Facing Self-Esteem Issues

For us adults, life in Japan is sometimes on our self-images. I mean, most of us can't speak the language enough to express ourselves as freely as we'd like, a lot of us only have the Japanese reading skills of a shogakkusei (primary school student), and we are constantly surrounded by very thin people. Until now, I have been consoled by the belief that this attack on self-esteem didn't extend to my children, but I just discovered I was mistaken.

Recently, Jared came to me and said, "Mom, I don't like my face." I was shocked. Jared has always been proud, if not slightly egotistical about his appearance. As a toddler, he constantly gazed into the mirror and smiled at himself. He even practiced posing for imaginary cameras in his free time. Up until lately, he was a photograph hog. What has happened? Is it normal for an 8-year-old boy to not like his face?

I assured him that his face was very handsome and asked him if the reason he was upset is because his face doesn't look Japanese. He didn't directly answer. I then asked if the kids at school make fun of his face. He said, "Sometimes." I let him know that if all the boys in his school had to honestly choose which of the other kids they wanted to look like, he would be the most popular choice. He seemed to feel a little better, but I am still worried.

(The picture displayed is a simple cell phone pic of Jared I happened to have here at work. Please let him know what you think.)