Do you encourage your children to do things that will make them more beautiful? And if so, what are they?
I've been trying to convince my daughters to run more... I think there're few things more beautiful...and it's a great healthy habit too... of course they don't understand the appeal.
I want them to comb their hair also...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I think that as long as you teach them how to be naturally beautiful it's fine. In fact, I wish I knew a little more about that, since I'm an awkward engineer. Luckily I've had a few friends help me out over the years, but I still don't know what kind of clothes to wear to flatter my figure.
Instilling healthy habits like running in your daughters is amazing because it'll help them live a healthy life forever. It's more than just being skinny, it's living an active life that helps it so that in the long run they will be able to live a more fulfilling life and not run into problems of being overweight (like diabetes, mobility, heart problems, etc...I'm no doctor).
Whatever you do, don't tell your daughters that you want them to run so that they can be beautiful, because that will immediately make them think that they must not be beautiful yet.
Also, when they are old enough to wear makeup (my mom didn't let us until we were 14, but I think no younger than 12 for sure), make sure that they know that it's for enhancing the beauty that's already there, not covering up their face so that in the end they have the same features as all of the "pretty girls".
Honestly I think that most beauty comes from the inside anyway. Once I was ok with who I was as a person and understood a little bit more about myself and who I am, then I was able to look in the mirror and see myself as beautiful. It also helps that I can finally control my hair (natural curls-much harder than you think until you find the products that keeps them the most natural).
I think staying active makes me feel prettier too...not like a blob.
Just another thought: when you are around the normal size for your body, weight doesn't mean as much as BMI makes you think it does. In fact, I've lost 15 pounds since I stopped working out 3-5 times a week. I definitely feel more of a blob though.
Wahoo for summer (about one month away!) and having time again!
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Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.
— Oscar Wilde
I think it would be good to tell them to run to build strong bones as well as to drink milk or other products with calcium and Vit. D. I think we need to be careful not to say that they need to exercise to be thin. Encouraging to exercise when young does set an important pattern for life.
For mothers, it is so important not to say negative things about your own body in front of daughters. They form how they feel about their own bodies from their mothers' view of herself.
Are you specifically worried about their weight? You mean there's few things more beautiful than a running woman? Cuz I'm not seeing how exercise can typically help one's beauty, unless you're talking weight. Generally overweight people are less attractive. Of course, not everyone finds long-distance runners very attractive, either. I would say the exercise is more for health, not "beauty" reasons. We're out here running so we are healthier, stronger and feel better, not to be more attractive to other people.
In fact, I just like to play up what they already are strong in. Good hair, striking eyes, nice physique or great smile... instead of "developing" things that may or may not ever be there. Also I like to bring their personality into their attractiveness. Like if they are easy to laugh or slow to anger or very good as descriptive stories or making siblings feel better or telling the truth or remembering things or whatever... let them know it's not all what people see with their eyes that makes someone attracted to you.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I just have boys, so it is mostly just making them look nice for school or Sundays. My just turned 13 year old, though he won't admit it, is starting to like girls and is more particular about his hair, so my wife usually does it up for him. I have some good looking boys, mainly because they got their moms looks and not mine. Good thing I didn't have daughters, poor things would have ended up with my looks and build.
Running women, Ray, have you been watching the Man Show?!
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Lo, there I see my mother, my sisters, my brothers Lo, there I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, they call to me, they bid me take my place among them In the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live...forever
Heh. No, Val. And it's my daughter... but no, I think there's a healthy aspect to running, but also there's something inherently beautiful in kids running around. They just look happy. My daughter has recently been pretty sedentary. She's really gotten into reading Harry Potter, and does really well in school, but she also has no interest in any activities that involve activity. And that concerns me, because I think it would help her not to close a door on certain activities, that once upon a time, she really enjoyed.
Best regards,
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I bet if you suggested having dinner at some playground or the beach, that would be fun even if she got some fresh air and laid on the grass to read HP for a while.
Lead the way, ray, and they will follow!
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Dressing nice, being well groomed, etc. I compliment how nice they look in their sunday clothes or after a haircut. Hopefully then they will get the impression that caring for their appearance is important and will get them positive reinforcement. This is independent of weight or percieved hollywood values of beauty. I tell my sons often that they are very handsome and my girls that they are very pretty. This way they will already have the idea in their head before the world gets a hold of them that they are already pretty and handsome and don't have to follow the world's views and do all sorts of crazy things to get that way.
There was a girl in our ward many moons ago who was filthy all the time. She never washed her hair, brushed it, or did other basic things to ensure cleanliness. She was in Young women's at the time and although the leaders tried to help her and teach her the right way she just didn't care. It is hard to convince other teen girls to spend a lot of time with someone who is so unconcerned about personal hygene. The ward even purchased hygene products for her thinking it was a financial issue but it didn't change anything. Her parents never placed any value on personal hygene with her so she didn't seem to care. It was sad. I think the hygene issues need to be reinforced from early child hood. Good grooming along with For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet to reinforce good standards is a must for every parent.
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Jason (Formerly salesortonscom)
As I walk through this earth, nothing can stop, the Duke of Mirth!
I'm serious, ray, I think it'll really catch on if you lead the way.
Every night MrCoco plays tag with the kids in the backyard. They think this is the coolest thing since pockets and beg him do it all the time! Plus he takes them (or it's the goal) swimming once a week.
Whatever you're into, they will be into.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
It's not universally agreed that running is good for you long term. It's killer on the knees. I had an over 50 boss who has been running his whole life, and he's had three knee surgeries. He looks physically handicapped he walks so badly after a run. Granted, he is thin.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
We go to the school track near our house once a week or so, and I run around it at least part way, walk the rest... I'm always the last one to leave, they all want to go play on the playground.
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I used to be afraid of physical activity because I wasn't any good at it. Then when I was in college I had a good friend/neighbor/cute boy who would come over and basically say that he wouldn't have as much fun if I wasn't there. I got really into things like racquetball and ultimate frisbee. Never did get into the 6am jogs though because I get shin splints terribly. We even played (and won) a soccer tournament at the Sky Dome! I never did get really good, but I was definitely living a fun healthy life. I miss having time to exercise all the time. Stupid responsibility.
I know that when I was a kid I loved going bike riding out in the field behind our house. There were "jumps" and all sorts of fun hills and it just felt like exploring the whole time.
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Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.
— Oscar Wilde
Cuz I'm not seeing how exercise can typically help one's beauty, unless you're talking weight. Generally overweight people are less attractive. Of course, not everyone finds long-distance runners very attractive, either. I would say the exercise is more for health, not "beauty" reasons. We're out here running so we are healthier, stronger and feel better, not to be more attractive to other people.
I'd rather walk stairs or hills. 
