I looked at myself in the mirror today after my morning run, which I try to do 3 days a week. I drop my son off at the bus stop and then my feet begin pounding the pavement, me feeling more and more invigorated with each step. My son just turned 7 and I’m about to turn 29, and I’m prepping my body to start trying for a second child, so I’m at my healthiest to carry a baby and able to “bounce back” a little bit easier after giving birth.
I typically look in the mirror and shame myself – not because I dislike that I see, but out of habit. As women, we are so hard on ourselves, and we are almost expected to be that way. I can’t imagine sitting at lunch with my girlfriends and talking about how I’m really proud of my fitness routine or how I handled myself dealing with a tough client. No. Instead we nitpick at what she should have done, what we could have done better.
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But on this day, I felt something different inside. I felt a self-love wash over me and realized that becoming a mother has enabled me to connect better with myself, love the person I am, and there is nothing wrong with that.
I love my body.
I grew a human inside me and gave birth. It doesn’t matter what my body looks like, because I did something so amazing that it cancels everything else out. On the other hand, I’m also at my healthiest because I have to be for me son, so that I’m the best mom possible. Yes, my body has transformed after being pregnant, but I couldn’t love it more.
I love my confidence.
I am in charge of another life, and that’s a very powerful thing. So powerful that it has brought my confidence level to new heights. The confidence isn’t just there whenever I’m at the bus stop, park, or activities with my son – it has become a part of me and carries through to all areas of my life.
I love my sense of style.
My bachelor degree is in Fashion Marketing, so fashion has always been a huge part of my life. But after becoming a mom, I know my body better than ever and can spot something that will look amazing or horrible on me from a mile away. Because I know my body so well and what looks right and what doesn’t, my style reflects that and thrives more and more every day.
I love my budgeting skills.
Before being a mom, I never needed to factor in soccer registration fees, budget for “kid foods” when grocery shopping, or remember that we had to purchase an entirely new school uniform each August. While I’ve always been good with money, being a mom has made the best budgetter (is that a word?) imaginable – and I love it!
I love my ability to focus on what is really important.
Gone are the days of spreading myself thin and trying to get involved just a little bit in everything. Not anymore! I know when to say “no.” I know when things are of the highest priority. And I know what is most important in life at all times and what I need to focus on.
What do you love more about yourself after becoming a mother?
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