Since having a daughter, I’ve given a lot of thought to how we as a society define beauty. Traditionally, beauty is related to being a certain size or having certain features, but those aren’t the lessons or the definitions of beauty that I want to teach my daughter, Layla. So when I read about the Dove™ #LoveYourHair campaign, it struck a chord with me. I wanted to partner with them to share their message about how being unique, real, and authentic to oneself is true beauty!
Now I’ve struggled with my own insecurities, believe me. I’ve overanalyzed my nose in the mirror. (Shouldn’t it be skinnier and more dainty-like?!) I’ve struggled with my weight and size. (If I juuuust lost 10 pounds…) I’ve changed my hair color about a million times, and I’ve even wished for curls or naturally straight hair. (My waves can be such a pain! Never straight and never pretty curls!) Yep, I’ve thought these negative thoughts countless times. But I don’t want to pass on my insecurities to my daughter.
A study completed by Dove™ found that 82% of girls learn to care about themselves from their mother. Being a positive role model is one of my greatest, most-important tasks as a mom! I’m responsible for modeling confidence and positivity so that hopefully she’ll have it as well.
I want Layla to embrace her uniqueness. She is Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian. She has her mother’s big brown eyes and her father’s curly hair. She is sensitive, sweet, and kind. And I want her to love all of those things about herself!
People constantly stop us to compliment Layla’s hair, and I hope sees and owns that beauty as she ages. One of the ways that I’m trying to encourage that is by telling her positive things about her hair. I also don’t pressure her to style it in any particular way. Dove™ Hair found that 8 in 10 women feel pressured to wear their hair a certain way, many beginning at a young age. Isn’t that crazy?
I try to focus on embracing her natural curl and texture, letting her curls shine. Often times, she doesn’t want to wear her hair up, so I don’t fight it. Our goal is to celebrate her beautiful hair now so that she will embrace it and love it in the future.
As a mom, I want my daughter to feel confident about her hair and her beauty. I don’t want for it to be a source of anxiety, and I love that Dove™ is spreading that message as well. Let’s join together to expand the definition of beauty. We can all be role models to inspire hair and beauty confidence!
If you have a daughter, tell her why you love her hair and inspire her to do the same by creating and sharing a custom #LoveYourHair animated message with @Dove: http://bit.ly/2hpIjL1
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dove™.
Lauren you are so beautiful inside & out and are passing on such great values to your sweet girl! loved this post- what a great reminder for all of us!
Layla is such a cutie! I am very mindful of what I say and how I act in front of my daughter. I don’t want her to feel pressured into looking a certain way. I just want her to be confident and follow her own path. We don’t talk about weight but I do emphasise eating healthy and exercising. She has very long hair – she can almost sit on it – and is very proud of it, although she hates having it brushed! I was just the same at that age! I love your red OTS sweater!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
What a sweet post Lauren!!! I love how much your love for her shines!
The Adored Life
That seriously is the best thing to teach your daughter, especially with bullying being so rampant now a days! Your daughter is so beautiful and looks like a sweet child!!
so beautiful!!
-inmyjoi.blogspot.com
I love the off the shoulder sweater look and it really is important to lead by example. I am sure you’re doing a great job and she will see. even through the blog when she is older, that it takes confidence to put yourself out there.
http://www.seenaskristine.com
I think it’s hard to love your hair just as it is, just one of those inexplicable things where if you’ve got stick straight hair you’ve got curly, and if it’s curly you wish it were straight and when it’s in between you own a flat iron and a curling iron, haha. But I do think we should always be positive with children and affirm to them they are beautiful just as they are.
http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com/
Love this so much! It’s such an important thing to teach our little ones!
XO
Lee Anne
http://www.lifebylee.com
I love this sweet post! She is just precious and I love her pretty curls!
Omg I didn’t know you had a daughter. She is the CUTEST!!!!
Great post! You both are looking very beautiful. Your daughter is so cute. Love your red sweater, looks great on you.
Rita – http://www.styleroundtheclock.com
Love this post! Just a great reminder of the powerful influence and impact a mom can have. I love my mom and the confidence I have because of her role in my life. Your daughter is a doll, thanks for sharing!
I love the message of this post! You are definitely an amazing role model for Layla! By the way, she is so stinkin’ cute!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
This is the SWEETEST post! You and your daughter are beautiful! I love that this is all about passing down confidence to your sweet girl. She is lucky to have such an awesome mama!
xo Ashley
Such a good thing to teach your daughter!! She’s adorable – I love that bow. You both look so happy!
LOVE these pics. Y’all are both so cute and I love that you’re instilling confidence in her now!
Molly
http://www.stilettosanddiapers.com
Such a beautiful mama and daughter duo! I know she will be such a strong confident woman when she grows up with such a wonderful mama to guide her. <3
She is so precious and you both look beautiful!
Sara I SaraMagnolia.com
I had a wake-up call in earlier this year. My daughter said, “How can I possibly work on self-confidence when my mum talks about herself so disparagingly in front of me??”. I felt smaller than an ant, and ever since then, have been trying my very best to show her how wrong I was, how there are some parts of me which I love, and that I’m learning to accept those parts of me which I don’t like so much. It’s a constant work-in-progress, for both of us, but she is so worth it. Thank you for this little reminder/nudge to keep going, Lauren, you have such a jewel in Layla.
LOVING this topic and the meaning behind it… as a mom to two young little ladies, i can so relate!!! thanks for this post friend
Oh my gosh this is TOO cute, Lauren! Your hair is gorgeous, and your daughter is precious.
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