Public Service Announcement: PLEASE stop telling my daughters that they’re pretty. In fact, it’s probably for the best we stop telling all girls that they’re pretty. I know for a fact my daughters are sick of hearing it. I am sick of people telling me how beautiful my girls are. I know you’re trying to compliment me or them or both of us, but it’s old and tired and honestly it’s not much of a compliment. In this day and age, isn’t it just past time we stop commenting on people’s physical appearance altogether?
How many times have you seen someone lean down to a little girl and say something to the effect of “what a pretty little princess you are?” **vomit noise** Honestly? Gross. And for that young child- to have the world focus immediately on something which she A. has NO control over, B. did nothing to achieve, and C. therefore can’t take pride in? And what are we teaching them then? That their value is intrinsic in the way they look? In something that’s essentially a genetic lottery? In something they didn’t accomplish? That has a sadly short shelf life? Who we are lives on the inside, what’s on the outside should be the least interesting thing about you.
As we get older, our appearance is more under our control. We pick out our clothes and put ourselves together. We do our makeup and hair, we work out and eat right if that’s our thing (hey bitches, do your own journey, I’m here for whatever)- so I totally get complimenting each other later in life. If I see one of my girls and she’s looking like a smokeshow I’m gonna tell her so. She got a new hair color and I love it, I’ll let her know. Trying something new with the skin and it’s glowing- I will show you some love. Everyone loves a compliment. But we don’t need to start the “who’s prettiest” race when girls are toddlers or sitting in strollers, it’s silly and it needs to stop. There are so many other things we could say. Here are some examples:
“Those rainboots are awesome! So colorful! Did you pick those out yourself?”
“Wow your braids look so cool! I bet you had to sit still a long time for that, I love it!”
“Oh my gosh your dress is so twirly! Can you spin for me so I can see it?”