Dear Claire,
Lately this video has been circulating the internet in a big way:
http://youtu.be/XpaOjMXyJGk
After watching this (and tearing up like every other woman!) I immediately thought of you, my little beauty.
Right now, I'm sitting with an imaginary forensic artist. This is what I have told her so that she can draw you perfectly.
1. Claire is three-feet tall, this is the perfect height for reaching counter tops, peeking out windows, and riding a tricyle.
2. Claire has dark brown hair that flows to-and-fro when she runs outside, goes down slides, and goes way up high on a swing.
3. Claire has happy-shiny eyes that have a beautiful sparkle radiating from them. They especially shine everytime she sees someone she loves, small animals, and jumps on her bed.
4. Claire has a cute nose that seems to be very good at smelling any kind of baked goods.
5. Claire has a perfectly shaped mouth and lips and she often turns her tongue into a taco. She is extremly skilled at making her mouth do strange things like opening super-duper wide, making click-clack sounds, and getting chocolate and candies to disappear in it.
6. Claire has two very nice strong arms. She can carry almost anything she tries, she can pull herself up on to the play equipment, and she can give great, big, long, wonderful hugs.
7. Claire has a great tummy and back, she can roll around on them, bend to do summersaults, and enjoys being tickled on either. Most importantly, Claire's beautiful heart is safely nestled between them, ready to give kisses at any request.
8. Claire has two strong legs that make her run fast, jump high, and dance happily wherever she goes.
9. Claire has ten perfect toes that she likes to be counted and tickeled every now and then.
10. I almost forgot! Claire has the most wonderfully shaped head in the world! It is perfect at containing the best part of her - her brain! Her brain is fantastic, too amazing to be drawn accurately! It holds all of her great ideas (dressing dolls, playing house, going on adventures), it is home to her talents (making people laugh, doing puzzles, colouring,) and displays all of her feelings (happy, excited, grumpy when she gets her hair brushed).
This is how I see you...I hope you see yourself the same way :)
Love Mom
Dear Claire,
I don't know what things will be like when you're a bit older, but right now, it seems really hard for young girls to find a decent role model.
Obviously, there are amazing young women out there doing amazing things, but they seem to get a pin-head of media attention while the women who are spiraling out of control, are on the front page of every magazine.
However, once in a while, along comes a woman who graces the covers of magazines because of her talent, humility, and grace.
Enter Kate Winslet.
Most important, Kate is one sheer force when it comes to her acting chops. I mean seriously, she's been nominated for SIX academy awards and even won for best actress. The best part about Kate, is that she takes on serious roles. She's not afraid to play kind women, lost women, cruel women, broken women. Love her.
Kate is also fantastic because she's comfortable and honest about her body. So many women, especially ones in the public eye, force themselves to remain rail thin, and after awhile, they really all seem to look alike. Kate is different, she's a natural beauty who has made the decision to remain, naturally beautiful.
And in the spirit of giving and taking advice...I promise to take this nugget from Kate:
"I accept my body. I accept how I am and make the best of what I am given. Children orientate towards examples. That's why I talk solely positive about my body in front of my daughter."
Love Mom
What's your favourite Kate Winslet movie????
Dear Claire,
Please, buy pants that fit.
I know that you're going to go through some phases where you wear clothes because they're trendy and all of your friends are wearing them. These clothes aren't always going to be very flattering and will often make you look awkward. I get it. This is part of growing up.
But, if you could just buy pants that fit, I promise it will make you cringe a lot less when you look back at pictures one day.
If your pants are too small, they won't look right. If your pants are too big, they won't look right. If they're too short or too long, they won't look right.
Flare. Skinny. Ripped. Dyed. Bell-Bottoms. Harem. Even Acid-Washed.
I'm cool with all of the above; just buy the right size.
Love you Girl,
Mom.
Dear Claire,
The other day I saw a picture of myself in grade seven.
I'm wearing:
-short denim overalls with one of the straps undone and half the bib folded down
-white hi-top L.A. Gear shoes with multi-coloured shoelaces
-a purple fanny pack
-a Chicago Bulls hat
You can't see the back of my head in the picture, but I'm fairly certain there is a "scrunchie" back there.
This is a picture of tragedy. Tragedy in epic proportions.
I'm pretty sure that one or two trends at a time will do.
Try wearing the "in" colour and then one other trend and you will look stylish, on point, and like you just might know what you're doing.
Anything more than two is overkill. You'll look like you're trying too hard.
Trying too hard in fashion is the kiss of death. Avoid this death whenever possible.
Love you even if you mess this one up...you're only twelve once.
Mom
p.s. - I wonder if Paris Hilton ever cries when she google-images herself?
Dear Claire,
Just when you thought being a young woman couldn't get any more complicated...
