I slather on anti wrinkle cream, I carry around pimple cream, I shave my arms, I obsess about my waist-line, I shave my toes and my knuckles, I have offered to pay my sister to shop FOR me (she thinks I am kidding.) I think it is good to look nice and feel good about yourself, but hey kids, I'm gettin' older and it's gettin' harder.
But there are some flaws I've decided to just embrace. Stretch marks are like war wounds, I earned 'em and they make me feel tough. Gray hair? Bring it on. I'll be a silver fox some day. And uh saggy, um you know,....... oh who am I kidding, still praying for miracle lifting cream. Crow's feet? sign of a good sense of humor, and a little tubbiness in the cheeks makes your smile look sincere.
I hope Avery looks at me and learns to see real beauty, the kind that doesn't come in a jar, or procedure. Avery of course is obsessed with princesses, and would love to delve into the Bratz world, but I tell her every chance I get that Bratz are ugly. tons of make-up, fabulous highlights, bare midriffs...oh and did you notice:
Where are their noses? Seriously? Not only do I need to tuck my neck, implant silicone and suck out fat, I gotta get my nose REMOVED to be beautiful? THAT is vanity at its worst. I tell Avery they're ugly because they have no disfigurements, everything is symetrical, no slight imperfections that make us interesting, they look like perfect......... aliens.
So while I'll to continue to shop, slather, paint, pluck and shave, I'm keeping my nose....and my battle scars. And hopefully one day when Avery is looking in the mirror for the 10th time she'll stop fluffing, put down her brush and be glad for what she sees. Herself. Flaws and all.
25 comments:
What a great post - I couldn't agree more. I do feel like a hypocrite sometimes, though, because I worry about how I look, but then I try to encourage my daughter to go beyond the surface... well, like you said, it's important to take care of ourselves, but it's more important to love ourselves for who we are, imperfections and all.
BRATZ - yuck! Always disliked them - completely overboard, and they are totally obsessed with shopping, clothes, and make-up... come on - is that what we really want to teach our daughters? Barbie is not much better, but at least she has aspirations beyond the mall. :-)
This is what I mean--you just have a way of putting things that make it sooo interesting (and funny!) to read. I agree with you 100% on all of the flaws. I think one of my flaws, though, is that I'm not VAIN enough. My poor husband is probably wondering when I'm going to start looking in the mirror more. We just barely got a full length mirror--but it's bad because it distorts making me look taller and skinnier. I really like this mirror. But then I walk in the bathroom and see what I REALLY look like from the side :)
Anyway, I've always thought you're beautiful--I'm always amazed that you look(ed) so good all the time and stayed so thin with your 4 children. You're amazing. Maybe when we live next door to each other :) you can teach me to do my hair cute and, you know, exercise and stuff.
BTW-did your husband tell you how much he spent on golfing yesterday? :) I was so proud of him...although, it is golf.
I just love how you put all of questionable doubt about ourselves into perspective. I really hope that Hadley and Emmy are able to see themselves that was as well when they get to be our age. And I agree with you on Bratz. My girls will never play with them!
AMEN!! I am with you. I remember my friends making fun of me at Taco Bell one night because they caught me looking in the mirror in line. But here is where I differ: I WILL some day have those flabby things put back into their correct place. I'm all for looking older, tired of being asked if I'm 22, but I don't really want to be one of those grandmas who you look at and wonder where her top begins and ends.
Maggs, I love you!
I love reading your stuff! So funny! I feel like some of the others: I worry about how I look and then try to tell my girls that the physical stuff is NOT important. Hmmm, I wonder what kind of example I'm setting for them? I need to be a little more careful of how I talk around them.
Haven
please please please start a blog so I can see yer life and laugh at your wit and basically communicate with you agian. please please.
I've now posted some pics that will take you home:)
Bravo Maggie, Bravo! I completely and totaly agree! I love my flaws. Well love is a strong words, so I will use your word, Embrace my flaws. I actually have a favorite scar and mole/feckle. I told Scott almost exactly what you said about stretch marks. They show what I was willing to do for family! Thanks Mags for your words of wisdom!
For what it's worth, I think you are practically perfect! :) And, I can't stand Bratz dolls, either. They are permanently banned from our house!
Maggie- you're awesome! I love this! It seems like the toy companies would actually figure out that they could be a lot more successful creating toys moms like!!
AMEN!!! (That;s all I have to say about that...)
I had no idea I needed to get my nose removed! :o)
My kids would agree as I do. Bratz are strange alien types, of course they are boys. They also seem to have fits of nausea as we pass the "girl aisle" at the toy store. It's so painful.
I'm one of the founders of the Wasatch Mental Health Body hair is beautiful club. Quit all the needless shaving and join up, saves the money and the earth. :)
There really is no club but I had a co-worker that I joked around with about it. We could start one though if you'd like. :) I hate shaving!
Well said, well said!! And BTW you have an amazing talent of expressing your thoughts and writing with such great humor!! I could read your posts for hours!! You always have a great way of putting things in perspective, get me thinking, laughing, and feeling a bit better about life after I read your blog...in short you are incredible! I wish we were moving to Alaska!
You know how to walk the line. I hope I can teach my girls this same principle.
Love this post, which hints at our little modesty discussion on bookworms. Your wit and good sense show your true colors, and I must say those colors are most beautiful!
P.S. I think we should start a boycott of Bratz dolls!
I love this post Maggie! Bratz dolls are off limits at our house too! I'm still learning to embrace my flaws. The older I get the easier it is though, which is good because the older I get the more imperfections I get!
I think you are goregous! Seriously just perfect!! But I totally agree with you too - looks are important. This is why I want boys for just this reason but girls are so cute! Oh I'll take them all!
I totally agree on the Bratz too! it's like Barbie but worse..at least she had all her parts!
Have you seen the Dove movies on their website? I hear they are wonderful. I hope more companies take this view!!
You have ever been beautiful to me, and what flaws?? I don't know what you're talking about.
Hey Mags, I just wanted to leave you my thoughts on the Host. Even though it wasn't anything like her other books, I found that I still enjoyed it for the most part. It took me a long time to really get into it. The story was really good and very unique in my opinion. But then again I am not much of a sci-fi girl. By the end I loved it! And am looking forward to see where it goes from here. But I am dying to find out what happens in Breaking Dawn.
dearest moogychaw
those are words of wisdom! you listened well. what is more important, being pretty on the inside or being pretty on the outside. you got it little sister! you got it!!!! your inner beauty shines...mom
dearest moogychaw
those are words of wisdom! you listened well. what is more important, being pretty on the inside or being pretty on the outside. you got it little sister! you got it!!!! your inner beauty shines...mom
Maggie, I couldn't agree more. However, I am so guilty of looking in the mirror and saying, "oh, I wish this and that". I have always been told to focus on appreciating everything we have been given instead of complaining of how it looks, easier said than done!!
With 24 comments, I imagine we all are feeling the same frustration as moms, trying to teach our girls/ boys the meaning of true beauty. My girls have finally stopped asking for Brats stuff, cause they know the answer will be NO! Way to go Mags. You must have great parents who have taught you well :)
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