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It’s a statement that is made often without a second thought. My father-in-law said this often after we’ve had a nice dinner out with our twin girls. “You should be so proud that they are so well behaved in public places,” he’ll say. And, yes, we are very proud that MOST of the time they are good girls when we are in public.

What bothers me about this statement is when it is made with regard to the looks of my girls. A friend recently said, “You should be so proud, they are such beautiful little girls.” And although I know she meant it to more than just about their outside appearance it is not the first time someone has said this to my about my daughters. What I’ve realized is that sometimes we make a common statement and don’t truly think about what it means or implies.

Truly, I had little to do with their physical appearance. They were given pieces of me and my husband that created their own individuality and each of them has taken on different qualities of our genetics. I’m thankful that my daughters are beautiful, but it is not something that I am proud of. And who is to say they’ll stay beautiful as they age.

What I am proud of is that they are well behaved in public 80 percent of the time. We’ve had our share of bad experiences so even though I think it might be a little higher, they are only 4 years old (almost) so I’m giving them room for improvement. I’m also very proud of the fact that they can count to 50 (Pack Rat needs a little help, but Copy Cat has it down perfectly). I’m proud that they like to learn. They are starting to spell words and they dive into educational projects. I’m proud that they know when to say “Thank You,” and “Please.”

So,  someday I’m sure that I won’t be so proud that they have pink hair and a nose ring. But today, I’m proud of who they are on the inside and the little people they are becoming. And I expect that will never change!

by Kelly Damron