The other day, while I was getting ready, my 7-year-old daughter, Lily, suddenly gasped in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at the back of my legs. Naturally, my hypochondriac instincts kicked in, and I panicked, “What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
“There are weird bumps all over your legs,” she exclaimed. “Are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?”
“Oh, that?” I chuckled nervously. “That’s just cellulite.” I added with a wink, “It runs in the family.”
She didn’t quite grasp the humor.
I realized this was a prime opportunity to discuss body image, but as I caught a glimpse of myself in the unforgiving bathroom light, I began to doubt my own comfort with my body. “What is it, and why do you have it?” she asked.
“It’s good for you! It’s energy stored up in case you need it,” I replied, trying to sound convincing.
“Energy?” she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Um, it’s more like little air bubbles under the skin.”
“Air bubbles?”
“Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what it is. Let’s just not dwell on it.” But clearly, she was worried, and now I was too. Suddenly, I felt the pressure to address something I had never cared about before.
“Can you make it go away?” she pressed.
“I suppose I could if I started going to the gym.”
“Why don’t you go to the gym?” she challenged.
“Well…”
“We have a gym in our building, and you have workout clothes. You could go when I’m at school.”
BAM! Just like that, my daughter had called me out.
I reflected on all the excuses I had used to avoid the gym: my NutriBullet is packed away, exercising flares up my rosacea, I want to lose ten pounds to fit into my fashionable stirrup leggings and trendy tank tops, I don’t own a BPA-free water bottle, I didn’t shave my legs, I need supportive sneakers, I don’t have a playlist ready, I have to walk the dog, and oh, the endless laundry.
Then I recalled her saying, “I have the biggest legs in my class, even bigger than the boys.” That hit hard.
This is a tough subject—one that can shape a child’s self-esteem in dangerous ways. She’s focused on other kids’ legs; I never paid much attention to others. But now, she’s concerned about her own, and I hadn’t given my own body the deserved thought—hence, the situation forming on the back of my thighs.
I assured her that it’s perfectly okay; that I’m fine, she’s fine, and everyone is beautiful just as they are. Nobody is suffering because of cellulite.
And so, I set out my gym clothes for the morning.
If you’re also navigating body image discussions or seeking more insights on pregnancy and insemination, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination. And if you’re interested in fertility-related products, this is an authority on the topic.
In summary, a moment of self-reflection inspired by a child’s innocent observation prompted me to address my fitness habits, reminding us all that our kids are always watching and learning from our attitudes toward body image and health.