Love every healthy curve (or lack there of) and teach them to love their own.

There are few things that you have little say over in life... one of which is the body you were blessed with.  You are given one body, and it is your responsibility to keep it at it's highest performing ability.  You do not get a do-over, a restart, or a second body to try again.  This is a one time deal folks.  This is why I believe very strongly in taking care of my body, my husband's body and my children's body.  I am not speaking specifically of a body's appearance, but instead the being as a whole - the mind, the spirit, the physical.  This is not an easy task to accomplish, and I will be the first to admit that the world harps too much on the physical aspect of this.  Bodies come in all shapes and sizes - and what a beautiful world it is because of this.  However, I understand that the physical features can be a window to health risks that are erupting within.  
I digress ....  this post can go so many different ways. I want to try to keep it on the track that I intended it to ride on when I sat at the computer.  :)

Here are my house rules - they are simple.  They were set into place when I realized that I will be raising a daughter to accept and love her body. (house rules meaning "the way we are raising our family")

1.  You have ONE body - treat it right.
2.  LOVE your well-maintained, healthy body
3.  TRULY LOVE this body for all it does and all it teaches.

The breakdown:

1.  I will not lie.  I, along with more women that will ever admit, did not always treat my body well. I have always been an athlete and a decent eater... but due to personal issues, I struggled with an eating disorder while in college.  Along side of so many others struggling. Whether you battled with anorexia, bulimia (like me), over exercising, controlling/limiting your diet, or a number of other "disorders," you can forgive yourself and move on.  I was lucky enough to ask for help and get it before I became consumed.  I learned the damage that I was causing the internal physical aspect of my body (not to mention the emotional side!).   

You don't have to be a size 0 or 2 or 4 or 6.  You just need to be healthy and strong.  You need to work your muscles on a regular basis and keep them working as you add candles to the birthday cake.  I love training for different races, teaching bootcamp classes, and stomping down the street or at the gym whenever possible.  I also know that we are all on a budget and may have children to attend to.  No excuses. Grab your sneakers and head to the park. Push that stroller.  Do push-ups on the side of the crib.  There are no excuses when it comes to treating your body right.

This rule also encompasses the fuel that enters your body.  If you have been following my blog, you know that my family has embarked on a healthier, low-to-no processed foods journey.  We still consume a few things that I'm not super proud of (wine - but come on now it's not that bad, some bagged pretzels, jarred and canned items like salsa, beans, etc).  We are slowly working on it and have made huge progress so far.  I encourage you to jump on the banwagon with us.

2.  I have been blessed with good genes. I have  slender build, a small frame, and admit that it's not too hard finding clothes.  However, I wasn't in love with my figure - well - lack there of a figure....  I didn't (and still don't unless pregnant or breastfeeding) have curves, boobs, or a well balanced combination of anything I had once deemed "sexy." I thought I was attractive enough... I had killer abs and a nice little rear end - but nothing I'd write home about. I think I fell in love with my body when I became pregnant with our first baby. The chances I experienced, emotionally and spiritually led me to love everything physically changing.  I workout while pregnant and eat healthy. I mentally prepare for labor and listen to my body more than I ever thought I could.  Being pregnant allowed me to open my mind and listen to everything within myself.  I wish that I would have been doing this all my life.  (Or at least since puberty... or when being teased about having a big nose and no breasts)

I never want my daughter - and now my son as well - to experience a point in life where they do not love and appreciate their own body - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I know as a mother that I will have to deal with tears, broken hearts, skinned knees, hormones, etc.  In my gut I know that someday one of my children will say something along the lines of "I'm fat" or "So-and-So is fat."   I just hope that the foundation we are laying now will aid in the discussion that will commence when those words are muttered.

3.  TRULY loving yourself.  I mean strip down naked in front of the mirror and SMILE kind of love.  This is what I want for my children.  Not in a cocky way - but in a confident way.  Every curve (or lack there of in our gene pool) has a purpose and is part of the whole.  And the whole is beautiful.  Behind the physical being, I want a strong, knowledgeable person - one who is confident in his or her own being.  I am learning that this is not possible unless taught by example.  My children's examples are myself and my husband.  I can say that I love my body.  Does it have flaws? Hell yes it does.  Is one boob twice the size of the other this go around with nursing? Yep.  Have I accepted it all? Maybe not all of it, but I'm working on it and am pretty darn close.  I love that my body has carried and pushed two babies out drug-free... I love that I have finished a half-marathon and numerous other races. I love the scars and battle wounds I've accumulated.  I love that I am smart, educated, and knowledgeable about my body as a whole and what  am capable of doing.  I love that I am continuously learning more on how to better myself and my family....  But most of all I love that by loving MY body - I can teach my children how to love their own.  


ps - This might be why my children are happier naked than clothed. And I am okay with that.