Love this. The push to love every part of yourself always, as if body parts or normal body things can only be acceptable if they're beloved or considered beautiful, drives me a bit nuts. I've written about this before--things like "rebranding" stretch marks into "tiger stripes" to make them more positive/palatable. I don't think we have to. They can just exist. I don't think every part of our bodies needs to be empowered or thought of positively for them to just be fine. Sometimes it's nice to just not care at all.
Just realised I never replied to your comment. So sorry. Especially because it's bloody great and really taps into things I think about too. This in particular was spot- on - "Things like "rebranding" stretch marks into "tiger stripes" to make them more positive/palatable." I very much felt this about the trend for calling larger, thigh-gap-less thighs "mermaid thighs". Having some fulsome thighs myself, I found the mermaid thing a bit... odd. I understand why it works for people, but maybe we just need thighs to be thighs and accept they come in different sizes (rather than also in mythical species). Anyway, sorry again for the delay. Thank you.
Great piece, thank you. I'm 12 weeks post partum after a c-section and totally relate to the feeling like a stranger in my own body. It's such a strange combination of emotions...annoyance at myself for not being more conscious of what I was shovelling down me during pregnancy, guilt for caring so much about my body at this special time, and then also pride for what it achieved. There really is nothing that can prepare you for this rather muddled aspect of motherhood!
Thank you. You so right - it's very muddled. Or at least the expectations on you are. If we were allowed to feel ALL the feelings, that would be one thing. But we are constantly pulled in different directions. You shouldn't have to feel guilt for caring about your own body. But the question is, why does society make you stress about that at all? Also, pregnancy is HARD - you gotta eat what you gotta eat! Pregnant women are incredibly policed too - I've heard people say that baristas have made comments if they, god forbid, opt for full caffeine, rather than decaf (outrage). It's A LOT. The main thing is, only 12 weeks in, I hope you are doing ok. I hope you have support. People cooking for you. I hope your c-section has healed ok (mine was slow second time round), and I hope you are giving yourself a break!
Thanks so much. Do you know, I've been really lucky with recovery, which is probably why I've had more head space for the body image stuff. I felt physically fine pretty quickly and I've no idea how, especially as it wasn't planned! You're absolutely right about feeling all the feelings...it's like we're supposed to only be one way (#bodyposi) or the complete opposite (gym bunny supermum). Great to read something so refreshing.
Love this. The push to love every part of yourself always, as if body parts or normal body things can only be acceptable if they're beloved or considered beautiful, drives me a bit nuts. I've written about this before--things like "rebranding" stretch marks into "tiger stripes" to make them more positive/palatable. I don't think we have to. They can just exist. I don't think every part of our bodies needs to be empowered or thought of positively for them to just be fine. Sometimes it's nice to just not care at all.
Just realised I never replied to your comment. So sorry. Especially because it's bloody great and really taps into things I think about too. This in particular was spot- on - "Things like "rebranding" stretch marks into "tiger stripes" to make them more positive/palatable." I very much felt this about the trend for calling larger, thigh-gap-less thighs "mermaid thighs". Having some fulsome thighs myself, I found the mermaid thing a bit... odd. I understand why it works for people, but maybe we just need thighs to be thighs and accept they come in different sizes (rather than also in mythical species). Anyway, sorry again for the delay. Thank you.
Great piece, thank you. I'm 12 weeks post partum after a c-section and totally relate to the feeling like a stranger in my own body. It's such a strange combination of emotions...annoyance at myself for not being more conscious of what I was shovelling down me during pregnancy, guilt for caring so much about my body at this special time, and then also pride for what it achieved. There really is nothing that can prepare you for this rather muddled aspect of motherhood!
Thank you. You so right - it's very muddled. Or at least the expectations on you are. If we were allowed to feel ALL the feelings, that would be one thing. But we are constantly pulled in different directions. You shouldn't have to feel guilt for caring about your own body. But the question is, why does society make you stress about that at all? Also, pregnancy is HARD - you gotta eat what you gotta eat! Pregnant women are incredibly policed too - I've heard people say that baristas have made comments if they, god forbid, opt for full caffeine, rather than decaf (outrage). It's A LOT. The main thing is, only 12 weeks in, I hope you are doing ok. I hope you have support. People cooking for you. I hope your c-section has healed ok (mine was slow second time round), and I hope you are giving yourself a break!
Thanks so much. Do you know, I've been really lucky with recovery, which is probably why I've had more head space for the body image stuff. I felt physically fine pretty quickly and I've no idea how, especially as it wasn't planned! You're absolutely right about feeling all the feelings...it's like we're supposed to only be one way (#bodyposi) or the complete opposite (gym bunny supermum). Great to read something so refreshing.