THIS episode is one that I personally will listen to more than once! Dr. Finlayson-Fife takes us through more concepts and ideas than I ever expected, going full-circle covering what modesty is, what it is NOT.
Questions we asked Dr. Finlayson-Fife:
- Please define it!
- How should we be teaching modesty?
- How do we teach it age-appropriately?
- How do we teach it without body-shaming, or sending the message that we are responsible for the thoughts/feelings/actions of others?
- Should it be addressed differently based on gender?
A few of my favorite takeaways:
- Modesty has very little to do with sexuality and more to do with how we are being.
- Modesty encompasses self-respect, understanding our value, and holding appropriate boundaries between that which is public and that which is private.
- Children tend to "map" the parent's level of comfort or discomfort with their bodies and their self-worth.
- The more clear and resolved a parent is on the topic of bodies and sexuality, the more their children will be able to "map" that level of comfort for themselves. (Parents who do the work to resolve for themselves unhelpful messages they may have received, help their children to have healthy understandings and respect for themselves and others.)
For more resources from Dr. Finlayson-Fife, visit her website:
http://www.finlayson-fife.com/
