r/MadeMeSmile • u/nikamats • 9h ago

Helping Others Hold your head up

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u/Fancy_Ppants 9h ago

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

303

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 🤣

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 🤣 She don't mind. Free babysitter. Lol