Since she was a tiny little thing⁣⁣, my Maddie Mae has been a fashionista.⁣
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⁣She’s always had a knack for putting together outfits in wonderfully unique ways and then strutting around confidently in her choices. ⁣⁣
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Recently, on a pink tutu, glitter-riffic, floral bomber kind of day, her self-doubt made it feel impossible to get out of the car for school.⁣⁣

Do As I Say, Not As I Do?

As we sat in the car together, I coached her with all of the things moms say:⁣⁣

• “Why does it matter what they think?” ⁣⁣
• “Do you like it? because that is all that matters.”⁣⁣
• “What makes them fashion experts?”⁣⁣

I realized I was asking my 8-year-old to do something I’ve never been able to master.

Fearlessly living without regard to other people’s opinions is next-level self-love and something that as a 40-year-old woman I have yet to master.

Why Fit In When You Were Made To Stand Out?

While I can’t entirely protect my girl from the pain of growing up I can make sure that I model what healthy self-acceptance looks like.⁣⁣

My hope is that she learns these lessons younger than I did. And that as she grows the fear of other people’s opinions won’t take hold of her as strongly as they did that morning.

My Job As a Mother

My girl is a force. She is funny and quick and is worthy of being herself. I dream that she will one day love herself with the same fierce and unconditional love that I have for her. ⁣⁣

In the Netflix series, Styling Hollywood, @jasonbolden describes a great mother by saying her job is to “help you, enjoy you.” This is the perfect job description for mommas. This is my goal. ⁣⁣

Maddie will see me learning to be loving and compassionate towards myself. She will see me getting to the bottom of what makes me tick and becoming the best version of myself because when our girls see healthy, strong females, they become healthy, strong females.

What positive change have you made, or would you like to make to inspire your children?⁣⁣

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_{Originally posted to Instagram Dec 4, 2019}