It Starts With You...

I don’t like my legs Mum, I wish I had straight hair like my friend Mum, Why does my voice sound like this Mum, I wish I looked different Mum, I feel like I need to act a certain way Mum, I can’t wear that, they might laugh Mum. What would you say to your child if they came to you with these statements? I’m guessing you would reassure them, Tell them they are wrong, and that they are perfect just as they are. That their legs are strong, That they suit their curly hair, That you love the sound of their voice, That their look is unique and there is no ones else like them. That to be themselves no matter what, it’s better that way. That they can wear what ever they want and not to worry about what others think. We can say this to our children because we want them to grow up being ok with who they are. Because we don’t want them feeling like we have done or do. Yet they are just mimicking us. They hear us speak about ourselves this way, They see the way we look at ourselves in the mirror, They can sense how we feel inside about ourselves. They watch how we act around others too…how we show up in the world for ourselves. How we allow others to treat and speak to us. The best thing you can do for your children, Is to start with yourself. Start to appreciate who you are, Start to accept you just as you are…your body, your personality, all of you. Start to actually like yourself. Start to speak to yourself as you would to your child. Start to build boundaries for yourself and to stand up for yourself in a loving way. Your children will continue to mimic you… However you choose to see yourselfIs the way your children will see themselves. It’s never too late to start.