melissa mccarthyTo me, one of the trickiest challenges about being the mother of a daughter has always been making sure I don't pass on any of my own weird insecurities and body image issues. It doesn't take much to plant the seed, unfortunately -- complain about your thighs out loud one too many times and presto! Your kid hates her thighs, too. So I really admire Melissa McCarthy for not caving in to the pressure associated with being overweight and refusing to publicly shame herself.

Because for some completely infuriating reason, it seems like McCarthy's size gets brought up every time the poor woman gives an interview, and the actress is smart enough to know that someday, her daughters (Vivian, 5, and Georgette, 2) are going to read Mommy's answers to those weighty questions.

Perfect example? McCarthy's recent interview with "Good Housekeeping" magazine. Somehow, the star managed to address the tired old topic without validating the idea that size and self-worth are connected:

“Pretty much everyone I know, no matter what size, is trying some system. Even when someone gets to looking like she should be so proud of herself, instead she's like, 'I could be another three pounds less; I could be a little taller and have bigger lips.' Where does it end? Sometimes I wish I were just magically a size six and I never had to give [my weight] a single thought,” she said.

“But I am weirdly healthy, so I don’t beat myself up about it -- it wouldn’t help, and I don’t want to pass that on to my girls.”
 
Then McCarthy went on to talk about her family's healthy eating, exercise habits, and all-around awesome life, adding:
 
“You just have to say, ‘It’s pretty damn good. I am right here at the moment and I’m OK with it. I’ve got other things to think about.’”
 
Which means her daughters will have other things to think about, too. And that's awesome. Well done.
 
Do you worry about passing your body image issues on to your daughters?
 
 

Image via Splash