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The Kind of Mom I Want to Be

 
One summer day in my childhood I was playing a game when a mom in my neighborhood showed up ready to play with a bunch of pre-teens. I asked her why, and she said, “I want to be the mom who is remembered for having fun and not just cleaning or hiding away!” She told us she’d had it with her messy house and her annoying teenage boys, and she heard there were games going on in the neighborhood. We kind of giggled, felt awkward at first, but invited her to play with us. Her wishes we granted, boy do I remember her getting in a good workout and being the fun mom of the century, even for just one day letting loose and forgetting a stereotype of what the “perfect” mom is. 
 
As I think about my little man getting older and more active, I keep thinking of the woman I want him to see me as. I think I want to have some slightly awkward moments where I ask if I can join the game and play too. 
 
I did an Instagram/Facebook campaign for Target swim today, and even though this definitely isn’t a sponsored blog post, I’ve had too many thoughts about it not to mention it here. The whole idea is getting out and enjoying the swim season confidently without worrying about your body image. And even though I worried about my 4th trimester thighs and soft middle that’s still holding onto the apartment my baby occupied for 10 months, I’m glad I had the moment to reflect on what kind of mom I want to be. 
 
I don’t want him to see the mom who refuses pictures because she’s not wearing make-up, and that’s sometimes hard to do with everything being on social media these days. I don’t want him to see me shunning away from activities or pictures because of my body or weight either. I don’t want to be in the shade wearing a cover-up, I want to be in the pool playing the game confidently even with fat deposits clearly showing. I can’t remember once thinking my mom was fat or not perfect, I only remember her being present and truly cherish the experiences and pictures we have together in my youth. I look at my baby today, and he seems to find the softest, fattiest parts of my body and prefer these as a place to snuggle up to and sleep on. He doesn’t care how I look, he cares that I’m present, that I’m not hiding, and that we get to be together. 
New Mom sitting next to the swimming pool in a bathing suit.

 

So here I am, recommitting to swimming with him lots this summer, sharing more pictures in my less-than-perfect body, and making sure that my son knows that life is about a lot more than vanity- even in the social-media age. Life is about being in the moment and moving forward with confidence in your less-than-perfect state. I want him to know this, I want him to see this in me. That’s the kind of mom I want to be. 

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6 Comments

  1. Jen Bosen says:

    I can't imagine you being any other kind of mom. Get in the pool and have a good time with the boy, because life is too short and babies get big too fast and you look adorable so who even cares!

    (Seriously, you look great. That 4th trimester is treating you well.)

  2. the Florkens says:

    This was a very moving post for me! I want to be that mom too… I constantly tell myself (when I'm having a negative body moment) that what I say about MY body will end up being how Holland feels about HERS! That really gives me pause. Most recently, I've felt SO much negativity about my C-Section scar. It is raise and red and horrible. Looking at it reminds me of all the pain of 47 hours of labor and I just want to curl up and cry because my body isn't how it used to be. But after reading this, I'm re-thinking things. If Holland heard my thoughts, she might thought that I regret her… but I don't. Not for one second. Every part of me… even that raised scar, is perfect because it got HER into my life.

    Thank you for the reminder of the mom that I want to be!

    -Kate

  3. You are too kind! It's amazing how we beat ourselves up but never stop think we would never do such a thing to our own mothers!

  4. Yes! Here's the link: ‘http://www.target.com/p/women-s-draped-one-piece-merona/-/A-16000567#prodSlot=large_1_13

  5. Katie Adams says:

    Oh man, this is so true! Do you have the link to the one piece suit? I have a three month old and that suit looks perfect for this summer!

  6. This was a beautiful post! Love this approach and you are so right. I only remember my mom as a loving, caring friend not as anything but wonderful. Also, that black and white suit is so cute. Also, for the record, you look fab!