Today I sent my child to school in a cheerleader uniform. It was tan and green and had forest green spanky pants. It wasn’t an outfit for school, most would think. It was a get-up only a kindergartner could love.
She felt beautiful.
In a few years she’ll be too old and “mature” to wear a cheerleader uniform to class. She won’t think of wearing spanky pants in public. She’ll be all “Moooom, I can’t wear that. It’s old-fashion!!!”
She’ll still be beautiful.
That same girl will reach the age when the spanky pants are all she can dream about. Pom poms and sneakers are her greatest desires. She hopes for cartwheels and basket tosses, she daydreams about the triangle of friends.
She will never know how beautiful she was.
Don’t forget to appreciate a single day of your beauty. Your love, your laughter, your intelligence, your calm, your charity. You might not feel gorgeous today but you always have your beauty close.
You may not know how fast all the pretty can be taken away, you’d better hope you have some beauty down in there to count on.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Sorry this is a late comment – I was just getting caught up on posts. My daughter got her very first baton costume last night, for the upcoming Memorial Day parade. She put it on and was so excited (she’s 7). We had to go grocery shopping and she asked if she could wear it – I said absolutely! You can only get away with wearing a skirted, black and red sequined leotard to the grocery store for so long, right? Smiles and hugs to you, Anissa!
Yet another poignant, beautiful post. Thank you.
Mary @ Holy Mackerel´s last blog ..Today’s post is full of frustration. Enjoy!
Word, sistah. So good. Thanks for the reminder.
Grumble Girl´s last blog ..My Littlest Little
How very true…and VERY well said! You continue to amaze….
You have SO much beauty deep down in you. Those girls are so lucky to have you as their Mommy. Hell, we’re all lucky to have you – you constantly remind me to stop and smell the roses. Although we will probably never meet, you are one of the beautiful roses brought to me through cyberspace….
Oh my gosh, that is so beautiful!
Perfection
I am dreading the day that my gorgeous daughter thinks that she’s ugly…for now, she’s 8 and so comfortable in her own skin and with her own fashion sense that she doesn’t ask “am I pretty?”…rather, she states “Look how beautiful I look today!” and twirls around.
I love this.
whatever. I totally posted today about Isabella wearing a cheerleading uniform and bright pink wig to the park. Only, as usual, you wrote it better. LOVE YOU.
ali´s last blog ..Perfectly Perfect Park Wear
This made me cry. Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Lisa´s last blog ..Making a Garden
That’s a powerful message, my friend. <3
Mishi´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Friend…
dammit woman. you speaketh the truth.
remember, just like Xtina said, you are beautiful, in every single way.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]´s last blog ..Edna
You know whats awesome. The fact that daughters have a mom like you. The fact that maybe other mom’s will over look “costume” choices in their little ones. The fact you remind us all to find beautiful.. Vodka is also awesome, but I couldn’t think of how to fit it in this one… sorry vodka.
OhmyGOD you make me cry.
Steph
Steph´s last blog ..Cloud shapes
Anissa, you are fiercely strong and amazingly beautiful. This is a truly wonderful post.
Kristin´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Decayed Beauty
Very well said!
I sent my daughter to a T-ball game in a pink Tutu and black cowboy boots. What the heck, she felt pretty and fierce all at the same time. Her coaches loved it.
Anissa- Thank you for allowing your girls to express their own sense of beauty. They have a beautiful, strong mother leading the way for them.
Hell yes, Anissa Mayhew. These are things that everyone needs to hear & live. Thank you for the invaluable perspective.
Love. Love. Love.
As a mum of 2 girls – I love this
So well said!
JT
x
Well said.
tricia´s last blog ..Just Chillin’
This writing will stay with me. Thank you for sharing your writing, your fight, your courage.
I may or may not have tears in my eyes. Great message. Thanks for the reminder.
BecZhang´s last blog ..how the cheese wagon made me become a lady of the night
I’m so glad you are back and writing. Beautiful post. I’m going to print it out and put it on my desk as a reminder.
My almost 4 year old went to school in her pjs today because the skirt part was sparkly and she loved it and she wanted to…and really? Going to school in clothes is totally over-rated anyway. Another mom had the audacity to say something to her about having on her pjs, and she said “My mama says do what makes you happy.” I need to practice what I preach: Do what makes you happy.
Bridget´s last blog ..Weekly Winners: We Smiled A Lot This Week
Beautiful, as always.
Rook´s last blog ..NSFW: Way to Suck That Dick! It’s a blog
Oh, Anissa. TEARS in my eyes. Which maybe only has a little bit to do with the PMS. But mostly it’s the post.
Diane´s last blog ..7 Quick Takes – Sisters
It’s hard for young girls to internalize this but compassion, intelligence, kindness and a strong sense of self trump outer beauty every time. This is one message we can never stop trying to convey…
IzzyMom´s last blog ..Gawd Mom, That’s SO Dumb
That last sentence is a t-shirt, a bumper sticker, a billboard to the world.
I love this, Anissa.
Maria´s last blog ..Processing Things