I was alerted to a certain anti-stretch mark article tonight by reader Sara. The author of this article had the gall to break copyright laws and steal my photograph of myself and my baby son which has been featured on this website for nearly three years. I have politely asked her to remove it.
I will not be linking to this article because I do not want them to benefit from the traffic a link would provide – also because I would prefer this end here rather than become some drawn-out internet soap opera. But this has given me an opportunity to write about something which has been on my mind for awhile. Namely the power we let society have over our esteem.
I am a fat woman. For the longest time, I was ashamed of that and felt that I was unworthy of good things in life – of looking pretty, of feeling pretty, of being listened to, of being admired. Screw that! I am human, I am smart, I am pretty, and I am more than worthy of all these things and more. I am striving to be healthy in diet and exercise and I do hope certain health issues get resolved, which will lead to being a lower weight for this size is rather physically uncomfortable for me. But if not, I won’t let anyone tell me how to feel about myself any more. I used to hide my fat arms in sleeves, short or long. But I won’t anymore. I happen to like the kiss of the sun on my shoulders, and I refuse to be hidden just because my arms don’t fit one particular image of what society says they should look like. I’ve liberated my arms and my esteem.
Society has no right to decide for me that my stretch marks, my extra skin, my body shape make me unworthy. I refuse to feel badly about my body because I grew, nourished and birthed (and nourished some more) two amazing people. I refuse – I simply refuse – to fall into that negative thinking. I have children who I have to be strong for, children who look to me as a role model for what women are – and I want them to know that women are strong, rational, intelligent creatures who can be beautiful and KNOW IT at any size and at any shape.
I really don’t care if people look at my belly and feel disgust. I steel myself against them. I run my fingers along the lines and appreciate what they mean: love. The love of growing my babies. And I simply refuse to let myself even think negative things – I won’t be held down that way!
As an activist, I feel like each person must take a stand. Ten years ago, it was unheard of to re-use grocery bags, but it is becoming quite the norm these days – because each individual person took that stand and made it so. I also feel like positive body image really and truly IS within our reach, only we each have to make the decision not to allow them to imprison us in our own cells of self-hatred. We have to make the decision to just REFUSE to let them tell us how to think of ourselves. How dare they? How dare they try to keep us down?
I find it rather ironic that the photograph that was stolen in an attempt to create a feeling of shame about a mother’s body happens to be a pose which I feel is confidant and self-assured, not afraid to just be, regardless of how many stretch marks and extra skin there may be.
Don’t let them get into your head. Take control and refuse them access to your insecurities. Fake it if you have to – the real stuff will follow naturally – but take a stand with me and all the other moms on here and refuse to be ashamed!
Finally. This is what I was looking for on this website. Be confident ladies. You don’t need creams and surgeries to be beautiful. Stand strong in your own skin no matter what it looks like.
wow, im very proud of you!
do you know that you can sue them for stealing your picture?
I work everyday not to feel ashamed.
Sorry about the stolen photo… creepy.
You are awesome!!
I just want to say that you ARE NOT fat!!! My goodness, you do not look overweight at all! And this is one of my favorite photos, the baby on your hip next too the tattoos he left behind make this photo so incredibly beautiful. I love to look at women at parks and beaches who have stretchmarks, and sagging skin, and other tell tale signs of motherhood as they proudly chase their little ones around, I just think those bodies are so beautiful, and they tell such an amazing story! Seeing women who are marked by pregnancy showing it off for all to see makes them look confident, attractive, and blessed! I have no problem showing my marks, and I truly feel blessed and honoured and special to have them…and thanks to this site, we can all remind ourselves what they really mean, and find pride in all that they represent!
