Updated: Jan. 5, 2021
Originally Published: March 17, 2012
For the past four years, I’ve been scratching my head, pondering how my daughter, Lily, will ever make up for those grueling forty-two hours of labor. As fate would have it, the answer hit me like a lightning bolt while standing in line at the grocery store.
Spying a magazine cover with the stunning Jennifer Aniston, Lily exclaimed, “Mom, she looks just like you!”
You know how in movies, everything slows down, and you hear the echo of your own heartbeat? It was just like that. Lily’s bright blue eyes locked onto mine, sparkling with delight.
“Really? You think so?” I replied, trying to play it cool. “She’s quite beautiful.” Lily beamed back, and I floated out of that store, feeling pretty good about myself. Sure, she may have a vivid imagination, but hey, we were even.
Let’s be real; I don’t resemble Jennifer Aniston in the slightest. The only thing we share is short hair and blue eyes. But kids have a knack for generalizations that can sometimes work in your favor—and sometimes not.
Take, for instance, the night I sat down at the dinner table looking less than my best. Lily, still reeling from the disappointment of not being allowed to bring her toy castle to dinner, looked at me and said, “You look very handsome tonight, Mom.”
My partner, Alex, jumped in immediately, correcting her with an overly cheery, “You mean ‘Mom is so pretty!’”
“Nope, she’s handsome,” Lily said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
She’s done this before, bless her little heart. “Mom, your tummy is so squishy!” and “Oh look, Mom, you have a tiny mustache!” I thought I had put the past behind me when some guy once commented on my “chicken legs” at the library. But no, here I am, facing the unfiltered truth from my own daughter.
Lily, of course, is blissfully unaware of body insecurities, with her golden curls and flawless, sun-kissed skin. You know the type—she stops old ladies in their tracks at the grocery store, who coo, “What a living angel!”
Meanwhile, I’m just trying to figure out how to juggle my “long boobs” and a tub of overpriced yogurt.
Despite all the changes that come with age (hello, callouses on my ankles), I actually feel more at ease with my body now than ever. Maybe it’s because I’ve got no one to impress. Alex is stuck with me, and I’m not out hunting for lovers anymore. My self-worth is no longer tied to my looks.
If only I could silence this little truth-teller. Just last summer, she asked me if I “remember fossils.” Kids have this uncanny ability to bring clarity to the world. They see things as they are, without the filter of judgment and overthinking.
We’ve all experienced those moments when, after reading a story about a mistreated animal, our child innocently asks why anyone would hurt another being simply for being different. It’s such a refreshing perspective!
I take pride in instilling values of acceptance in my kids, and I felt a surge of joy when I saw it reflected in Lily’s eyes this morning. Her heart was full of love, free from judgment. Then she casually remarked, “Mom, your breath smells like a garbage truck.”
Well, there go my hopes of collecting any emotional repayment. I’m drafting a Labor and Delivery invoice as we speak!
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In summary, kids have a way of delivering unfiltered truths that can be both amusing and humbling. Their honesty reminds us to embrace our imperfections and appreciate the joy in our journey as parents.