Words on Parenting Wednesday is a weekly post series on the subject of parenting. I’ll talk about any adventures we have with our girls to motherhood experiences to fun and games for children.
When you hear the words, ‘perfect body,’ what do you think about? The perfect curve to your body? A flat stomach? An ideal weight?
We as women are trying to strive for that ‘perfect body.’ We want to get that magazine/super model look. But really, how many women have the perfect body? Probably not as many as you would think.
The so called perfect body should be the body you are in now. You are perfect the way you are. Love the body you are in.
If you are a mother, I bet you can list the many different ways your body as changed since having children. Your stomach isn’t perfect. You won’t be wearing a bikini ever again. You have stretch marks everywhere – even on your arms and legs. Your hips are wider than before. So that dress in your closet you were hoping to wear again doesn’t fit you anymore in the hips. Goodbye dress. The list could go on.
For me, the examples above are true. After having two girls, my body isn’t the same. Bikini? Nope. Never wearing one again. I tried on an one piece swimsuit about a month ago for the first time after having two children. The experience wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be. Stretch marks? I got them. Wider hips? Yep. I have a black dress and pencil skirt in my closet that I bought before I had children. I tried them on again not long ago hoping they would fit again. It fit everywhere except my hips. Way to tight.
Your body may not be perfect as you would like it. But when you see yourself in the mirror, remember those stretch marks and scars tells a story. You carried a life inside you for 9 months. In the end, those marks are way worth it, because you have beautiful children because of it. Your children don’t care if you have the so called ‘perfect body.’ They love you for who you are. So you should love youself for who you are too.
I was inspired to write this post when I read an article on Takenpart. A photographer named Jade Beall started out by posting a picture of her un-retouched postpartum body on her Facebook page. The photo became very popular and many women starting asking her to take pictures of their postpartum bodies. This whole event turned into a mission for Jade. She is hoping these pictures will help redefine beauty.
Check out the article. You’ll be glad you read it.
Jade wrote a book on this project called, ‘The Bodies of Mothers.’ You can order a signed copy of the book in the previous link.
Does your view of beauty change? What do you think is the perfect body?
heartloveshome.com 
I love your blog, glad I saw your post on instagram! xx
Thanks! I’m glad you like it! 🙂
What a lovely post! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Thanks!
We do need to love the bodies we are in. Why is it so hard for us?? Thank you for sharing. Beautiful
It seems like we think of all the negative things we don’t like about ourselves instead of the positive.
Such a beautiful post! My body has changed so drastically after giving birth. And I spent a long time trying to get my pre-birth body back, but I’ve learned to accept my new curves and lines. Thank you for sharing this great post on Turn It Up Tuesday! We love having you!
Thanks! Sometimes it’s hard to accept ourselves for what our bodies have become. And you’re welcome!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful post at Bacon Time.
You’re welcome and thanks for liking!
Thank you for sharing this post at City of Creative Dream’s City of Links on Friday! I appreciate you taking the time to party with me. Hope to see you again today 🙂
Such an important discussion to have. I recently published a post on this exact topic (http://lifebreathpresent.com/?p=1509). I love reading about postpartum bodies, coming to terms with them, the marvel that we have, and the complete intersections of all that a woman’s body is in today’s world.
Anyway, thanks for writing about postpartum bodies! 🙂
You’re welcome! It’s something that needs to be talked about.