I wish I had something profound to add, but all I can say is, that is just a beautiful statement. Thank you, Bonnie.
im a guy that likes to see nakid girls, that stated, what i really love is momma’s you have no idea how attractive you are as a whole, if there was to be a suryey as to who is more desirable the ladies that post here or at some other web site you would be amazied to find that shapeofamother would be the easy winner. in closing, mom’s . your cuter and checked out more than you will ever know
LOL Shi, yes, I am, actually. (And FTR using the word “fat” instead of overweight is empowering to me – makes the whole thing less secretive, yk?) But, yes, I am. I am tall and big boned, but even then I am about 235 right now and should be more like 175 for a healthy weight for me. :)
I’m so glad I found this site before I gave birth, because instead of hating my body and worrying about it after I had my son I loved it, stretch marks and all from the day he left my tummy to be in my arms! I’m not saying my confidence wouldn’t be tested had I had a different pp experience, I’m not gonna lie, I have the marks, but my belly is pretty near flat and I respect and look up to the mother’s with saggy bellys and a little extra weight even more! They are so strong! My husband thinks the same way DAN does… and who wouldn’t?!? I mean seriously! We’ve created, carried, and nourished another life! That is so much sexier then a flat bellied 15 year old! Thanks again Bonnie, for inspiring the multitudes!
I’m confused, I thought you described yourself as ‘fat’ ?? I don’t see a fat person in the picture?
Are you 235 in that picture? Because if you are, I have to tell you that even at 235 you are NOT fat.
BMIs are bullshit. I look at that picture and I see a confident pose, but also a fit Mom who has the marks to prove it.
bonnie, that was beautiful. and like so many things about this website, educational and empowering for all of us who come here. thank you again for sharing your courage and your vision and your strength.
nex0s – no, I was about 200 there, three years ago. I agree that a BMI cannot give enough information – just as a scale can’t. I feel I am pretty realistic about my weight. :)
Great picture!
You rock, Bonnie!
Every woman – mother or not – should be made to read this site. It’s the truest, most honest thing I have ever read and I love the message it gives to women.
I say we should own ourselves for who we are. We all strive to do the best by our bodies (that can be doubly, triply hard after children). The fact that other women criticise what is, simply, the shape of a mother makes my throat catch. I love the photo of you; the stance of you with your child on your hip, stomach exposed. Your midriff looks so ‘incidental’ to everything else – the baby, the world around you, what’s in your head. I say stand like Boudicca in her chariot with your baby in your arms and love your skin for the glory of what it has done.
I tell all my friends (new mothers) about this website. It often feels like, after love, it’s the most powerful thing I can offer them; an insight into the true sisterhood of motherhood.
Kit
thanks, dan! ; )
that totally sucks about the stolen photo & who stole it & for the reason they did. those stretchmark creams are a SHAM! a sham, i tell you! women, mothers of the world: please PLEASE embrace the marks your children gave you! if your child suddenly died, wouldn’t you want to have something to show the world that yes, that child did, indeed, grow inside of you? i love my stretchmarks. i got only a few on my belly & a lot on my hips & i honestly think they are the most beautiful, gratifying things about pregnancy (aside from the baby, obviously). i love that i’ve crossed that gateway from maiden to mother & that i have my initiation marks to prove it.
on the subject of BMIs, according to mine, i am about 10 lbs away from being obese, but i am only 5′ tall & 145 lbs. i’m not obese, i’m curvy!
Bonnie you rule. I love that picture and I love that it is beautiful enough for someone else to want on their website, even if it is the opposite of what they should have been looking for.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have given so many women the amazing gift of EMPOWERMENT. I felt so inspired after reading your words that I just wanted to go and shake a fist at….somebody :) Again, thank you for all that you have done.
Everyone has beauty within them – regardless of their outside shell. I have hung my drawings (see this site) on my walls. My sons are disgusted with nude drawings of me taken from a now 26 year old picture. I am so thrilled with them that I am proud to show them. One day I hope my sons will understand how I felt and not judge me for not being ashamed to show my body.
Amen! By the way, you certainly don’t look like a fat woman in THAT photo!
