From the earliest memories I have of my mother, I can always remember her telling me how beautiful and smart I was.
Nevertheless, I grew up to become a very awkward, chubby, and self-conscious pre-teen.. I had huge issues with the way I looked, and no matter what my mother said, it never changed the way I saw myself in the mirror.
I began telling myself, “She’s wrong. I’m not beautiful.. I’m so far from perfect.”
My pre-teen years went by, along with the even more awkward teenage years, and became less and less important, as my mother always said they would.. and she was right, as usual.. and I finally grew up, found a man, and became pregnant with my first child, a little girl.
I became closer with my mother through those months, apologizing for everything I had said, and didn’t mean… for now, I was going to mother a daughter.. and couldn’t fathom how it would make me feel.
I told her, “I’m sorry I didn’t listen, when you told me I was perfect, it means more to me now…”
She replied, with “I never told you that you were perfect.. I said you were beautiful. I would never want you to be perfect, perfect is boring.”
Those words have stuck with me over the past few years… my daughter is now a beautiful, energetic 5 year old with an amazing 2 year old brother.
I’m doing my best to pass on the wisdom that my mother gave to me.. even if it takes her 10 , or 15 years to realize what it means… I don’t want her to reach desperately for the impossible, perfection. I want her to find beauty in imperfection.. because that kind of beauty is original.. it has a story, a past, and it’s anything but boring. :)
Wow, you have an amazing mother and you are an amazing mother. What a beautiful way to look at the world. Those are amazing pictures too, they make me want to take new pics of my belly.
So beautiful..Thanks to you and the journey of life.
Well put, thank you!
Thank you for your inspiring words. I have found that my girls listen less to what I say to them and more to how I treat myself….You seem to do an amazing job of that!
I am so moved by your post. You mother was a very wise woman. She is so right. Thank you for passing this along. It truly made my day. You children are very lucky to have the both of you in their lives. How the saying goes? Oh yes, mothers are always right ;) So true in this case.
That made me cry!
Your picture is sooo beautiful! your marks look like mine. It makes me feel sorry for the mothers who didn’t get that beautiful “painting” from their pregnancies.
what a beautiful statement.
congratulations on your positive outlook and for being a great role model for your children.
Thank you, your post brought tears to my eyes. I am the mother of a 13 month old daughter and I am already staring to think about how I will teach her how to accept herself and her own “personal” beauty as she grows up in such a narrow minded society. I think I may just use the words of your mother :)
Your stretch marks are beautiful
Wow!!! Beautiful photographs! This should be a featured photo here on TSOAM! Beautiful!!! Wow! And well put! Thank you so much!!!
These pictures are amazing!
My 21 month old daughter was passing by when I was looking at your photos earlier today and she said to me, “Oh, belly! Pretty!” I just thought I would share. :)
I love your photos! They are beautiful. I love my marks. I see them as a reminder that I was blessed with and able to grow and nurture a new life. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I LOVE these pictures, GORGEOUS!!