Mothers are all we really have when we are born. We rely on them for all our basic needs; food, shelter, bathing and protection. As newborns we can’t even go to sleep without them, scratch that, as newborns we can’t hardly sleep period. As we grow up we rely on them for much more complicated needs. In elementary school they help teach us how to read, in junior high they teach us how to get a date to our first school dance, in high school they are a shoulder to lean on during our first break up and our personal assistant to get into colleges and apply for scholarships. When we get married our Mothers are wedding planners and then we have children and they are our babysitters and life coaches. The job just gets more and more difficult for Moms but they just seem to get better and better at it. Then, at some point in our lives we look in the mirror and say “Wow, I’ve turned into my Mom”. It’s a proud moment and simultaneously a little gut wrenching. I mean we don’t usually decide to be just like our moms in our teenage years. Most of us aren’t really sure how it happened. Some people probably wish it hadn’t happened. However it comes to be, it most definetely happens. At some point in your life you will do something that is your Mom. So this post goes out to all the Moms out there. Make the realization that your kiddos are taking a piece of you with them forever. Let it be the good part, let it be something they are happy they got from you. Without further delay here are my Top 5 “Mom Skin Habits” you should pass on to the kiddos.
- Don’t get in the tanning bed- Preach to them that the tanning bed increases their risk for melanoma and they may or may not listen but if you get in a tanning bed what’s the point. Don’t get in the tanning bed and use the excuse “because I’m the Mom”, lame! Teach them that not getting in that tanning bed is keeping the beautiful skin God gave them. Teach them to keep healthy skin habits through example!
- Wash your face every night- Mom, I know you worked all day then chauffered to soccer and dance, then cooked dinner, then put the kids to sleep, then did laundry and now you are about to fall asleep on the couch and stumble into the bedroom but STOP and take the time to create a habit of skin care. If you wash your face before bed (and hopefully apply retinol) every night they will see that and it might just be a habit they can’t go without in adulthood. I see your daughter now telling her new husband “Oh I can’t go to bed without washing my face, it’s just not right”, she will tell him she doesn’t know why she can’t but we will all know its because she got it from her mama.
- Wear sun protective clothing- If you only think you look good in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini that perception will be cast on your child. On the other hand if you can rock out a swim shirt and a big floppy hat and make it look good your daughter will probably think she can make it look even better. Won’t you be proud to see her strutting her stuff around the pool all covered up while all the other girls have to wear a bikini to feel like they look good. Different is so empowering!
- Be proud of your cosmetic procedures- Why do Moms feel the need to hide the fact that we have Botox and fillers from our kids, like we are doing something wrong? We are taking care of ourselves, making ourselves feel good and beautiful. Don’t be ashamed of your actions. Rock out your Botox and teach your daughters that it is something women do to feel good and look good, just like we dye our hair and put on make-up. Change the negative connotations around it now so that our children’s generation doesn’t have to feel any embarrassment about their Botox injections.
- Be comfortable in your own skin- Love yourself. Love your skin. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t say you “hate” anything about your skin to your sweet kids. Teach them to be themselves and love living in the skin they were given. You are awesome! Own it and one day when you see that confidence in your child you will be proud you instilled it into their brains.
I have only been a Mom for 14 months so I don’t really know why I think I have earned the right to give out Mom advice. Although, I have spent 30 years on this planet under the guidance of one of the best Moms you could ask for. She did all five of the things that I recommend and even though there are days I really hate to admit it, I am her. We are kinda twinsies. Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Would love to see you at the clinic this week. If you’re a Mom, I think it’s time you come give yourself a skin treat. Let me help you with that!
XOXO, Nina
