Additives not required

I wanted to post about this the other day, but ended up dealing a sick kid then getting sick myself. Gotta love being Mommy!!

Anyway....Haley and I were watching tv the other day and a commercial for a new Strawberry Shortcake doll came on. I didnt think anything of it and (honestly) wasnt paying much attention. That is, until I heard the doll say, "Do my makeup so I can be pretty!" I was so shocked that I didnt think I heard it right. Right as I was about to dimiss the commercial, Haley turns to me and ask why she needs makeup because Strawberry Shortcake is pretty without it. So, I end sitting on the couch explaining to my 6 year old that EVERYONE is pretty without make up. I found myself in a position I didnt think I would be in for another few years but, I forogt Haley isnt growing up in the same world I did. I didnt grow up with dolls that came with make up. Sure, Barbie had make up, and boobs, and fancy clothes. But she was Barbie, I never thought she was real or that I wanted to be just like her. Well, aside from the pink 57 Chevy but that WAS a cool car!!

As I was telling Curtis about the doll, I saw this look come over his face and he tells me that that doll will NEVER be in this house. Funny part is he used the same tone that he has when the bathing suits come out every year and he sees some of the stuff made for girls. Everything got me thinking about what socitey tells girls, starting at suck a young age. Almost all of the dolls are skinny, have boobs, make up on their faces. wearing high heels, all that shit. So, I asked Haley about it. She said that "Dolls wear those clothes but everyone else wear jeans". Then it doned on me that most of the other women Haley deals with are moms, just like me. She sees me first thing in the morning, with no make up(which I hardly wear anyway), hair all messy, looking very unglamerous. And, while I'm looking so unflattering, she sees Curtis come up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist and tell me I'm beautiful. I dont know what I'm more grateful for, the fact that my husband thinks I'm beautiful at 6am or that my daughters see that just about every day.

I realize that as we raise our three daughters, we will be trying to fight the pressures the society will put on them. I WILL NOT raise my daughters to think that they have to be a certain way. My daughters, just like EVERY woman, is beautiful without any "additives". I just wish every one understood that. But until that happens, Curtis and I, along with every other parent, must fight the tide on this one.