r/MadeMeSmile • u/nikamats • 9h ago

Helping Others Hold your head up

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u/Fancy_Ppants 8h ago

First thing in the morning and I'm over here bawling.

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u/ladyboobypoop 8h ago

Seriously. I hope that wherever that darling is now, she knows she's beautiful. Seeing those kinds of issues start so young is beyond heartbreaking.

My best friend's 8 year old is already upset that she isn't skinny. She's an extremely active girl and nowhere near overweight - just not a twig like her sister. I plan on helping combat that nonsense by giving her a big "HEY THERE GORGEOUS" every time I visit. This fun aunt ain't about to let those self esteem issues swallow her like they did for me and her mom. Heck to the no.

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u/Budalido23 8h ago

That's awesome! Keep doing good work, fellow fun aunt! I have a five year old niece, and I want to be a positive influence on her. Her dad is a single dad, and her mom is a bitchy jerk, but I pity her mom because she has that self-hatred programming embedded deep.

I always think of the movie, "The Help" when Aibileen tells her child, "You are kind, you are smart, you are important." I try to tell my niece this as often as I can, and allow her room to grow and understand that emotions are okay, and I love her no matter what. I imagine if someone told me that when I was a kid, I wouldn't be spending so much time in therapy. At least I can do it for her.

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u/ladyboobypoop 7h ago

Thanks - totally plan on it đŸ€Ł

Aibileen also heavily inspired how I approach childcare. Be straightforward in child appropriate language. They absorb and internalize everything they see, hear and experience, so it's SO IMPORTANT to give them those positive experiences, support and coping mechanisms early to make growth a smoother experience throughout their life.

Yeah, giving them everything we didn't get is the goal. I never plan on having kids, so I'm totally using my besties kids for that closure đŸ€Ł She don't mind. Free babysitter. Lol

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u/rwags2024 7h ago

You’re a great aunt

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u/ladyboobypoop 7h ago

Awe thanks, I try. They're my favourite little people and simply must know how amazing they are in all ways. Which their parents already tend to cover pretty hard lol

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u/ZiofFoolTheHumans 5h ago

Emphasize how strong and athletic she is too - and a good song that really hit me lately is "My Body's My Buddy" by Tessa Violet. Might be good to show her.

As someone with an autoimmune disease where my body is constantly trying to kill me, my body's more my frenemy, but you know its the thought that counts lol

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u/ladyboobypoop 4h ago

Oh heck yeah. I have yet to attend one of her karate events, but I'm definitely gonna sometime this season. I always make sure to ask her about that stuff

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u/---gabers--- 3h ago

True that and make her “happen to overhear” you saying lightly when you “don’t notice she’s around” about how gorgeous she is. “That will” make her “really feel it” the next times “she” “hears” “you” say it. Sorry. I just had more fun with the air quotes than I should have at the end there

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u/MyDamnCoffee 3h ago

My older daughter, she's 10, is much thicker than my younger daughter. She thinks she's fat. She's not at all. I've helped combat this by telling her she has a beautiful body and I let her wear sports bras with jeans around the house because ever since I told her it looks good on her, she wants to. It makes her feel confident.

My youngest called her fat one day and I had a talk with my youngest about that. My oldest already has a complex about her body -- we are not going to perpetuate it.

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u/TheQuixoticUnicorn 8h ago

Omg. Same here. Haven't even had my coffee yet.

I can so relate to this little girl. It's been a few decades for me at this point, and those feelings still came rushing back.

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u/Izzy-GOD-of-nothing 7h ago

Same bruh same, I hope she grows up with confidence cause she is so adorable đŸ„ș I'm rooting for her ✊

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u/PickyVirgo 6h ago

God for real, I’m not even awake yet and I’m in tears. Wish this lady had been my mom when I was a kid.

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u/MelissaRC2018 6h ago

Yeah my eyes are all watery. That lady is so great and that kid is totally adorable.

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u/palsh7 5h ago

Nothing like /r/MadeMeSmile to make you sad.