For as long as I can remember I have battled self-esteem issues. As a child I was painfully shy, introverted and very embarrassed of my body. It wasn’t uncommon to find me in the summer dressed in long jeans and sweaters. I put myself down a lot and felt very insecure about who I was as a young girl.

As I grew a little bit older, I found a way to work how I felt about myself to my advantage. I remember the first time. I was at camp and walking by myself when a group of boys saw me. One of them yelled that I was ugly, and I replied cheerfully, “I know, right?”

They laughed like it was the best thing they heard all day. Bingo. I found my solution. In order to combat my shyness and make people laugh I could make fun of myself. People loved it, and the more I did it, the more of an audience I acquired.

Deep down I hated what I was becoming. I was harming myself in the process, because after all the jokes I made about myself, I was letting them seep into my being causing more harm than good to my psyche. Let me tell you, it was one of the worst mistakes I ever made as it continues to haunt me today. Self-deprecating humor isn’t always a good thing.

Fast forward to present day where now I have my own 13-year-old daughter who battles the same issues I did at that age. Her self-esteem is in the toilet despite my attempts to encourage her otherwise. She is smart, intelligent, a budding feminist and a gifted artist yet she puts herself down continually.

I feel responsible.

Because unbeknownst to me, all these years my daughter has been silently observing how I treat myself. Do I treat myself with compassion and grace or do I berate myself every time I make a mistake, feel fat or stupid? Sadly, it’s the latter. The message I have been sending to my daughter is that it’s OK to be negative about herself. In fact, it’s a natural part of being a woman.

While I have been trying to nurture my daughter in modeling healthy attitudes about body image, all she is hearing is static, because I have portrayed just the opposite. She is learning to hate her body because she has listened to me speak negatively about my own. Most of what our daughters learn about themselves are based on what they see us as mothers do.

I’m a hypocrite.

How can she learn to be at peace with herself when I model something entirely different? The sad part? I didn’t even realize I was doing this.

She’s called me out on this, and it was a huge wake-up call because I had no idea the effect it was having on her. I’m grateful she told me.

I’m working hard at becoming a better example and inspiration to my daughter. I have to be extremely conscious of what I say about myself because I tend to be very cruel.

These are the things I want my daughter to know:

  • Be confident.
  • Be yourself.
  • Support other women in their journeys.
  • Turn off the TV and social media.
  • Avoid criticizing other girls.
  • Live your own vision.
  • Don’t be silent.
  • Surround yourself with role models and mentors.
  • Always remember that I love you and know you can accomplish great things.

The funny thing is while I share these dreams I have for my daughter, they apply to me as well. Perhaps between the two of us we can encourage each other to make it a reality.

Author

Jessica is a wannabe urban homesteader, living in Portland with her blended family of 4 kids, 3 rescue dogs and 4 chickens named after Starbucks drinks. A former pharmacy student, Jessica decided she like baking better than drugs so went to pastry school instead. Described by her friend as a "Feminist Jedi Master", Jessica can be found spreading 'peace and wisdom' over at her blog, The Dalai Mama, at www.travelingmercies-jessica.blogspot.com

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