Let’s be real…

I get overly self conscious about my extra belly skin from having two very big pregnancy bellies. I hate my stretch marks. I can’t fit into most of my shorts due to my wider hips. & I will try on 5 different shirts so I don’t look 5 months pregnant.

But you know who doesn’t care?

My kids don’t.

& in reality, I should be proud of what my body is and was capable of doing.

I had two VERY hard pregnancies and I measured bigger than 40 weeks with both of them (& neither pregnancies went over 36 weeks).

Not everyone can get pregnant, even I had a hard time.

So why am I self conscious?

Because we were taught to be. We were taught what the “perfect” woman looks like. We were taught what the “perfect” weight, height and body style looks like.

& it didn’t come from a book.

It came from our family, our friends and from EVERY marketing sign/advertisement out there.

It may not be obvious, but it’s there.

We have stereotypes for girls, for boys and for our bodies in general.

It’s awful.

But you know who doesn’t care?

My kids don’t.

My kids want their mom. My kids want their dad. They don’t care what we wear, what we look like or if we are “perfect”.

They also don’t care about pink, blue or meeting any certain stereotype.

But they are learning it.

They are learning it from watching tv, from seeing that sissy gets a pink cup and that Holden “shouldn’t” get his nails painted because he’s a boy.

& we aren’t trying to do it on purpose.

We were taught it and we are now unconsciously teaching our children.

But we are also trying to break the cycle.

We are trying to be proud of our bodies in our household. We are trying NOT to bring up weight, image or sex specific topics in our household. & we are letting Riley have the blue cup and letting Holden paint his toes too.

Because really, who cares?

I know my kids don’t.

#bodyimage #stereotypes