Quote:
Originally Posted by AGDee
I'm not sure it's always a result of media/societal attitudes. My daughter had her first exposure to an African American child on her first day of kindergarten. She came home and told me about this beautiful girl who had chocolate skin and how she wished her skin was like that. That year, all the Barbies and dolls she wanted were African American. I didn't think much of it. I just saw it as expanding her horizons and admiring someone who was different than herself.
I can say, as a short, curvy Italian brunette with brown eyes, that, through the "difficult" years (middle school/high school), I really just wanted to be a tall, leggy, blonde with blue eyes. THAT was media induced for sure. When Paula Abdul first became popular, it was such a relief because she was very attractive but short and curvy AND a brunette!
I guess my point is... watch her reactions and keep an open line of communication about it to figure out why she is feeling that way and then address the underlying cause. You could also use the opportunity to explain that the pictures in magazines are often touched up to make the women look even prettier and point out that all people have something beautiful about them, inside and/or out.
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Well, you do have to admit, you and your daughter are probably different in your thinking to begin with... That is just a great mark of an excellent parent!
If I had a daughter who starting to wonder what the outside world is (inevitably
), I would try telling her a personal story that only she could understand to help her ease her way through it... So that when the other little hellions decide to tease her for her looks, she maintains her self-esteem through all those awkward years.
Disclaimer: Just trying to help... Some folks think I am trying to attack their innercore being. You can take it or leave it as to what I say. It doesn't matter to me. However if you disagree, it still sucks to be degraded by flaming as a human being, just argue the points you disagree on, that's cool. Tell me why I am wrong, maybe I can learn something, too... People internalize too much personal stuff on a message board!