The Realization

My daughter wasn’t trying to be critical—she was genuinely curious. Somewhere along the way, she had absorbed the idea that we only dress up, or take care of ourselves, when we have somewhere to be or someone to impress. And in that moment, I realized that I had taught her that, not with words, but with patterns. With sighs of exhaustion, with saving my favorite perfume for “special occasions,” with all the days I skipped makeup or stayed in sweats because “no one would see me anyway.”

I realized I had unintentionally passed on a message that self-worth is situational, earned by productivity or appointments. That looking good or feeling good about yourself needs a reason.

But it doesn’t. And I needed her to hear that—from my mouth and from my actions.

Rewriting the Script

So I told her, “I did it for me. I feel good when I take care of myself. I look nice because I AM nice. And that’s enough.”

It’s not about vanity or appearances. It’s about reminding ourselves daily—without needing an external reason—that we matter. That we deserve care, tenderness, a touch of luxury, and confidence in the mirror, just as we are.

Self-love isn’t a reward. It’s a foundation.

What Our Children See

Our children are always watching. They learn what love looks like by how we love ourselves. If I dismiss my needs, downplay my strengths, or only show up fully for others, she learns to do the same. But if I honor myself—especially in the quiet, unglamorous moments—she learns she can too. So now I dance in the kitchen, just because. I add extra curls to my hair on Tuesday afternoons and perfume on rainy days. I remind her, and myself: we don’t need to go anywhere to be worth it.

A Lesson Carried Forward

That small exchange became a turning point. A vow to break patterns and rewrite the internal narratives we inherit as women and pass down as mothers.

Because I’m worth it. And so is she. And so are you.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

~ Momma Braga