Jamie Janosz

Beauty, they tell me, is in the eye of the beholder. But what if the beholder is yourself? Whenever I tell my teenage daughter she's beautiful, she tells me, "You have to say that. You're my mom." And I know how she feels. It is difficult to feel confident in your own appearance. Growing up, I had a terrible self image. I was way, way too skinny. I know for some of you that might sound appealing, but it wasn't. I was the kind of stick thin where clothes don't fit and boys don't look at you. I'm glad I'm past those days. Now - as I'm just about to turn 50, I feel more at home with how I look than I ever have. I weigh quite a bit more than I did back then. I look in the mirror and see graying roots and crooked teeth, but I also see kind eyes and a ready smile. I feel happy and comfortable in my skin. But, beautiful? Recently, Dove - the beauty products company - tried an experiment. On a busy building entrance they placed large ...

My daughter told me recently that I am a part of the "gracefully aging" club. She intended this as a compliment. It came about when I was helping her choose an outfit to wear to junior high school. Because we werein the midst of spring, I suggested that she put a cardigan sweater over her t-shirt. "Mom," she sighed. "No one wears cardigans in my school. Except, maybe, the old teachers." "What? They're so cute! I wear cardigans," I insisted. "Well...they look good on you ," she said, back-peddling quickly. "But aren't they only worn by older teachers?" I pushed. Ever the diplomat, my beautiful and much younger offspring replied, "Yes, mom. But you look great. You're part of the gracefully aging club." Sigh. I am in my mid-forties. Actually, later mid-forties. I am only three short years away from the dreaded AARP application arriving in the mail. There are things I would want to wear that ...