I always wonder if those ads in the side bars on websites are stolen from this website. They are supposed to be a before and after of the stretch mark cream. Really, they look like many of the pics on this site, for example, a 3 week PP pic vs a 8 month PP pic. I feel like they’re stolen because I cannot imagine a woman posing for and getting paid for photographs that deem her “before” picture as unworthy. Does anyone else know what ads I’m talking about?
That’s it! I’m going to take a photo with each twin on a hip and my belly proudly displayed:) Thank you for unveiling the deep rooted pride in my mommyhood I knew I had to take a photo like this. I can’t wait to take it and upload it!
Ditto everything “Shi” said, especially the part about you NOT looking remotely over weight! I’ve been coming to this site for a year now and I’ve always LOVED the picture! I don’t think you can mistake the confidence there… poor picture choice for their ad!
Bonnie, you are awesome.
I’m really not a litigation-happy person…I can’t resist suggesting that you offer the person who stole this photo for devious means the option to avoid being sued…if she donates a sizable sum of cash to a foundation for women suffering from eating disorders…
Thank you for this site and for the forum women have to discuss issues like these. It’s priceless…
:) Couldn’t agree with you more. It’s like when people said that Britney Spears should cover herself up on stage, because she has had two children and “can’t get away with it anymore”. WHY???? It makes me so mad!
I thouht you said you were fat!? Where exactly? I don’t see any :)
It’s truely a sad reflection of our society that your picture was taken and used in such a way. I’m currently 32 weeks with twins and have never loved my body more. Our babies were a long time in the making and finally being pregnant has been a huge body confidence booster. I love my stretchmarks, they say to me that I am finally truely a woman, as like you say they show you have nurtured life. I look at them and I smile, I don’t understand why we are supposed to be disgusted by them? So many of us have them that in the end they are ‘normal’ not the ‘abnormal’ the supposed skin care companies want us to feel they are.
Keep it up! I’m sure your son will grow up with a very realistic idea of what a woman looks like and will therefore love the women in his life truely for who they are.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
To update you all, the woman who stole the photograph has removed it and apologized both for having used it without permission and for the reason for the use. I have a feeling she had just done a google image search and swiped the first photo without considering where it may have come from. I cannot wrap my mind around any other explanations. LOL
Amen! Your words brought tears to my eyes. You are an excellent example of what it means to be a woman and most importantly a mother. Thank you.
Bonnie, thank you for all of this, your words, creating this site, and encouraging other women to be proud of themselves as mothers.
What a refreshing post! I’ve always loved this photo – I think it’s the epitome of lovely. What a gracious, confident person you are, and way to go for maintaining your sense of humour through it all. And how gorgeous is that baby?? Reminds me of my plump little breastfeeders! Isn’t it amazing to watch them grow from nourishment created by YOU?? I never cease to marvel…
no one can fake being a mom, a mom is something to be proud of, it is the oldest trade in history, almost every mom has mothered more than once, what more proof do you need that a mom is sexy, strength belongs to a woman, who has done what no man can do, and that is create life from her very core, why women struggle to be perfect, is because we already do everything perfect, not all of society needs to change its perfect image of women, women need to change what the perfect image is, everyone else will learn and respect our hard work, women create society, and we turn them against ourselves, its time to change that!
I almost killed myself because I thought I didn’t deserve life for being overweight, stretch marked. I hated myself so much that I wanted to die. And I couldn’t get any help, I made a prison for myself inside my head and I was so hard on myself that I wittled away everything about me that was good until I was not just unattractive outside, but inside too. I had to work on the inside and out, and now I am not perfect, i’ll never wear a bikini, but I feel better about myself. Stay strong!!!!! you are beautiful and I LOVE YOUR BEAUTY MARKS ON YOUR TUMMY.
