I was 12, even though she was an old toy, this was the first time I looked at her keenly. I noticed her flawless, glowing white skin, her golden hair, her perfect smile, blue eyes, she was so delicate, tall and so beautiful.
The moment I took my eyes off her and looked at the mirror, I saw another girl, wheatish skin round
face, jet black thick hair, a chipped front tooth (In school, one boy fell on me, I hit the ground and lost a small edge of my tooth ) dark brown big eyes, chubby cheeks, plump, not tall either.
I went running to my aunt breathing heavily I asked "Am I beautiful?". She looked at the barbie doll in my hand smiled and said "Yes Anu, you are beautiful". I was so relieved to hear that. She continued
"But you know just being beautiful isn't everything. You should not try to compete with other girls on beauty, there is always going to be someone else more beautiful than you. Beauty is not permanent.
You should have a kind heart, helpful nature, study hard, be a good daughter, you know how many sacrifices your mother has made for you. She works so hard to pay your school fees, you are the only reason for her living."
The last few lines touched the heart...
ReplyDeletehmmm..
DeleteSo true .. loved this post too.
ReplyDeleteVery sound advice. :)
ReplyDeleteThou I had n still have a huge collection of dolls, never had a barbie... wonder why...
Never too late :)
Deletethe last few lines are so true :) loved it :)
ReplyDeleteAm glad :)
DeleteThis is brilliant! When my niece was a little girl we had this exact same conversation. Beautiful x
ReplyDeleteSame pinch :)
DeleteIs this the same aunt from last post? If so, you would possibly be writing a book titled "Conversations with Ananya's Aunty"
ReplyDeletehaa haa, Yes she is, I have only one aunt and guess she is enough. And hey looks like you have given me a title for tomorrow ;)
DeleteI've never had a barbie either ;) May be I felt she was just too beautiful for me :) After some years, there comes a time when we start appreciating the real beauty :) This ' am I beautiful ?' phase is something we all go through :) Well written, Ananya :)
ReplyDeleteThank you ! Yes we girls do !
DeleteMothers Barbie "DOLLY" 😊😊
ReplyDeleteSorry didn't get you ;)
DeleteI made my daughter of 10 read this post. Inner qualities are more important than physical beauty - hope she gets it :-).
ReplyDeleteOhh Jayanta I am so glad that your daughter read my post. It's a huge compliment for me. Thank you, and I request you to please read this post also : http://www.ananyatales.com/2014/02/what-her-mom-didnt-tell.html
DeleteBeautiful post, Ananya, especially the last few lines! Will share this post with some young girls in my family :)
ReplyDeleteYou could me my daughter!! Always hankering after 'long hair' and 'pretty clothes'.. it's a hard battle to convince kids that beauty is more than looks. Mercifully Barbies are not a role model for her - thank God for small mercies.
ReplyDeleteYes its hard to convince the little minds :) even harder when few shy one's won't speak about their inner thoughts.
DeleteA very BEAUTIFUL post, indeed. I never had a Barbie my entire life! Wonder why! But I "hate" it(jus cos it's beautiful and tall and slim) :P hihi.... Waiting for more, Ananya...
ReplyDeleteThanks Sweety :)
DeleteIt's the internal beauty that counts the most! :) Many a young girl feels inadequate when comparing herself to Barbie. There's a movement afoot to make these dolls more realistic and I applaud that.
ReplyDeleteThe Doglady's Den
Yes Debbie, There was also a post I read today which said "Small black girls hate barbie", where the author in detail shows how later the company just changed the skin tone of the barbie but everything else remained the same, which led to disappointment again. There are Indian Barbies also, but not sure how young girls react to them.
DeleteBeautiful post and I really hate Barbies. They portray a very different body image to young girls that being a stick thin and fair is the only way to be beautiful. Real women are not Barbies ;)
ReplyDeleteSo true !
DeleteWhen I was a young girl (when Barbie first came out) I was disappointed because my Barbie looked just like me except I hadn't matured to that point, yet. I wanted a Barbie with black hair. Do you know, I feel better now that I'm fatter, because I've made peace with myself and have learned to be who I am. Thank you for this nice blog. I never had an aunt like yours, but I did have my grandmother.
ReplyDeletehttp://marypurpari.blogspot.com/2014/04/b-is-for-breast-cancer-in-men.html
Thanks Mary, am glad you liked what I wrote.
DeleteAnanya, that was a brilliant write up. I came singing barbie barbie.. while I visited this post.. now after reading I am happy that you conveyed a message.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and beautiful message :)
ReplyDeleteI was once fascinated with Barbie like crazy! I used to eat, sleep, bathe, play with my barbie... you have got a wonderful message...