Mothers, fathers, teachers, youth workers, and Dove commercials have all it made their goal to increase your self-esteem. That's right, we want you to belive you're smart, fun, driven, and of course, beautiful. We want you to avoid eating disorders, feeling too fat, feeling too skinny, feeling like you have bad skin, feeling like you have bad hair, the list goes on and on and on.
There's a catch though...because you're a girl, you can't actually tell anybody that you feel good about your appearance. God forbid you like your face, hair and thighs and actually say that out loud - you'll be immediately delegated as the girl who "thinks she's better than everybody else". Other girls will come sprinting out of the woodwork to inform you why you're not so perfect after all. Phrases like "who does she think she is?" and "she's not that pretty" will be thrown around behind your back for days to follow.
So my darling, you might ask - what's a girl to do?
1. Know that everyone, in their own way is beautiful and that on the day each one of us was born, someone held us and wept thinking we were the most wonderful person that ever lived.
2. Give compliments. Everyone loves getting a compliment regardless of whether it's about a new pair of shoes, a great grade at school, or scoring a goal. Find something about everyone that can be appreciated, and share that appreciation for others out loud.
3. Accept compliments properly. In other words, say "thank you, that is so kind of you". Don't every reject a compliment - that's just bad karma!
4. Remember that confidence (not cockiness) makes people more enjoyable to be around, so don't ever deny you believe in yourself and don't ever pretend to be less than you are.
5. Lastly, if another girl ever asks "Claire, do you think your pretty?", just say "yes, and I think you are too". It's hard to hate someone who just complimented you.
Love you because you know you're one of a kind!
Mom
Dear Claire,
This one is going to be short and sweet.
Never. Ever. Ever. Perm. Your. Hair.
Never.
You my dear have been blessed with beautiful brown hair. It's gorgeous! It's not a wishy-washy colour, it's nice dark brown hair and you have the most perfect blue eyes to go with it. The thing about your hair is that it's straight. Embrace the straightness! Say hello to smooth pony-tails and braids! Any length will work, you can have a bob cut, a pixie, or hair down past your shoulders - it will all look great.
If you are feeling bored with your hair (and we all do sometimes) then do any of the following:
1) Add a few hi-lights
2) Get bangs or grow them out if you already have them
3) Add some waves with a curling iron
4) Buy some new hair accessories
5) Get a great new cut
Don't get a perm. No matter how much you love curls, they aren't meant for your hair, otherwise you would have been born with curls. Curls for one night - great! Waiting six months for a bad perm to grow out - nightmare.
Love you!
Mom
P.S. - putting lemon juice in brown hair and then lying in the sun for five hours is also a really bad idea.
Dear Claire,
Sometimes it's easy to forget what a beautiful face you have. Please allow me to remind you - you have a beautiful face, one of the most beautiful in all the world.
How to keep it that wonderful way?
#1. Keep your face out of the sun. Play in the sun, read in the sun, and relax in the sun but always wear sunscreen and a hat. Seriously, while all your friends are frying their faces off out on the beach, keep a hat over yours, and within only a few years you'll be able to tell who has sun damage on their skin. Sun causes some pretty ugly things - brown spots, wrinkles, and moles that can become cancerous. Which reminds me...don't even think about getting inside of a tanning bed; orange is best left to sunsets and lillies, not on your face.
#2. Do what a professional tells you. I've been pretty lucky with my skin, all I do is wash it with Dove moisturizing soap and then put on some Pond's face cream. Unfortunately that means I don't have much advice to give regarding a face-washing regime. So if you have problem skin, don't ask me for help, just ask for a drive to the nearest professional and we'll do whatever they say!
#3. When it comes to putting on make-up, less is more. Choose one feature (your favourite one) and focus on it. For example, if you love your eyes, put on some great shadow and mascara, and then go a bit easy on the lipstick. If you try to make all your features stand out, you'll end up looking like a clown.
#4. Most important - smile with your mouth and smile with your eyes. Nothing is more attractive than happiness, so show yours with a great big smile and let your eyes shine with the same joy.
Love you gorgeous!
Mom
These pictures should terrify you....
These pictures should inspire you....
Dear Claire,
When you're in grade seven or eight, you're probably going to want to start shaving your legs. This is going to seem like the most fun and exciting thing in the world, and if you take after your dad, shaving is going to be a necessity!
While fun at first, shaving eventually becomes a tedious chore that you won't look forward to anymore. So here's my advice:
When it comes to shaving your legs, stay below the knee.
That's right, don't try and shave your knees. They're bumpy and lumpy and you'll never get a smooth shave. The hair on your thighs is so fine and fair-coloured that you should just let it be. Remember, even if you shave above your knees once, you're going to have to do it forever.
Lastly, once you're on your own don't cheap out and buy bargain razors. They don't do a good job and you'll end up cutting yourself and getting razor burn. Not attractive at all! Buy a nice razor, use some shaving gel, and you'll always have beautiful, smooth legs.
Love Mom