This post IS so refreshing. Thanks for writing it, Bonnie, and thanks for creating such an amazing resource for women who are struggling to accept them/ourselves. I love what you said– “I happen to love the kiss of the sun on my shoulders.” I’m glad you’ve liberated your arms. How ridiculous that we live in a world where we don’t feel comfortable doing things that make us feel good like basking in the sun because we don’t feel like our bodies are the “right” shape. Bullshit! I also appreciate that you shared your weight struggle on here. We are so messed up when it comes to weight in terms of numbers. Anyone would look at this photo of you and think, what a beautiful, healthy woman. You are lovely and you should be proud.
The only chub I see here is on the adorable little baby on your hip that has very obviously benefited from the generosity your body has bestowed on those cute little baby legs.
Hell yeah!!! You rock!
An exquisite photo- hands on hips, defiant, a glowing child daring the viewer to mess with his mama! I love it.
Bonnie, that was beautiful. This site has helped me so much in achieving acceptance. You touch so many lives. I sometimes find myself wishing that men would be required to read these stories so that our husbands/boyfriends would understand where we women are coming from- and know that beauty comes in different forms. Our mommy bodies and marks are a deeper form of beauty. I know that for the most part we are our own worst enemies/critics and that the men in our lives typically love us through these changes- but to understand our struggles…..it would be wonderful to have that kind of support!
Thank you again for all your work on this site. I really hope you get to Oprah!
AMEN TO THAT!!!! im done beating myself up for not being media approoved pretty, for not being as “perfect” as i thought i was in my teen years. For being less than perfect…..I am perfect, every stretchmark, scar, extra skin, fat on my body…its all natural! I used to be a model and i have never felt any prettier than i do NOW
you have been a source inspiration to me for the past three years…everytime i am told to lose weight and feel looked down, i remember about the many blogs ive seen here…im 22 now and posted here almost 2 yrs ago…ive grown a lot…ive learned to accept myself…so i have to thank you…and please sue that lady, who does shhe think she is,thats horrible…
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Anti-strechmark? Is that like being anti-human? or Anti-woman? Sounds like ignorance is to blame. Shameful, shameful, ignorance on this person’s front.
And you are definitely not fat and you provide hope for women around the world! Keep it up! Keep steeling yourself against this! :)
Bonnie,
I’m touched by your words…
This site has been a live saver to me…
I come here almost everyday… and it helps me so much…
Here i feel normal… I feel good about my body…
And yes, my stretch marks are my son’s first kisses.
I’m a mother and i love it… wouldn’t trade it for nothing…
My son is the most important thing in my life… and now i embrace my body changes… i’m not just a woman but a mama too… and i have a mama body… and i’m proud…
Thanks to you Bonnie…
And to all mama’s on this website…
I am a old man now and I am sitting here crying for joy about all the possetive answer your getting.
for me, a womens body is art it is so beautiuful in every shape.
Bonnie keep your head up ,your beautifull.Walt
I wanted to tell you, I’ve actually seen your picture before…a livejournal friend of mine has it posted in her profile – of a beautiful and meaningful reminder of our physical changes as we go through pregnancy and motherhood. Thank you!
This website gives me hope that someday I may accept my ‘new’ body. It is so different from my ‘old’ body and seems determined to stay. Or rather I could get rid of it but I would also have to get rid of my true self and turn into a zombie eating fat free all the time.
Like a previous comment above I have felt so much hatred towards myself for being fat – and I am unquestionably fat at 5ft4 and 200lbs (probably more by now but I don’t weigh myself) – at the same time I know it’s crazy to hate your body so much that you feel you don’t have a right to go out, wear nice things, eat in front of others etc.
I have 2 little boys and I don’t want them to judge a person by their size. I feel a huge weight of responsibility on my shoulders.
Ok you yes you are a woman who has been pregnant and given birth so the extra skin comes with the territory but why did you describe yourself as fat? Extra skin from pregnancy is one thing…being fat and overweight is different. Your size seems very “normal” and approriate.