This morning I noticed that Duncan Bannatyne was rather agitated that Mumsnet Founder, Justine Roberts had stuck her head above the parapet (again) Ms Roberts stated that girls should be allowed to be girls rather than indulging in beauty treatments, in this case waxing, and ‘not obsess about being hairless’. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/212995/Dragon-s-slain-for-girls-spa/
My blog is not here to sit in defence of Mr Bannatyne, I am sure he is more than capable of doing this himself!
My irritation is with Ms Roberts. I have 3 children including one 21 year old and one 14 year old girl. I was born with fair skin, blonde eyebrows and due to the development of Polycystic Ovarian Disease, occasionally too much body hair for my liking! Let me tell you something Ms Roberts had my mother had the opportunity to escort me to a treatment that could have tinted my eyebrows and waxed some of the hair from my body, as a teenager, I would have had far more self confidence as a teenager.
My youngest daughter has dark hair and dark eyebrows, she is a beautiful looking girl but SHE feels uncomfortable with her bushy eyebrows. For twelve months now my youngest daughter has joined myself and her older sister in having her eyebrows waxed, by a qualified beautician in my presence. I am forty eight years old, with twenty two years experience of raising three bright, funny, well adjusted (I hate that description) children. I KNOW what makes them feel insecure and what makes them feel better about themselves. That, Ms Roberts, is a good mother. Knowing what makes your child feel self confident about themselves. Now, should that be dressing in a day glow pair of socks, wearing thick black eye liner or once every 6 weeks having their eyebrows or half legs waxed a good mother will know how to assist and advise them with compassion and understanding and will refrain from immediately dismissing their thoughts and suggestions without due consideration for their feelings.
I have not forced my daughters into having their eyebrows (or anyone other part of their bodies) waxed, they made the decision for themselves, when they were ready. I have merely ensured they use a qualified beautician and in my presence. My girls and I enjoy our ‘girlie’ beauty evenings. We chat, we giggle, we discuss a range of subjects and we have fun. They feel they have been pampered and feel good about themselves following one of our ‘treatments’. Get over yourself Ms Roberts. I shall carry on my journey through motherhood completely relying on my own instincts and will refuse to the listening to the cackling of other mothers who ‘know best’.
