The Looks Book.

Growing up and having to deal with puberty is a difficult thing. Especially if it shows in the form of acne and smelling really bad.

My little sister who is 12, is at the starting line of puberty and she has recently been getting spots on her face which is very normal. I've been through it myself and you learn to not worry about it as spots will go eventually go and it's alright to have them as they are a part of growing up.

Telling her this, she's still worried about her spots, so I ask her why.
She said it's because they're not pretty.
I said well it is part of growing up, you know hormones and stuff. You're bound to go through that stage.
Then she said, "Well no one wants to be ugly do they?"
After hearing that, I said, "Stop worrying about your spots. People get it off more worse than you and it can scar."

She just shrugged.
Pfft. Teenagers.

It disheartened me because looks seem to be her main priority, as well as for many other young girls like her. Although, I remember being that like in Secondary school.

I wasn't the most attractive young lady in Primary and it ran into the beginning of Secondary. I used to be like my baby sister. Get up early, tend to my hair, put a bit of make-up on. I didn't worry about my grades then. Thankfully, my sister does.

My baby sister has always been a very pretty young lady but she's never had to experience what's more important than looks. She hasn't had the chance to go from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. And thank god too, it was a long process and a long time before my blossoming came.

When you're not that attractive, you look at other qualities like unique skills you have. Boys are off the agenda since they are very much visual creatures. The only talent I found was that I was good at drawing and can whistle with my throat. That was pretty much it.

My sister's behaviour seems egotistic. She's a pretty girl and she should definitely flaunt it, but not by putting make-up on and wearing mini skirts to school. She's naturally beautiful. Although, I did that but my mother caught me out and I was back into my unsightly manly trousers/ granny skirt. Perhaps she was trying to tell me something back then. I'm all about comfort now and they were quite comfy, despite how horrible looking they were.

In the news recently, there has been an outrage by young children accessing porn, with girls as young as 13 admiring to look like porn stars (for example, "narrow waist, long slim legs and big boobs."). Boys want their girlfriends to look like that. Girls that young will conform to anything that they see. Although, I'm worried about why they are watching porn in the first place at that age. Back in my day, I was playing Nintendogs DS at 13.

No sister of mine is going to look like a porn star. She's going to look like a lady! However, she doesn't speak like one. Innit.

I've learnt that people find you attractive when you become content with yourself because then your happiness flows through.

My baby sister will one day learn what's more important.
She's just about to go through her teenage years. She's only 12 after all. It has been 8 years since I was as young as her and I'm still worrying about whether my hair bun will fall out but I don't spruce myself up as often anymore. Only on nights out and special occassions. It's a nice change to think about your looks once in a while.
When she is older, she can look as hot as she wants, but right now, grades first.

Like a wise man said to me, "You only have one life. But if you do it right, once is enough."