Super Bowl, blah blah blah. Lady Gaga was wow, blah blah blah. What a gorgeous voice and what a talented woman, blah blah blah.
AHHH AND THEN: “Her microscopic muffin top, the size of a fucking Polly Pocket figure.”
WooooooH, HOLD ON A SEC. STOP. Holy cow.
My daughter. Mom is writing you this questionable introduction—which is probably not very clear to you—because I’m at a loss for words to describe just how idiotic the story is that made me so** angry.
However, I’ll choose my words slowly and carefully here to tell you just how much I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you love yourself—your self, your body, your mind, your whole being.
You know, you’ll be coming out of my belly soon, and my first battle will be to stop making negative comments about my appearance. It’s going to be a huge challenge—I know that. I want to love myself more with your birth so that I can pass on more self-confidence and self-assurance to you. I want to become the image of a strong mom—one who values herself, who acts “cool” by thinking she’s cute sometimes, who is comfortable in her own skin, and who thrives.
I want you to grow up seeing a normal woman who loves herself, even with her imperfections and flaws.
I want so much for you to love yourself, my princess. Mom used to stress out so much in the past about her body, her face, her breasts, her butt, and everything. Mom was really sick about it—like, seriously—at one point. Mom grew up in a world of media, unrealistic images, social pressure about appearance, and women who’ve been superficially altered to become an ideal that isn’t really an ideal at all. And you, my beloved princess, I know that this is also the world I’m catapulting you into in exactly two months. And you know what? It makes me sick to my stomach, and sometimes I totally freak out just imagining your little body and your little head developing and growing up in there.
BUT.
I’ll be there in a special way, my princess. I’ll make it my personal mission to encourage you to love yourself. I’ll be the one shouting that Lady Gaga’s “damn” belly is so beautiful. And even if it were really ugly, we wouldn’t care because that’s not what matters to us. It’s her performance, her attitude, her presence, her strength, and her unique voice. Lady Gaga’s physical appearance isn’t something to criticize in any way. And your appearance, my gem, will be perfect in its entirety. You’ll be a whole person. I’ll tell you that and I’ll keep repeating it.
I’ll keep shouting LOUD and really, really LOUD that no one’s physical appearance is fair game for criticism. NO ONE. That respect comes through educating women—and ESPECIALLY society—about the various tools we have to normalize bodies, weight, EVERY. SINGLE. THING. EVERY.
I’ll also tell you this and gently teach you one day if I hear you criticizing someone for their appearance. Your brothers will get a piece of my mind too—don’t worry. But for all of you, I’ll do my best to teach you to love yourselves and others.
Mom is a little scared because she knows she’s powerless in some areas, but know this: your body is yours, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure you love it.