Why Do We Care?

I had a strange moment yesterday. It really made me stop and think why as women/girls we care so much about what others think. I mean we care about how we look, how our kids look, what our house looks like, how smart we are, and the list goes on and on. WHY?

My moment was this... I was getting my swimsuit on to take the girls to the public pool. Bridget told me to put on my pretty red one. I was of course putting on my "make you look 10lbs lighter" black one. I told her that I didn't want to wear the red one today. She said,"Please wear it." I replied with," I want to wear this one." I hate to say anything about fat to her for I don't want her ever thinking she is fat. I guess I am too late. I said," I think the red one makes me look a little bit fat in my tummy." She said "I know what you mean, I too have fat days." This almost broke my heart for we all know she doesn't have an ounce of fat on her.

So I ask again, why do we as women care about what others think?

I like who I am and what I have. I know I am smart, funny, rather kind, have a husband who loves me, and my beautiful kids are well behaved(most of the time). So why do I still feel like it is not enough? I am getting better about not caring so much when people come over and the house is messy. I have lost weight and still look in to the mirror and think it is not enough. Heck I am 34 years old and don't want to think about weight gain for the rest of my days. Thank God I can't stand to throw up, or the bowl of ice cream I just ate after my pizza would be in the toilet :)

Am I the only one out there like this? I am pretty sure I am not. What am I doing to my 2 daughters? Am I programing them to think these thoughts too? I sure hope not.