I think my daughter is beautiful, just like every other mother does. But if you tell her that she’s pretty, she will finish your sentence for you. Every. Single. Time.

“You’re pretty.”

“Pretty smart!”

“You’re pretty.”

“Pretty brave!”

“You’re pretty.”

“Pretty awesome!”

Each of us is given different physical attributes that we are proud of. We don’t choose to have fantastic hair, eyes or legs…we were just born that way….or we weren’t. It doesn’t define who we are and it doesn’t make us any more capable of being amazing.

We can learn to smart…or brave…or awesome. These are all skills that are practiced and developed. They are the traits that define who we are.

I’m pretty funny.

I’m pretty creative.

I’m pretty nice.

This is the stuff that you find when you lift up the hood on the car. It’s not the beautiful coat of paint, but it’s the power behind the girl.

It’s nice to be pretty, but my daughter would rather be something more. And I think that happens to be “pretty awesome!”

Image by Steven Depolo

The post You Are Pretty….Pretty Smart! appeared first on Advice for My Daughter.