For most of their childhood, anytime we went out, my children heard (actually, still hear) the phrase, “Your family is so beautiful.” Somewhere along the way, I started responding, “Thank you. And the best part is they have character too.”
I’m not sure why it bothered me. (It = the focus on the external.) I even understand why the comments get made; they are beautiful to look at and it’s hard not to notice when they are out en masse. I think the issue for me is that I want them to be seen for who they really are not just their faces. (I wanted the same thing for myself, when I was an awkward adolescent. Only I wanted someone, anyone, to look past the 40 extra pounds and glasses.) I never dreamt that beautiful people have the same struggle…
Wednesday’s prompt for NaNoJouMo was the word “beauty”. (see more about NaNoJouMo at D’Blogala – Dawn Sokol’s journal site.) The first thought that came to mind when thinking of beauty was a phrase that I started saying to my beautiful children when they were little bitty. (Actually, I don’t say the “stay for tea” part. I usually say “stay in the room”, but “stay for tea” sounded more like an art journal page and allowed me to make a little tea cup sketch. 
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