Moms. One way or another we became Moms when children entered our world. Many of us through our own pregnancies. A lot of talk came up this past weekend at BlogHer about body image. Y of Joy Unexpected spoke of her "shame" over her stretch marks on her belly and how when she spoke of it women began to send her pictures of their own stomachs. I sat there and literally cried. Those stretch marks are badges of honor and we live in a world where because our bodies are not longer perfect after carrying our children, we can feel shame. That makes me sad. I love Y and would no matter what marks her body bears. But, moms, those marks are not something to ever be ashamed of.

Y's words really hit home with me. I have felt them. I still feel them at times.

You gave me my beautiful children, my three beautiful children. It should be easy to love you for that reason alone. I do love you for that. I do.

But, my God, I hate you too.

I hate you because I am a slave to you. I hate you because there are so many things in life I've not been able to do because of the fears and insecurities I have about you.

Your sagging breasts embarrass me.

Your gaping hole of a belly button repulses me.

Your stretch marks humiliate me.

Your loose, hanging skin infuriates me.

Just as a pregnant woman should never feel she looks "too huge" or "ugly" as she carries her baby. I found an amazing link of beautiful pregnant women. (Aren't they all, though?) You must go see this site. It is amazing.

And breastfeeding? Normal. Natural. Not somethingto be hidden or shoved to the side. (I was thrilled to see so many nursing moms at BlogHer not even blinking an eye at the fact that they were feeding their children just as no one seemed to even give it a second look. (Okay, when I asked Kristen Chase if I could kiss her baby's head and she said yes, I was a bit surprised to see that her baby was nursing at the time. Not horrified. Just surprised to get to know Kristen so well.) Erin of Queen of Spain has taken on the "hiding breastfeeding" issue herself with her tit brigade.

What is my point? Moms, you are beautiful. When you have stretch marks. When you are pregnant. When you are breastfeeding. You are beautiful. So, no more shame. Whether you are size 2 or size 22. You are loved by little people who think you are the world. You are their hero. Trust me when I say, the don't care about the things you are not happy with. They just love their Mom. And so do I.

So be proud of yourselves, Moms. You are beautiful.

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~Jenn is going to go forgive her hips now.~

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Cross posted on BlogHer.org
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You can also find my writing at Mommy Needs Coffee, Mommybloggers and Work It, Mom!