Regardless of whether you're already planning the next date in your head or plan on never calling her again, brewing a cup of coffee is one of those small gestures of kindness you should extend to everyone. (If I have to make the trek back home in last night's dress, the least you can do is offer me a cup of joe.) Bonus points if you have a dedicated, well-honed coffee routine.
I have no clue how to help her because every time I say that she is beautiful, she says I'm only saying that because I'm her mother. She is surrounded by social media images, unrealistic beauty standards and constant comparisons, and I fear that these influences have shaped how she sees herself way more than I ever could. I feel helpless watching her struggle with such intense self-criticism at such a young age.
"I was kind of getting to the stage of my career where I was starting to get quite comfortable," she tells Katie Byrne on the latest episode of the Money Talks podcast. "I launched these dating events called Table for Six around the same time where I sent three single ladies and three single men on group dinner dates, and it literally just took off."
"Money is more than just dollars and cents - it's highly emotional, with our life experiences shaping how we feel about money," adds Dr. Traci Williams, a certified financial therapist. "In fact, a recent survey conducted by Chime found that 39% of men say they feel pressure to appear more financially stable than they actually are. That pressure can make people defensive or avoidant. Normalizing money talks early helps take the stigma out and shows that it's about partnership, not judgment."
