I made this doll to celebrate a memory I share with my parents. Maybe the doll can be a reminder to other young girls.
When I was a young girl just beginning to notice boys, probably around the age of 11, my daddy sat me down and told me the story of "The Squeezed Tomato". My mom had heard the story from Pat Boone who was a guest on the Mike Douglas Show back in the early 70s. She shared it with my dad and either he or both of them repeated the story to me and my two sisters throughout the years.
The story went something like this...
Once there was a bright red, lovely tomato at the grocery store. She sat with all of the other tomatoes waiting to be chosen to leave the produce section. Boys were the shoppers. They would come by and "squeeze" the different tomatoes that "let" them. Now, be aware that a tomato has the power to stay sitting on the shelf. The boys cannot pick her up unless she agrees to let him. You can talk and smile at boys as you remain on the shelf. Smiling and being friends with the boys is fine. This way you will stay a bright red, lovely tomato.
BUT, if you allow the boys to pick you up and squeeze you, then you can become bruised and rotten. Especially if you allow a LOT of boys to squeeze you! And who wants a rotten, squishy tomato? Yuck! Not many boys, when there are other bright red, lovely tomatoes to choose from. So always remember, "Don't be a squeezed tomato!" One day when your future husband comes into the store he will see you as the bright red, lovely tomato that you are!
I shared the story with my daughter, and hopefully she will tell her child. There were a few modifications I made to the story. Like, it's ok if you don't want to leave the store; it's cool if you just hang with your tomato girlfriends and choose to not be on "display";
making a mistake doesn't mean your rotten; you get the idea. But the story's general message of self-worth is there. Simple, easy to understand. I have never forgotten it.
Let's just say, some boys like ketchup though! :)
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