This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Dove #YMCBeautifulYou program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

Let me set the scene for you. A woman, careening toward her forties, in the last few months as a thirty-something (39.5 if you haven’t already guessed) heads into her sanctuary (the wine store). She’s stressed and feels all of her 39.5 years plus more… it’s been a stressful five months of packing up, moving across the province, building a house, settling two kids into two new schools and living in a rental that is less than ideal.

It’s Friday night and all she wants is to rest her weary body and enjoy a sip or two or her mommyjuice, a reward for making it through the week. She’s feeling a little sorry for herself when she steps up to the counter and places her wine in front of the cashier. She knows her weariness shows through the half-hearted smile on her face.

But suddenly, everything changes. She is elated. She feels at least 10 years younger. She heard the words, “Could I see some ID, please?”

She knows the rule in this province is to ask for identification for anyone who looks under 30 and is trying to buy alcohol. She’ll take it. On a day when she felt like a million years old and weary from all the change that was happening, she left the store with a little spring in her step.

That’s a true story. It was me last week. It may seem a little superficial but it’s the truth. A simple gesture reminded me that age is only a number, it’s our outlook on life that gives our true age.

I felt the same way when I watched this video that my girls made for me. I was asked by Dove and YummyMummyClub.ca to participate in a campaign geared towards mothers & daughters to encourage us mothers to start a conversation about confidence and beauty with our daughters.

I asked the girls to create a short video about what they think is beautiful about me. A tall order! This is what they came up with:

 

 

Silly girls! I love their innocence and I love that my youngest thinks I look like I’m 17. It’s amazing to see yourself through the eyes of your children. It’s also tough to realize the impact that we, as mothers, have on how our daughters see and feel about themselves.

Dove understands this and wants to help us (mothers and daughters) feel better about ourselves and be brave confident women and girls, regardless of age.

Dove and YummyMummyClub.ca will be hosting a series of free workshops in October across Canada, hosted by YMC Bloggers and #YMCCommunity Bloggers. The workshops are a way to start a dialogue between mothers & daughters about self-esteem, beauty pressures, and to provide mothers & daughters with a special memory of an enjoyable experience.

I am looking forward to these workshops as it will give me tools and resources to use to help my girls. Not only will it help them with their self-esteem, it will also help them to see that they are valued and unique and help build their confidence in their own unique beauty. That’s a big job but one that I know I need to take on for the sake of my girls.

Oh, and me too, as I turn 40 next year. I need to be reminded that age is not an indication of beauty but brings a wisdom and confidence that only adds to a woman’s beauty – inside and out.

But I will still be excited if asked for ID at the wine store… I can’t help myself!

Did you know YMC is hosting 25 free Dove Mom and Daughter Self-Esteem Workshops across Canada? Join us to start the conversation with your daughter about the real meaning of beauty.

Then visit the ‘How To Find Your Own Unique Beauty’ page for inspirational stories and resources to help young girls learn about true beauty.

We need you to be a part of the Dove mission to improve the self-esteem of over 15 million girls by 2015.