It’s summertime. The season where I find myself with a little knot in my stomach as I attempt to find a swimsuit that can flatter a woman who has c-section scars, love handles, and stretch marks. These things I wear proudly, feeling like a tiger who has earned her stripes.
However, swimsuits are not as forgiving. I remember back before children (you know, when I thought I was “fat”) and being a tad excited about this time of year. The cute shorts, the tank tops, the brightly-colored swimsuits. Now I find myself priming (the Amazon version of Googling!) swimsuits with shorts.
It’s a different season in life. One that maybe a few of you have experienced with the induction into motherhood.
I am not saying that we as mothers let ourselves go, and I am sure many mamas out there are in the best shape of their lives, it’s just harder. At least for me, the struggle is real. Chasing children, eating quick-not-always-the-healthiest meals, and the stress snacks that I sneak when the kids aren’t paying attention have managed to add up. This season is beautiful, chaotic, and not as swimsuit-friendly as I would have dreamed. However, now that I have entered my 30’s, I have decided I will look at it from a different perspective. This year I am choosing to wear confidence. Confidence is always in style, and frankly sexy as… heck.
My body has been through some magnificent changes. It is like a canvas that has been drawn on, stretched a tad, but the artist loves it for the masterpiece that it is. I am not at my goal weight at the moment, but I love me, for me. The person I am today is way more beautiful than the younger version from years back. Beautiful in different ways. I love deeper, I care for others on a whole new level (the mama in me I am sure), and I love my body for all it has been through.
When I wake up in the morning, I am getting into the habit of looking in the mirror and appreciating one thing about myself. Whether it is a good hair day or my make-up is on-point, I acknowledge it, embrace it, and choose to love it. When we love ourselves for who we are, it makes it easier to make healthier decisions and want to be healthy.
Choose to love the season you are in. Even if there are an extra 10 pounds or 100 pounds. Love your skin, love your soul. After that, slip on whatever swimsuit you like! After all, most of us mamas are fighting the same battles and at the end of the day, we just need to support each other and promote self-love!