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteSage advice! Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI have an entire collection of Barbies! everything from fridge to furniture to Ken to everything...Wow you reminded me of my craze :)
ReplyDeleteAh Barbie. The bane of every little girl's self esteem! It messes with your head and yet we all probably played with her.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! An introspective post. Good luck with the AtoZ!
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice and a beautiful post. Good luck with the A2Z!! :)
ReplyDeleteI never cared about barbies much. Very wise words
ReplyDeleteis this the same aunt who gave you sound advice about reel and real life difference... you are lucky enough to have such a source of wisdom in your family :) nice post Ananya
ReplyDeleteThe last few lines need to be said to every little girl. Good one!
ReplyDeleteIshithaa
#AtoZChallenge
Very nice post. I'm sure your all of that. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the concept! Barbie beauty is just the outer beauty!! We should be beautiful within! :)
ReplyDeleteBarbies were in vogue during my childhood as well... Your aunt said wonderful lines... beauty is not only about the outer coverings but is more about our souls! Every kid should be taught this... :)
ReplyDeleteI had lots and lots of barbies and somehow I too compared myself with them :-)
ReplyDeleteRicha
A very relevant post, Ananya. What we need to teach our children everyday :)
ReplyDeleteVery good advice, Ananya! Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteYou just sounded like my mom and granny when i read :) :) Nice one :)
ReplyDeleteI love your aunt already! Such sound advice. I wish more girls had such significant 'interventions' in their lives!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet post and your aunt is a gem. How lovely that you had someone to point this out to you at a young age. I wish I would have had that. I always had lots of Barbies and always felt like I could never compare to them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful aunt! Great values. :) Beauty is but skin-deep!
ReplyDeleteVidya Sury
Rocking with Team Damyanti in the A to Z Challenge
Blogging Betties: Are you one?
Blood Pressure and Living with Type 2 Diabetes
That was a heartwarming one...
ReplyDeleteI wish I could make my four year old read and understand this...
These days even four year olds want to feel and look beautiful....
Hmm :) She is very wise to have given you such wonderful advice :)
ReplyDeleteLovely post :) I say the same thing to my daughter so she doesn't get too full of air about her looks, doesn't lead a person anywhere if they don't realise that being a good person is far more important and loveable.
ReplyDeletevery sage advice .. last few lines wonderful message :)
ReplyDeleteNice post. I played with barbie as a kid, but never remember wanting to look like it luckily!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very lovely short piece, which rings with honesty. Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeletejean
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Nice message here. :)
ReplyDeleteThats good. Aunty gives good tips after all
ReplyDeleteLoved the message Ananya. Kudos to your Aunt and her wisdom.
ReplyDeleteBeauty is just skin deep. What matters is the soul and the virtues that make a person whole. Nice read Ananya. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been a Barbie fan, Ananya. She never seemed real to me. But you are lucky to have a wise aunt - she sounds like someone you could share teenage angst with.
ReplyDeleteMonica
You had a very wise aunt, Ananya.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2014, Latest Post
Twitter: @damyantig
#atozchallenge
Absolutely agree with yoru thoughts, Ananya! Barbie's vital statistics when translated to real life is quite ridiculous is what I have heard.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely. Such an important lesson for us all, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteBrava!! Glad to find you via not only A to Z but also the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Woot WOot!
Julie Jordan Scott
A to Z Challenge Participant/2011,12,13,14.....
The Bold Writer from A to Z
touching lovely post. a wise hunt gave good lessons.
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of one of the poems I learnt in school. Indeed a nice post, Ananya! Beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteonly if this was driven into minds of all the yung gals
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of that girl who wanted to marry a man with lots of money cuz she was beautiful. She was basically told by a wealthy individual that her beauty would fade and that she wasn't considered a wise investment. I truly believe in building our inner qualities. However society will always those standards on both girls and boys.
ReplyDeleteWell my childhood never had barbies. Apparently my father hated em and wouldn't let me buy any. I'm glad cuz now I dont have a distorted image of beauty :)
ReplyDeleteThe great Barbie debate...to play with, increase their size, or ban them. Great advice from an aunt!!! Barbie is a toy. She isn't a role model. It isn't in a child comparing them self to the doll that creates the issue with outer beauty, but rather the response of the adults in the child's life.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful post .... loved the deep underlying message :-)
ReplyDeletei dont think we ever think about the effects that a barbie doll can make to small children , but we understand as adults and can see that theres an influence as such to want t be like one, i always look for variety of size, colour shape of dolls for my lil ones x
ReplyDeleteBarbie is my favourite too but rest assured you are a perfect combination of beauty and brains.
ReplyDeleteI too blogged about beauty.
Thank you very much for sharing your views and making my simple post so special :)
ReplyDelete