I have talked a bit about this site before, but this one was wonderful, a very well written passionate piece. The site is The Shape of A Mother, I have a link to it on my sidebar, and it is chock full of photographs of real women in various stages of undress, and various stages in their reproductive lives. There is alot of nudity, so if you are offended by that, then stay away.
This would have been some life-saving stuff for me back when I was a new mom and all my friends were still totally what our society considers to be "hot", "sexy", "bathing suit-worthy" and I was home with my rolls and my marks and my mama body feeling like a freak, a true anomaly. Ha! I look fine and so do you, and even though it can be a daily struggle to connect up what we see in the mirror, what we see in the media, what we feel like in the dark, what we feel like we should think when we read all those great feminism books, maybe the pics on this website, when visited every so often, can be added to that jumble in our minds of what Mothers look like. anyways I like it. I can always find someone on there with something to say that resonates, and it is a worthwhile read.
6 comments:
Once again, I'm so glad you wrote this.
Last night my husband and I found out my SIL is getting married in Hawaii in August. My husband's mother is paying for the airfare and hotel rooms for a week for all of his siblings and spouses, and all we'll have to pay for is food and the rental car. This will be approximately 6-8 weeks after our baby is born, depending on when she decides to schedule her arrival. I'm not sure I want to be seen in a bathing suit anytime soon after she gets here, but how do you turn down an opportunity like this? I guess I could start lifting weights to try to tone my upper arms now, or I could just lay back and enjoy these last few weeks of my last pregnancy, and not worry about what I look like when I get there. The latter option sounds better. :)
Okay, obviously I wrote that first comment before I followed the link.
Wow!
What confidence! What happiness in herself and the role and function of her body! That was inspiring to me on so many levels. Thank you for sharing that. Thank you.
Kelley, it so cheering to see that my latest posts have been timely for you--probably 'cuz we are almost the exact same amount preggers!?
Have a blast in Hawaii, and good old Joy says: if you arent bleeding, are able to walk, and the baby lets you put her down from the ole' nursies long enough for an actual swim, then you are the VICTOR, Mommy-arms be damned!
Sounds like a blast...no one is going to give a crap, and seriously, if they do, pass them your baby but do her diaper loose on purpose so she can have a nice yellow blow-out on their laps!
: )
Traveling with newborns...my only experince has been like to the grocery store and library and stuff...it will be a massive ordeal and toning arms will probably be SO far from your priority list, it will seem very very laughable come July/August. but the real point is, you are adorable and when you finally get there the sun and scenery will be well worth it, I bet. What a cool opportunity! Hawaii!
XOXOXOXO
Hi, Joy. Great link. I know I haven't commented in, like, forever. But I've been following your posts and wishing you well. Take care.
Joy, I appreciate the wonderful comment, and I LOVE the idea about letting the complainers hold a loosely-diapered kid. :) Haha.
Actually, though, after a complete emotional breakdown last night and this morning, I've decided not to go, though Jon will since it's his sister. I don't feel that I can justify spending the money when we are turning our lives upside-down to get out of debt. Besides, my SIL told me in pretty certain terms that she'd be perfectly happy not seeing me again for a long time when we had our altercation in December. Not a pleasant memory. I was a total wreck this morning because of it. Now that we've decided that Jon will go without me, I feel completely calm and happy about the whole thing. I'll miss him and he'll miss me, but it will keep us on-track for our goals instead of making us lose focus so soon after starting.
By the way, do you find yourself falling apart more this time than with your boys? Holy cow! I feel like I'm on a super-emotional rollercoaster. I cried most of Sunday, last night, and most of this morning. So weird. I keep telling myself it's because I'm pregnant, but this is seriously getting ridiculous. Thank goodness I've got a midwife appointment tomorrow with the one I adore. :) Are you experiencing all this weirdness, too?
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