My seven year old came up to me the other day and told me, "Mommy, I'm fat." I was struck speechless for a moment. She is so tiny and cute that it took me a few minutes to realize that she was serious. After assuring her that she is absolutely perfect I began to wonder when I first started to have issues with my body image. I don't remember being so young. In fact, I think I was in high school before I was even somewhat concerned with my appearance. Since when do 7 year olds look at themselves in the mirror and declare themselves overweight? I would like to believe that we have taught our daughter's that their value is in their relationship with Christ and not in their physical appearance. Something in her life though is making her question her beauty.
The Bible tells us that we are wonderfully made and that God made us in our mother's wombs. I tell my girls every day how much I love them and how beautiful they are. Then they sit down to watch a t.v show or a cartoon, and they are flooded with images of near perfect women. The girls that don't fit the movie perfect image are made fun of and looked down on. How did it take me by such surprise that my little second grader is beginning to question her looks? I can look everywhere and find advice on how to help a teenager understand her beauty, but what about a 7 year old? What about my 5 year olds? How do I assure them that they are wonderful just the way they are and that what they see on t.v and on the magazine covers in the grocery store is just not realistic? How do I teach them to find their worth in Christ and not in wordly appearance, while at the same time teaching them to be healthy and take good care of their bodies? I am wrestling with these questions now, and looking forward to sharing what answers I come up with.
Monday, July 18, 2011
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