I just got through reading 2 incredible posts by 2 different women, talking about beauty and image. I LOVE them both. I shared them on my FB page or you can go to Momastery and read them.
Here's the thing...
I care. Not in that, I have to be in a size 2 and have perfect make up kind of way. It is more in the, I'd like my jeans to fit and not have to worry about that extra stuff hanging over the top that makes me feel so uncomfortable and makes me count the minutes until I can get home and put the elastic waist band back on. Yes, all that extra is there because I have 2 beautiful kids, and I LOVE those kids but I don't love the extra stuff. I don't need it there to remind me of my great kids. Those kids are etched in my heart but I'd rather they not be etched on my hips.
I've read so many blogs and articles that say, embrace the baby body and love yourself because those rolls, scars, and marks are there because you gave someone else life. I am not disagreeing with that at all, but sometimes I think it is used as an excuse to keep us comfortable and, in my case, unhealthy. (I may or may not have had a piece of cheesecake while my children were "resting.")
I know that I will never have a personal chef or a nanny to watch my kids while I work out for hours every day. So if we know that, let's not compare ourselves to the celebrities that have those things. I mean, we are not all getting paid by Weight Watchers to be a spokesperson while we lose the weight. Let's just stop with the comparisons and be realistic.
I am just saying, I am not ok with the post baby leftovers that are still hanging on 4+ years later. And if you're not ok with that either, that is OK. We'll start a support group. (Seriously.) If you are content, I admire you.
Let's see ourselves for who we are. Let's focus on being strong, both physically and mentally. Let's focus on food as fuel (which is REALLY hard for me, hence the cheesecake mentioned earlier). Let's dig deep, realize we all have baggage and crap (whether people see it or not) and deal with it. Talk to someone. I guarantee that when you open your mouth, your friend will not be shocked and you will feel lighter. Secrets keep you trapped. Let's embrace who we are. The whole package of ourselves. Let's not deny that we were created perfectly in the image of the only One who matters. Let's get after it and in the process try to teach our daughters and nieces and cousins and every little girl that they are special and unique and it doesn't matter what the tag says. Let's teach them what REAL beauty looks like.
