Dear Ellie:

You were born into a world where people feel more connected to celebrities than ever before. My baby please always remember no matter how social media evolves you have to live in your reality. It can be truly disturbing to see people writing hurtful comments and threats to people they don’t even remotely know. Someone sharing their talent with the world will never qualify as a reason for you to freely degrade them. In fact you shouldn’t be degrading anyone that is not who you were born to be my baby. Your public self whether it’s to a few 100 “friends” on Facebook or presenting to a board room should never be in such stark contrast to your private self that if introduced they wouldn’t even recognize the other. I say this to you today after seeing several mean hearted comments about a little girl just a year older than you. The comments have called her everything from nappy headed to ugly. No two year old should be spoken to that way even if only in a comment section on an article. It’s my job as your Mommy to protect you until you can protect yourself and I can’t imagine how it would feel to be unable to protect you from the hurtful words of millions. We are privileged in that I allow your hair to grow natural out of your head with no manipulation, besides maybe a bow if you let me, and no one comments on it (at least to my knowledge). And that my baby is my choice as your mother because I want you to love your self just as you wake up in the morning. If you can not love yourself free of any additives then how can you say you truly do? We are created beautifully whether crinkly curls or pointy noses and if the world ever tries to tell you that the way you wake up isn’t good enough kindly tell them their opinion isn’t valid because you know better. You aren’t responsible for conforming to what others expect you to look like. I promise to do my absolute best to help you learn to let your love for yourself speak so much louder than the unwarranted criticisms of others that they don’t phase you. Love yourself my baby and walk in confidence that you woke up like this…flawless, not because you’re perfect but because the features you were born with, from your kinky coils to your chubby toes, should never be considered flaws.

Love you always,

Mommy

P.S. To the little girl staring at herself in the mirror full of doubts…trust me you are beautiful. You don’t have to look like anyone else’s opinion of beauty; you were born with your own set of standards established in your mother’s womb. Love the beauty you were born with before you starting trying to change it.