Welcome to the October edition of Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival: Body Awareness.
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival hosted by Authentic Parenting. This month our participants are sharing how they actively influence their children's body awareness and how they experience their own! Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
Your body is beautiful now.
Yes, that body in the mirror — the body under the eyes that scan these lines.
The body you feel weighted in your chair or clicking the mouse or holding your phone.
That body with the marks of babies gestated or born or breastfed, with the signs of the years you've spent on this planet, with the pounds you've collected or dispersed, that body with scars from falling down — and getting back up.
That body is beautiful now.
Not yesterday or a decade ago … when you looked a certain way, when your hair was a certain length, when your boobs were perky, when your waist was a boastable circumference, before time or disability took a toll, before stretchmarks gave you a story to tell.
Not tomorrow or a decade from now … when you'll theoretically change your shape, when you'll lose the pregnancy weight, when you'll get your hair and nails done, when you'll have surgery to correct something wrong only you see.
No, today. Your body is beautiful now.
Your skin (no matter the texture or tone), your hair (on any hair day), your belly (round or flat or bumpy), your thighs (yes!), your feet (big or small). Your body, all of you, is lovely.
It sways in its invisible wind of grandeur. It grounds with invisible roots to the earth. It reaches with invisible rays of "I am human — I am here — I am worthy" to all who see your smile.
You are beautiful now.
You deserve to be dressed with care and respect. You deserve to flash yourself a thumbs up when you pass your reflection. You deserve to take care of who you are, to eat the food that nourishes you, to move your body in ways that feel good to you, to lick your lips as you devour a treat, to sashay your hips in an outfit that reveals … YOU.
You deserve to be surrounded by people who honor you, who see your beauty — not the hidden beauty, not the potential beauty — the beauty now, right here, staring them in the face and stunning them with its radiance.
You deserve to be loved. You deserve to love yourself.
Your body is beautiful now. You are beautiful, inside and out.
Visit Authentic Parenting to find out how you can participate in the next Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
- Skin Color and the Mixed Race Child - As a mother of a mixed race child whose skin tone falls between her mother and father’s, Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama tackles the tough question of “is my skin light or dark mama?” You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
- Know Your Body - Momma Jorje shares one way she encourages body awareness and autonomy in her children. You can also follow Momma Jorje on Facebook.
- Fat is Just a Word - Laura tries to actively debunk the negative connotations of the word 'fat' after a shocking discovery, on Authentic Parenting. You can also find Authentic Parenting on Facebook and Twitter.
- Your Body is Beautiful Now - Lauren at Hobo Mama offers your body a love poem. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook and Twitter.
- Does Your Daughter Feel Beautiful - DeAnna L’am of Red Moon School of Empowerment for Women and Girls writes about how Moms can model self acceptance and a strong body image for their daughters.
- 6 Ways for Children to Learn about Their Body - Ariadne is sharing calming yoga games, art activities and other wonderful ways for children to learn about their body over at the Positive Parenting Connection. You can also find more peaceful, positive parenting ideas and resources on the Positive Parenting Connection community Facebook page.
Photo Credit: Upside Down Frown by Bruce W Martin II, on Flickr
10 comments:
Beautiful - This post. Its beautiful. I almost cried and I most certainly beamed a beautiful smile! Thank you.
This was exquisite! I love it! Thank you for reminding me because I've been giving myself the cranky look in the mirror lately and I need to cut it out. :)
A huge thank you for reminding me that I have been given this awesome gift of a glorious human body! A beautiful gift not to be taken forgranted! Thanks!
A huge thank you for reminding me that I have been given this awesome gift of a glorious human body! A beautiful gift not to be taken forgranted! Thanks!
Thank you. :)
There are just no words to express how beautiful and amazing this piece is! I'm sharing this on my weekend links this week!
Ah, if only this could settle in my bones and never leave. A wonderful reminder. <3
This is lovely... ANd it has to be repeated!
Growing up, my favorite 'game' falling asleep was to think about all of the things I could change about my body to be beautiful. I'd start from my toes and work my way up... Isn't that sad?
A teenage girl 'meditating' herself to sleep on the thousand things that are wrong with her.
I try not to do that anymore, and I think I have gradually come to a better self acceptance (e.g. I don't have to dye my hair anymore, or have it the newest latest most extravagant cut), but I really am not there yet. I still look in the mirror criticizing myself and I still sigh at the thought of my body.
Thank you for this
PS I'm having a really hard time opening your blog
This piece is beautiful! Your writing is powerful and yet so delicate. What an amazing message. (sharing it on the positive parenting connection!)
Okay, this post made me cry. It's possible that it's at least partly because I'm a little hormonal, but still. Thank you for a lovely piece of writing.
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