I know you take entries from women because this is, after all, about the shape of a mother, but I would love to share a story from a man’s eyes and perspective.
I grew up around women. Seven of them and I greatly respect them all. I was raised by all of them as they were all older than me. As I grew I came to see many of these women have babies. As they had babies, their bodies would change but something else would change as well. Something I still admire to this day and love about the wife. The most beautiful thing in my eyes. Many men I know have this hard wired thought that women are the weaker of the sexes. I beg to differ. (I know that’s hard to believe a man said that, but of course you knew that.) What I’ve seen, especially after watching these women push out babies, which takes strength in itself to do, is the strength that women have to love this child. The strength you have to raise this child. The strength you have to push on even when you feel like crap about yourselves for how you look. Your bodies are beautiful ladies and they did something even more beautiful. You brought our children into this world. Know that that is what makes you more beautiful than anything else. I wish more men would tell you this because we may not like to admit it with our, “I’m a man, we don’t say that” type of egos but the truth is… You’re what makes us who we are from the day you become pregnant, to the day we have to say goodbye. Your strength and love is what is more appreciated than anything. So when you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, remember the true beauty you hold and smile.
Thank you for saying so. I had a man once tell me I “looked good considering” I am a mom. I just had my second baby which doubled the length of my stretch marks and widened my waist, but I figured that’s the price my beauty had to pay in order to give my sons their good looks. Being able to see beauty in motherhood is something I wish everyone had the wisdom to see.
Thank-you, this is beautifully written. Every mother should read this! We are strong, we are beautiful, and we have so much love to give. Our bodies have made life and they deserve all our care & respect! It’s so nice to hear a man say that he feels this way too.
I am a 51 yr. old mother of two. Never in my life have I been made to feel as appreciated for being a mother, or even a woman for that matter, as I have after reading that post above. I hope that I’ve raised my sons to be as appreciative to women as the thoughtful man who took the time to write that, but also notice that about women. Thank you! That certainly has made my day!
I read this on the day it was posted and once a day since then. This is the MOST beautifully written statement I will ever read in my life. I have shared this with several people. It takes a lot to crack this shell, but you sir hit my soft spot and made me cry like a baby the first time I read this. I cannot explain how your words have effected me to the very core of my soul. It’s almost as if you…a complete stanger has undone all the hurt and insecurities that lay buried deep inside. You are truly an inspiration to all and exactly what a REAL man is. THANK YOU.