The mom bod
Saggy breasts. Tummy pooch. Thunder thighs. Tiger stripes.
I think – I know – there was a time in my life that these things would have really bothered me. In fact, I remember times – pre-motherhood – that I thought my beautiful body was less than perfect. My 27 year old self liked short skirts and high heels and used all of that cleavage to her advantage.
Now, I embrace my mom bod. I’m not my pre-preg weight, and that’s okay. I’m working towards being healthy – that’s my goal. Those stretch marks and lines that grew with each baby in my belly? I’m good. This bod has served me well and I’m keeping it – stripes or no stripes – although I just might skip this summer’s short-shorts craze.
The saggy boobs? When you’re bigger than a DD, it’s just inevitable, right?
(I remember once someone telling me about the pencil test, now I understand.)
I was supposed to get a breast reduction before I had kids because of back issues. The doctor convinced me that I’d want to wait until after having kids because it might interfere with breastfeeding. Joke’s on me – I wasn’t a really good lactater, these boobies are just for show! I could have eased the strain on my back 10 years ago!
I have to admit, a boob job just might be in my future. Slightly smaller, slightly (ha ha, “slightly”) perkier. While I don’t feel any shame or embarrassment over my mom bod, I don’t see why there’s any shame in changing things either. Why is there a stigma about tummy tucks and lipo and botox, for that matter? Why shouldn’t we ditch the veins and plump things up if we want? Why shouldn’t we accept who we are, embrace ourselves as mothers and feel free to do what we want and look the way we want?
I say “Raise ’em and tuck ’em, if you got ’em.”
(No, I don’t actually say it, but I’m going to start.)
I’ve talked to too many moms that aren’t happy with their bodies. Sometimes it’s that breasts got smaller, asses got flatter or things just aren’t where they should be. Frankly, I’ve got way too much to do in my day to waste time on my waistline woes. Accept it or change it – those should be the only two options. Dwelling – that’s not a real option, that’s just a way to make yourself more self-conscious.
You know what self-consciousness leads to? It leads to all of those family photos without mom – or with mom grudgingly appearing, hiding in the background because she isn’t comfortable with herself. It leads to mom not wanting to spend the day by the pool or at the beach. Or sitting covered up in a 10,000° heatwave instead of running around and playing.
Frolicking.
Comfort. Confidence.
Now reality may have to set in for some. I don’t have the energy to go back to being a size 6, but having kids is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my whole life, and my mom bod is proof of that, with every line, curve and added shoe size that came with each baby.
(Actually, I think I’m most upset about the change in shoe size. Carrying those boys somehow pushed my feet up to an 11. This does not make for a happy shoe shopping experience, never mind my beautiful collection that no longer fit. I can only hope they went to a dancing queen and socialite that put them all to good use. There’s absolutely nothing I can do about the feet, so I had to switch from shoes to purses.)
Find beauty in your mom bod. You earned it for the most wonderful reasons of all.
We all go through it and there’s a wonderful blog that explores everything about the post-pregnancy body. Visit The Shape of a Mother to see how beautifully and perfectly imperfect the mom bod truly is.
