My daughter's room is filled with Disney princesses, cute baby dolls, and all things pink. In her own sophisticated way, she loves acting like the supreme princess of her girly room. When she receives guests into her "palace," she enjoys giving the grand tour. Her eyes dance when her imagination enhances each ordinary toy with unique qualities that she appreciates fully in her playtime.
I love how little girls talk about every prized doll or favorite toy in such cute detail. Even the grumpiest adult will probably soften a bit when listening to the excitement and wonder of those little girl presentations.
Always on the go, my boys never seem to sit still long enough to show off anything to family or friends. Turbo mode keeps them jumping from sport to sport. However, the boys will surprise me when they slow down for a moment to actually bestow a compliment once in a while. I'm glad to grab onto those quick compliments too. Tired moms don't mind any kind of self-esteem jumpstart here and there.
Compliments come naturally to my 5-year-old princess. With their sweet view of the world, little girls have a knack for seeing the whole beautiful package that makes each of us special. In the middle of a game about Barbie's trip to the mall, my daughter will find a way to compliment her playmate between those giggle moments. How often have I heard her say something like this to her aunt or grandma, "Oh, what a beautiful necklace. I like how it sparkles."
On one of those particularly unglamorous days in a mom's daily life, she can brighten up my mood quickly by saying something like, "Mom, your ponytail looks so pretty today." To me, it probably looked like a bird's nest, but she found a way to make me feel special for a few minutes. Her compliments are not rehearsed or forced.
To her, everyone is beautiful. And isn't she right?
