As the weather heats up, everyone is ready to cool off at a pool or a beach in their favorite swimwear. For many girls and women shopping for a swimwear can be a daunting task. Young mom, Brittney Johnson and her daughter turned swimsuit shopping into a body positive lesson for us all.
“And then I snapped this one. See that sweet baby girl in the corner? With half a dress on and one of the bikini tops, I had picked out? I stopped for a second to see what she would say and when she turned to the mirror, she said “Wow I just love cheetah print! I think I look beautiful! Do you think I look beautiful too?!”..when it hit me that she only says what she hears. What she sees. I tell her that she is beautiful every single day. She is kind walking through the mall because I tell her she is kind everywhere else. She is polite at the order counter because she hears me when I’m polite to strangers everywhere. She gives compliments to people she doesn’t know because she loves how it feels when she hears them… And when we are in a dressing room, with swimsuits of all God forsaken things, there is a split moment when I have the power to say “wow I have really gotten fat this year” OR “wow I love this coral color on me!” And those are the words burned into my daughter’s brain.
When it comes to manners, be an example.
When it comes to kindness, be an example.
And when it comes to body image, be an example. I am not a size zero. I never will be. I have big thighs and a huge rump and for some reason the middle of my body gets more tan than the rest? But this body made a whole other body. I am strong. I am able. And I am happy. I don’t have to be beautiful like you, because I am beautiful like me. And as my daughter gets older, and she faces judgement and criticism, I will always remind her that the girls who look the prettiest in a two piece, or a body suit, or a freaking Snuggie, are the ones who are happy. Because that’s ALL that matters. And I want her to look at herself every single day and say “Oh wow! I think I look beautiful!” because EVERY girl deserves to feel that.”
What an amazing message from such a young girl. Let’s all encourage our daughters to be respectful & love their bodies.
Written by Raven Davis
Source: Allure
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