I think parents might be blind to it. I think both my kinds are more attractive than average and always have — but I look back now at their baby pictures and they look like ordinary babies. At the time, I would have sworn they were the most attractive babies ever. So I doubt my current judgment that they’re unusually attractive elementary school is unbiased either.

I think you know. One of our children is clearly very attractive (dimples/long lashes/big smile) and people comment on it. Obviously the others don’t get those comments, so you know objectively they are not as conventionally beautiful. Doesn’t really matter because you love them and love makes them beautiful to you.

I have two girls. I think both were objectively cute/pretty during childhood. Puberty for the older one has been interesting…we will see what happens on the other side. Younger DD is about to enter puberty and I think something similar will happen. Both seem to be getting the larger nose from my husband’s side. It seems to look fine on the adults but maybe it’s just hard on a teen face? Both have pointed out they got the [Dad’s side’s] nose. I just tell them they look beautiful. Both girls are smart and have good personalities so it will be fine.

DS was a really cute, very good looking little kid. People commented on it all the time and I was rather in awe of his looks. He was much better looking that either parent. Now he's an average looking 20-something. He could look better but he's in college and doesn't care to try so the best he usually does it average.

DD was an awkward little girl. Her hair never really did anything, her teeth were uneven, she was cute, but never particularly pretty. Of course I thought she was adorable because she had a lovely personality, but she wasn't a looker and no one ever commented on her looks like they did with her brother.

Now she's in college and she's tall and think and her hair is really coming into its own and she has lovely eyes and is really quite striking. I try to be objective because there are many beautiful young women, but she's got a very nice figure and is really very beautiful. Go figure. Braces helped!

Anonymous wrote:I think most people think their kids are beautiful because we see them day in and day out and love them. Also, most kids are pretty cute when they’re young. I have elementary boys who are sporty/athletic and I can tell they are conventionally attractive which makes sense because so is my DH. But who knows what puberty will throw at them. I’m sure I’ll always think they’re beautiful no matter what, but I would think a parent realizes when their child is going through an awkward phase. I refuse to even look at photos of myself from middle school because ouch! Thank goodness I came into my own after that.

Agree. Puberty is not a good time for most and it’s really hard to tell if someone will be attractive until after puberty because hormones can change a lot. I find it weird when people post things like “Our Emmy, the most gorgeous girl in the world!” Or anything that is a blatant superlative “Jenny is the most loving big sister ever!” Like, why do Emmy and Jenny have to be the best in the world? People are allowed to post whatever they want and most people find their own children cute even if they are not conventionally attractive. What I find weird are posts where people go out of their way to compare their child favorably to every other child in the world ever. It’s unnecessary and it reflects insecurity or lack of awareness.

I feel like I am pretty objective about my kids' level of attractiveness.

One of them was a genuinely beautiful baby / toddler who is now awkward looking. The other one has been sorta average his whole life.

I love them to pieces and I think they're adorable, but I am not delusional into thinking they're objectively more attractive than they are.

I say this honestly: almost every child I know is attractive. I think kids have pretty generic features that make them universally nice to look at. Sure, the kid who has a mean scowl or is yelling doesn't spark that "ohh what a sweetie" but honestly, they are all cute.

2 of my 3 kids are very conventionally attractive. One is less conventionally attractive but she is still striking in a different way.

I think most people think their kids are beautiful because we see them day in and day out and love them. Also, most kids are pretty cute when they’re young. I have elementary boys who are sporty/athletic and I can tell they are conventionally attractive which makes sense because so is my DH. But who knows what puberty will throw at them. I’m sure I’ll always think they’re beautiful no matter what, but I would think a parent realizes when their child is going through an awkward phase. I refuse to even look at photos of myself from middle school because ouch! Thank goodness I came into my own after that.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 kids and think they are gorgeous in their own way. I kind of thought all parents thought their kids were pretty, cute or handsome. No?

On the flip side, can a parent "see" if their child is unattractive or unconventionally unattractive? For example, there is this mom that posts on FB all of the time and her child is overweight, has facial features similar to Megan Markeles father.

Are you actually saying that the mother should be ashamed of the child and not post pictures? Please spend a little time thinking about what kind of a human being you want to be.

I think so. My kids are not objectively handsome/pretty at all, but *I* think they're very cute!

However, photos are separate from that. I don't do pictures at home, and I'm not on social media. I still think we're a cute family. We're just not into photo-taking or displaying.

People talk behind your back about how ugly your kids are too, don’t worry.

Is she not allowed to display pictures of her child if her child is not “conventionally attractive”? All children are beautiful because they are youthful and carefree. And of course you think your own children are beautiful, that’s normal.

I have 2 kids and think they are gorgeous in their own way. I kind of thought all parents thought their kids were pretty, cute or handsome. No?

On the flip side, can a parent "see" if their child is unattractive or unconventionally unattractive? For example, there is this mom that posts on FB all of the time and her child is overweight, has facial features similar to Megan Markeles father.