An excerpt from the Oprah Winfrey Show 4-28-2006
Nikki and her mom:  Nikki recognizes how her mother's own poor self-image has affected her. "I've watched my mom pinch her fat or just say, 'My arms are ugly.' I've grown up watching her pick at herself. … Obviously I guess I'm now doing the same thing." 

Recognizing that often many childhood behaviors are learned, girls’ self image can really be improved when worked on with their moms.  Our service is unique because of our secret formula to help improve adolescent girls’ self esteem – including moms in the process.  Since moms often can pass down their own insecurities to their daughters, it is just as important to teach moms how to be effective role models as it is to teach girls effective tools for gaining confidence. 

Girls today are faced with many distractions, from drinking and sexual relations to weight issues and bullying.  Each of these behaviors creates potential risks to healthy living.  Development of a healthy psyche can help girls make the right choices in challenging situations and to become leaders among their peers—athletics often serves as a mechanism to facilitate this. 

By running programs that focus on building self-confidence through the use of sports, Moms As Mentors fosters mentoring relationships between moms and daughters, creates the courage in adolescents necessary to resist risky behaviors, and offers invaluable time for moms to bond with their daughters.  Plus, when moms and daughters do this together, they both have fun!