Sunday, July 5, 2015

Confronting Body Image Issues Post-Baby

Based on the recent pictures that I have posted on social media, many of you can guess where I am this week- yes, my family and I are at the beach. Most years, I have been so excited for my annual beach trip but this year I was actually sort of dreading it. This journal entry is about confronting my negative self-image issues after having a baby in hopes of instilling some peace of mind to some moms and momma-to-be's out there who are or will be experiencing the same thing.

I was not looking forward to going to the beach this year because I was (and still am) insecure about being nearly 3 months post-partum and not having my pre-baby body back. I have a very petite sister-in-law and mother-in-law and I was dreading having to stand next to them in bathing suits and cute little beach outfits and wasn't focused on the big picture. The big picture was and is this-- No one cares about what anyone looks like in a bathing suit or what they are wearing at the pool, beach, or anywhere for that fact. If someone actually gets offended by my 15 extra pounds that I am carrying because of having a baby then that is their problem, not mine. I also came to the realization that it really isn't even about me anymore. This trip is about spending time with family and making memories with them. The look on my son's face when we arrived to the beach was priceless. The way he smiled while squirting me with his super soaker at the pool meant way more to me than looking good in a bikini. When Sawyer is older and is thinking back on this beach trip, he isn't going to remember whether or not I looked good in my bathing suit, but rather the fact that I was spending time with him and living in the moment with him.

The truth of the matter is that I am still a little insecure about it all. I don't like being 15 pounds more than what I think I should weigh. I also know that the weight will fall off in time. I didn't gain almost 50 pounds overnight. No. It took 40 weeks to gain that weight and it will take at least that long to get it all off. I want to challenge all moms, myself included, to remember two things next time you feel insecure about what you look like after having a baby- 1. You just birthed another life and that is something not to be forgotten. You are a super woman for sustaining another human being inside of you for 9+ months and you deserve to love yourself for that. 2. Remember that you are beautiful no matter what size you are. Your kids will adore you regardless of your weight. All they care about is the time that you spend with them.

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