I Had Low Self-Esteem #DoveInspired

This is one of those posts that is incredibly hard for me to write but I want to share my story.  I knew my parents loved me but I never heard it growing up.  I think they didn't know any better, I could blame it on our culture and how they were raised.  But being a parent myself, I wanted to be better than my parents.  I often wonder how were they raised.

My parents kept my siblings and I safe and fed.  They didn't drink, they didn't do drugs.  They both worked full-time Monday through Friday and on the weekends, they took us places.  They did things with us. They thought that by providing a home, food and clothes on our back - we would be okay.  But... I suffered from low self-esteem.  I was shy, I couldn't look anyone in the eye.  I did not know how to take a compliment.  I had tons of friends.  How could I be shy?  How could I have low self-esteem, right?  I just didn't feel beautiful.  I felt ugly and fat.  Friends would tell me I had nice handwriting and I felt like I was on top of the World!    In High School, I would tell my friends that dances were dumb and I was too cool for the prom.  Truth was, I wanted to go.  I just didn't want to find a dress, learn how to apply makeup and even scarier, find a date.               

After High School, it got better.  I made myself better.  I worked on my insides.  I have struggled my whole life with weight but finally reached a place where I truly love myself.  My parents and I are in a great place too.  My mom always tells me she loves me and each & every time I get giddy.  I call it my own personal eat, pray, love journey and I have no problem sharing this part of my life.  I have been blessed with four beautiful sons who I compliment without holding back.  I want them to know they are loved and never wonder if we love them.  I tell them to be nice to girls if they value and respect me, their grandmas, aunts and cousins.  

I will never know what it's like to raise a daughter and I'm finally okay with that.  I volunteered in my son Duke's Kindergarten class last year and most of the girls followed me around.  I thought it was so cute.  I loved it.  I paid attention to them and made time to tell them they are beautiful, smart, funny and talented.  All it took was a few seconds to create small smiles.  Hopefully those little seeds I planted will grow and they turn out to be confident young women.   

According to Dove global research:

• 72 percent of girls (ages 10-17) feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful
• Only 11 percent of girls (ages 10-17) are comfortable using the word beautiful to describe themselves
• When girls feel bad about their looks more than 60 percent globally (age 15 to 17) avoid normal daily activities such as attending school, going to the doctor, or even giving their opinion

Dove is committed to inspiring all women and girls to reach their full potential.

Everyone has the opportunity to make a difference in a girl’s self-esteem

• More than half of girls globally say their mother is their number one female role model (66 percent U.S., 59 percent Canada)
• A simple act, such as starting a conversation about beauty, can make a world of difference 
• The Dove Movement for Self-Esteem opens up a world of opportunities for women to make a difference

Visit Vivemejor.com to access free tools to motivate and inspire a girl in your life

• Download the “Let’s Talk” Toolkit
• Visit Dove.com to learn more about our partners Girl Scouts, Girls Inc, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America 

Disclosure:  This is a compensated post in collaboration with Dove and Latina Bloggers Connect.  All opinions are my own.