There are so many aspects to Motherhood, and every mother has different views on each subject. I think this is why it’s so important to hear the perspective of other mothers. Not only do their perspectives help us as we try to figure out how to be a mother(especially when you’ve only been a mom for two months like me!), but they also open your eyes to things you may not have thought of. I am so excited to share a new series I’ll be participating in every month with a few of my blogger friends: Let’s Talk Motherhood. Each month, we’ll be sharing a topic and answering questions on that topic. This month’s topic is all about confidence.
1- What is one way you are teaching your child self confidence?
Self confidence is something I often lacked, growing up. It was hard to feel good about myself. And I sincerely hope all of my children have a very different experience. Although Bastian is still so young, I think teaching confidence starts with the little things. Babies are sooo smart, even though they can’t really communicate back. I try teaching him self confidence by giving him positive affirmations each day. Again, I know he’s young, but it’s important for him to know his worth, even at such a young age.
2- How do you (or how will you) help your children find their passions in life?
I think it’s way too easy for a parent to project their own passions onto their children. While I think it’s great to share your passions with your children, I think it’s so important to let them pursue whatever it is that they’re interested in. And while they’re young, that passion will probably change often. And that’s okay! I think one of the keys is to not force them into any activity. When they show interest in something new, help them explore that activity. And if they love it, great, let them continue to pursue it! If they lose interest, I think that’s normal, and you can let them pick something new to love.
3- Do you have an opinion on how social media affects self confidence? How do you(or how will you) navigate this with your children?
I absolutely think that social media has an affect on a child’s self confidence. Personally, I don’t want my child to have a phone with internet access until they’re at least 15. They can definitely have access to social media prior to this(at an appropriate age that Seth and I will probably decide on when he’s a bit older), but I think having constant access on your phone can be harmful in the developing years of a child’s life.
4- What are you currently doing to gain confidence in yourself?
Loving yourself is hard sometimes. It just is. Especially being so newly postpartum, I sometimes feel like my worth is connected to my weight, which just simply isn’t true. I think one of the key things in gaining confidence in yourself is to take care of yourself. It’s hard to take care of yourself if all you do every day is sit on the couch in your pajamas, never showering. We definitely have those days, but I try to take care of myself, exercise regularly, and put an effort into my appearance even if I’m not planning on leaving the house. Taking care of myself reminds me that I am worthwhile and beautiful.
5- Any words of advice you would want to give your children on being confident in themselves?
Even when it’s hard, take care of yourself. When you’re depressed, when things aren’t working out with your relationships, and when your work life is dragging you down, remember to take care of yourself. And remember how much I love you! It can be hard to love yourself, and I get that, trust me. But loving yourself is the first step to being confident in who you are. You are a unique individual and I love that about you. Don’t let anyone else drag you down, because at the end of the day, your opinion is the only one that matters.
Like I mentioned earlier, this is a series I’ll be participating in every single month with other Mom Bloggers I love! Be sure to check out this months bloggers and their perspectives on raising confident children!
McKell Wilson (@mckellwilson)
Vanessa Falsetti (@josephineacreativelife)
Jess (@wildishjess)
Jenn (@what_you_make_it)
Such beautiful words, mama! I am with you on the “no phone with internet access” plan. In the process of figuring out how to love myself, because I feel like I can get lost sometimes. And I love that you are already speaking positive affirmations to Bastian. He will reap the benefits of that as he grows.