I did an interview with a European newspaper a few weeks ago and it’s up today! You’ll have to have a subscription to the paper to read it (and, you know, be able to read German) but if you do, go check it out!
News
SOAM Mentioned in Best Daily Magazine
And thanks, Britain, for always being on SOAM’s side. I swear this site has been featured in the UK more than in the US. *sigh*
Last chance to win a signed copy of Eleanor & Park over at ZebraBelly.com
Go check it out – I’m closing the giveaway in just a few hours!
SOAM Mentioned in BBC News Today
We were mentioned in a BBC article about Jade Beall’s new book which has a similar focus to what we do here at SOAM. Go check it out!
And if you haven’t checked out the giveaway I have going this week, check that out here.
Enter to win a copy of Eleanor & Park!
I’m giving away a copy of my new favorite novel by Rainbow Rowell over at my other blog ZebraBelly.com. The book is really great in a lot of ways, but in particular I think it might appeal to readers of The Shape of a Mother because it deals with body image, in a way. You can read more and enter here.
Either way, though, I hope you get your hands on a copy and I hope you love Eleanor (and Park!) as much a I do.
SOAM in German magazine Brigitte!
You can check it out here. If you read German, that is. I enjoyed this interview. Michèle, who wrote to me about this, asked me thoughtful questions that I found thought-provoking. A German friend of mine assures me it’s a great article. Thanks, Brigitte and Michèle!
Happy Birthday, SOAM!
SOAM’s been around now for seven years! I can hardly believe it. Seven years of bellies and learning to love the bodies we’re in. This blog changed who I am and how I see myself. You guys changed who I am and how I see myself. Thank you for that, so much. I hope you can say the same for SOAM and the community we have here.
Here are links to some of my favorite entries from the past year.
Jan asked if you’d choose to love yourself. “We all have our own story, full of triumphs and letdowns, joy and pain. I want to ask if YOU will make a change today, if you are in a bad situation or feeling down about your appearance… because you cannot give, or get, anything valuable out of life if you do not love yourself! Will you choose to love yourself? For you are a mother.”
This post talks about our value beyond our physical selves. “I’m far from where I want to be but I know I will get there. And in the meantime, I’m a good mom, a good wife, a good friend, a good sister, and a hard worker, among other things. I am more than my skin and appearances. And so are you. We aren’t perfect, nor will we ever be, but we are who we are and we need to love us.”
Darah’s post is one of my all-time favorites. Really. Just go read it. And love yourself.
Because you deserve to. You are beautiful. You are smart and funny and loving, and your child thinks you are the best mom ever. Each little mark on your body tells your story. The marks that show how your daughter grew, the scar from where your son entered the world – they are no different than that scar from when you fell and busted your knee. They are not a judgment of your worth, they are simply another chapter in your book. You get to write the ending.
How has SOAM helped you learn to love yourself? What is your favorite thing about you? How do you help other women learn to love themselves?
You can read through more inspiring posts by looking through the categories Readers’ Favorite and Positive Body Image.
Changes for TIAW
I am sad to say that TIAW is officially closing its doors (do websites have doors?) this week.
I am happy to say that the most active parts of TIAW will carry on at my personal blog, zebrabelly.com.
You can read more here.
Watch SOAM on Huffington Post Live
I participated in a panel discussion with two SOAM mamas, Autumn (who blogs here) and Tina (who blogs here), today on Huffington Post Live. I have social anxiety issues so stuff like this is always hard for me, but I survived and had a lot of fun, too. It was great getting to talk with Autumn and Tina (we had some time before the show where we hung out in the cyber green room). They are both so easy to talk to! The host, Nancy Redd, was warm and welcoming and seemed to share a lot of SOAM’s values. I’m really interested in checking out her book Body Drama.
You can find the segment here. I hope you watch it and enjoy it!
I’m going to be on Huffington Post Live today – and so can you!
I’m going to be part of a discussion panel today discussing post-baby bodies on Huffington Post Live. You can watch the panel streaming or you’ll be able to see it archived. I hope you watch!
I’ll post updates and more info later at one or more of SOAM’s online social networking place thingies. You can find a list of those here.
**UPDATE**
Here’s the link. I’ll be on in about half an hour (that’s 4:30 Pacific time).