From Others

Words from others...


"Wow Chandra! I just read your last blog entry on swimwear and had to write you.


I grew up with the exact same swimwear standards. It left me feeling REALLY self-conscious at a young age about my body, as if something was wrong with me that I needed to cover up. It took meeting my husband to really break that thought pattern inside of me. Having a man tell me I was beautiful encouraged me to embrace my beauty and not hide it. His love broke those chains that I'd been wearing for so long.


We had a pool growing up and were never allowed to swim with the opposite sex. We had girl swim and boy swim. And yes, the baggy t-shirts that clung to your body were worn and, actually with our crowd, by the boys too. Now if it was just our family swimming we mixed genders and could remove our t-shirts, but us girls still had to wear long shorts. (I'm proud to say that this is the first summer that my tan line doesn't stop right above the knee) :)


Although there are obvious lines of modesty that shouldn't be crossed, this legalistic view of modesty that we grew up with crushes girls' spirits and crushed mine. We natural want to be to pretty and to be seen as pretty. It's part of who we are. But instead, I grew up always on edge wondering if this outfit or this swim attire would be considered acceptable for our current crowd. Although my family was strict we weren't severly strict; but, our friends were and I just knew that certain outfits shouldn't be worn if we were seeing certain friends. Talk about taking all the fun out of a girl's wardrobe!


I remember when I first got my license running an errand to Wal-Mart for my mom. Before getting what she needed, I walked through the clothing section and selected some outfits that I would never have been allowed to wear. I think they were some non-baggy, sleeveless, form flattering tops and sun dresses. I remember standing in front of the changing room mirror in amazement...I looked like the other girls. I was just as pretty as they were! I couldn't believe it! Over the next few years before I met S. I would periodically stop at clothing stores just to remind myself the I could be pretty in those clothes. It was good therapy for me.


Anyway, I just wanted to share all that with you. Thank you for writing the article. Another step in the healing process that reminded me of where I'd come from and where God's brought me. It's nice to know a kindred spirit who's seen what I've seen."

**********************************************************************************
 
"I wanted to thank you for your informative blog on homeschooling. I was considering homeschooling my kindergartner after learning that our state plans on cutting millions more from education next year, although I was hesitant to do so. I found your blog while researching the homeschooling movement and after reading it I've decided to keep her in the public school she attends. Thank you for your honesty and for having the strength to share your experience."