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I Haven’t Shed the Baby Weight
We squeezed into a cozy booth at the pizza place, our little ones snoozing in their carriers nearby. As we enjoyed our sodas and slices, one of the moms asked, “When will my body feel normal again?” We all nodded, clearly curious about the answer. An experienced mom, who had been through this years before, chimed in, “Don’t expect your body to feel back to normal for at least a year.”
A collective sigh of relief followed. “A year sounds doable,” I thought, relieved that I had time to ease into things. Fast forward almost six years and another child later, and here I am—still not back to what I used to consider “normal.”
Just yesterday, I was in the shallow end of the pool, having a make-believe tea party with my son. Pools and beaches can be tricky, though; it’s easy to get caught up comparing ourselves to others. I found myself wondering, “How did she lose her baby weight so quickly?” as I saw a woman in a black bikini effortlessly chasing her toddler. My son interrupted my thoughts by handing me a teacup filled with pool water, bringing me back to the moment.
The next day, I stepped on the scale, and the number reflected a lifestyle that mirrors my Instagram feed: colorful pancakes dripping with syrup, giant donuts, and picnic sandwiches with craft beer. But it doesn’t show that I started running in April and now can tackle over three miles multiple times a week. Just the other day, my family and I enjoyed a 12-mile bike ride together. A few weeks ago, my husband and I took a two-hour stroll while holding hands, just chatting and enjoying each other’s company.
It’s easy to get hung up on the scale and clothing sizes, especially during bathing suit season when body image can dominate our thoughts. But summer should be about celebrating our bodies and all the amazing things they can do—like running with fellow moms, biking new trails, or playing tag with our kids.
When we envy other women’s bodies, we risk missing out on precious family moments. We forget the joy of building the perfect sandcastle or savoring those imaginative pool tea parties. Our kids will remember the laughter, the games we played, and how we soaked up every bit of fun in the pool. They won’t care about the size of our swimsuits—they’ll remember how fast we ran to catch them on the beach and the silly underwater faces we made.
What matters is the joy of holding them close, creating whirlpools in the water together. That’s the essence of our “normal”—it’s forgiving and filled with love.
I may not have lost the baby weight, but I’ve gained a wealth of confidence and happiness. This summer, my kids will cherish the adventures we had, not the numbers on a scale.
For more insights about this journey, check out this helpful resource on pregnancy and home insemination at News Medical. And if you’re looking for guidance on your fertility journey, Make a Mom offers great support.
In summary, embracing our new bodies and celebrating our strength allows us to focus on what truly matters—creating lasting memories with our children.