Being A Good Example

This morning I stood in front of the mirror checking out the extra pounds that I have packed on during these summer months. I definitely am a little rounder thanks to a combination of fertility drugs and a lack of self control. As I was criticizing myself and my body out loud I looked down to see Lillian holding up her little shirt and looking at her tummy. I have never felt so bad about myself as a Mother as I did in that one moment. In a split second I realized that I am defining beauty for her, and this morning I defined it as skinny. I immediately bent down to Lillian's level, pulled her shirt down, took her sweet beautiful face in my hands and told her that she was gorgeous!

Shaun and I are always reminding each other that how we act and what we say is setting a precedent for how we want and expect Lillian to conduct herself as she grows up. And today I fell short as a parent. Believe me when I say that I am ashamed and embarrassed to even be posting this on my blog, but I think that it can serve as an important reminder to parents that our children are constantly watching us. Lillian will have her own insecurities one day; we all do. But when she stands in front of a mirror I do not want her to see my insecurities staring back at her.