“My body is for my children.
My arms are theirs to wrap around themselves into a hug,
to cradle my newborn and rock her to sleep,
and to carry my toddler and push my older kids on the swing.
My legs are theirs to climb with and chase through the park,
and they hold me upright all day long and keep me going, no matter what.
My wrinkles are theirs from nights spent awake moving little feet out of my back,
and early mornings playing with Dinosaurs when all I want to do is sleep.
My ears are theirs to listen to through coos to first words and never-ending stories.
My lips are theirs to kiss boo-boos,
and holds a voice that advocates for them and reminds them how loved they are.
So, mom bodies have cellulite, stretch marks, and saggy bellies, BUT they do so much.
And the last thing any mother should be made to feel after birthing a child is hate for the body that helped her do it.
But this is normal for a culture that expects perfect bodies from women no matter what they have going on in their lives.
So this is your reminder that this body is for our children.
And look at all it has done for them.
It brought them into this world,
made magic happen,
and has become their home.
So, it’s time we learn to love our bodies back.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Danielle Sherman-Lazar of New Jersey. You can follow her journey on Facebook and her blog. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories.
Read more from Danielle here:
I’m A Mother Who Calls Her Mom Every Day
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