/ ).

I love this post. I love it. I am so hard on my appearance but now that I see my own eyes looking back at me, it's gotten harder to find fault in them.

I have two sons, and they have various features of mine, including ones I have been self conscious about. But when you see smaller, cuter versions of yourself, it makes you realize your own beauty.

You are your daughter's best influence, so what you're doing is great.

Grace Hwang Lynch blogs about changing her shopaholic ways at A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ( http://ayearalmostwithoutshopping.blogspot.com/ ) and at Hapapama ( http://hapamama.com/ )