Pageants

Every time I hear the word pageant I think of the poor little JonBenet. Ah, it's awful. And then I think of the pageant Alex was in when she was 3 months old. The little two year old babies were tanned and had fake hair, fake eyelashes, and more make up than any street walker! It was disgusting and heart breaking. I vowed not to let her be a part of that world.

People stop us every where we go to talk to her about her hair or ask if I put her in pageants or modeling. I don't feel like giving them all my reasons for not doing it so I just say thank you and smile when they insist that I should.

Maybe I'm a terrible mom for keeping her all to myself. I just don't want her to starve herself to keep a certain image for modeling and I don't want her to feel like all that fake stuff is beautiful. I want her to always know she is wonderfully beautiful just the way her Creator made her. And that all the trophies in the world mean nothing if you have to change yourself to get them.

Now with that being said... Her teacher wanted me to put her in the school pageant. A big breath of air immediately rushed from my lungs. I didn't want to explain myself and I didn't want to say no. I thought about it. Asked her if she wanted to do it. She does of course. I then called the school with a lot of questions and after meeting with the director and looking through the last few yearbooks winners, I felt much better. The little winners looked like flower girls. That I can do.

So tomorrow we will go out in search for the perfect dress. My six year old baby will enter the world of pageantry. Don't get me wrong. I think confidence and competition are not bad things. I just want her to be confident in who she is and know that outward beauty is her extra gift.

Lord, I will need a double-helping of peace now, thank you.


What do you think? How do you feel about pageants? Do you know anyone who competes in pageantry or modeling?