Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Beauty-full Tuesday: Yours, Mine, Ours

If you don’t read this beauty-full post from Meredith of Yours, Mine, Ours, you’re going to regret it.
 A lot of people say they have no regrets. 
I say baloney.
 I regret the times my sarcastic big mouth hurt someone’s feelings,
all those teen-aged fights with my mom over stupid things,
& all those days I skipped flossing (just had a root canal. not my fave.).
…

 I also regret all the moments I wasted dissing my pre-baby body.

What the heck was I complaining about?? 
After 9 months of pregnancy, 25 hours of labor, & 13 months of round the clock nursing,
I finally realized how good I had it before.

 I had my son almost 2 years ago & I still think of my outer beauty in three segments: 

Before Baby (I miss you!!), Preggo (don’t remind me!!), & After Baby (deflated-ville!!).
For the last 23 months I’ve been in a state of denial: 
It has to go back!
The stretchmarks everywhere, saggy tummy skin, and sad sad chest area have
got to be some sort of trial period cosmic joke. 
…
Well, a few months ago I had another flash of realization:
If I didn’t start enjoying what I had now, I was just gonna look back and regret this time too.
So I’m working on it. And it’s going OK so far.
Some days are better than others, but for the most part, I’m feeling good.

Almost like my old self even.

When my son/any future kids I have grow up, I want them to know I never regretted having them. 

That yes, their arrivals changed me. But that overall, I was changed for the better.

If I can teach them that, I’ll definitely never regret it.

Feed me fashionably fresh

Comments

  1. Amen. After 5 kids and now I’m 30, I am just accepting that things will never be as they were and I need to figure out how to love how I look now. It’s time to find a clothing style I like that won’t break the budget, but will help me be comfortable in my new skin so I can enjoy my 5 blissful babies, who grow so very fast.

  3. Excellent, excellent post, Meredith!! It’s something I need to remind myself of. These kidlets are worth a body that’s not perfect! I’d give up that and so much more for them. =) (But I tend to forget it at times…) lol

    But back to you.. I think you look fantastic!! You’re skinny and cute and most of all, happy, which shows in every single one of your posts! =)

  4. Yes…what a good reminder! I have felt the same way after having twins three years ago. I miss my flat and unwrinkled stomach SO much, but I can fit into a lot of my pre-pg clothes which makes me feel pretty darn good. I was definitely in denial for a long time as well, but I’m trying to embrace my new body. Meredith – you are beautiful!

  6. What a sweet post, Meredith. It is hard to redefine beauty after babies, and such a shame to waste time being unhappy with it!

  8. Girl, I know!!! My 2nd child is 16 months old, and i’m just now starting to be okay with myself again. I may have mom boobs, and a stretch markey tummy… but i’ve also got the two most beautiful children, and a husband who thinks i’m the sexiest woman on earth! 🙂 It’s hard to be grateful when you don’t feel good about yourself.

  9. And then there are us girls who’ve never had kids and still envy your figure. 🙂

  10. Living in the past is not all it is cracked up to be. Before you know it your babies are parents and your body has changed again. I don’t resent the stretch marks, padded hips or any of those things that going along with being a “Mommy”. I am truly thankful for the 5 wonderful children I have and love the 7 new ones. Enjoy life while you can, they grow up right before your eyes and those memories will keep you warm in the years to come.