I read a blog post the other day about how to choose a bathing suit for a “mom bod.” It was written by a fellow mom who suggested the most flattering colors and cuts, plus ways to camouflage those parts of our post-baby bodies that are now apparently subpar. Since when did our bodies become unacceptable for public display simply because we have perpetuated the species?
Yes, parts have shifted, parts have stretched, and parts have sagged. But I’ve fought a long battle to reach the point of body acceptance, and there’s no way being a mom will change that! In fact, I love my mom bod!
As a teenager, I had a horrible time with my body. I thought my breasts were too small, my thighs were too big, and don’t even get me started on my stomach! I put my body through hell with diets aplenty and a stupid amount of exercise. The things I said about my body were things I would never say to my worst enemy.
When I got pregnant, I was ecstatic. My husband and I had been hoping and praying for a baby, and now my dream was coming true. Despite all the grief I gave my body over the years, it really came through for me. It was now home to a precious little embryo. As excited as I was, I worried about what would happen to my body. Society and the media taught me that pregnant women are fat, sexually undesirable, and need to lose the baby weight before it’s even put on. I didn’t buy into this. I loved my belly bump. I loved what it represented — the hope for the future, the completion of my family, the beginning of new adventures. What I didn’t love were people’s comments. But that’s for another time…
With every ounce I gained came an ounce of pride. I was doing this! I was growing a human! How cool is that? When I gave birth to my daughter, I truly understood what being a woman was and what my body was designed for. With each push, I was delighted as this baby human I had carried and nurtured for the past nine months came closer to being in my arms.
Once she was born, I realized that the size of my breasts really doesn’t matter. They feed her just fine. After all, that is what they’re there for, despite the Secret that Victoria is keeping. My stomach? Yes, it’s not the flattest it’s ever been. I could spend my time doing more crunches or trying the latest diet fad. But I’d rather spend my time with my daughter. I’d rather teach her that food is for enjoying, not for obsessing over. And I’d rather teach her that exercise is for fun and good health, and not for torture. And besides, she likes my belly just the way it is. Just like I love hers. And I hope she loves her belly and her cute little thighs forever.
You know what the most flattering bathing suit is for your mom bod? The one that gives you the widest smile. And guess what? That’s the one your kids will think is the most beautiful, too.
