Sydney got a box in the mail today that was full of a bunch of new clothes from The Children's Place. They have really great sales every once in a while, and I had a coupon, so I bought her a bunch of things for school & for this summer. She immediately ran to try everything on & check herself out in the mirror.

I was watching her as she was doing this, and it struck me again how affected she is when she thinks she's pretty, or has new earrings, or is wearing lipgloss, or whatever. Her walk immediately becomes a "strut", she juts a hip right out there like it's out of it's socket, and her little chin tilts so she can look at you out of the corner of her eye.

I am so keenly aware of this, and want to discourage this whole "the clothes/jewelry/makeup make the woman" attitude....so, I pulled her up on my lap to have a little chat real quick. I explained to her all about inner beauty, and that I will be the most proud of her not for how she LOOKS, but rather for who she IS.

And as a final hurrah before putting her down, I kissed her forehead and was going to remind her that "pretty is as pretty does". I got as far as, "pretty is...." and she brightened right up and finished my sentence with...

...."DEADLY if you're smart, too!!"

Looks like Daddy beat me to this talk. I'll be sitting HIM down for a talk later...