Are they scars? Are they badges of honour?
Ah, the marks of motherhood!
Motherhood changes our bodies as it changes our hearts, minds & souls. And, most of us, wear our motherhood on our bodies everyday.
The excitement of growing & nurturing new life quickly fades once that life is in our arms, leaving our bodies stretched, marked, scarred & alien to us. There are those of us that seem to snap right back to amazing shape, and there are those of us that make slower (seemingly unfair) progress. After sore nipples & lack of sleep, it's the most common thing I hear new mothers complain about. I think we truly forget that all that was misplaced & enlarged in there has to go back into place & shrink. It's such a remarkable, complicated process.
We women are such fickle beings! We can go from the elation & pride we feel at the birth process our bodies just went through, to utter despair at the stretch marks left behind or the "excess" that happens when we sit. Oh, if only we could lighten up on ourselves, Girls! It's so difficult to step outside of the trap that our minds can become and see ourselves as we truly are. The givers of life - the nurturing spirits that we house inside our beings.
Yes, our bodies change. We may have saggy skin & stretch marks. But we have bellies that expand - to create new life; breasts that enlarge - to nourish that life; thighs that strengthen - to carry us about our life and hearts & souls that grow immeasurably!
Wow, great post and great website.
ReplyDeleteI myself have had two miscarriages that I tend to keep quiet for the most part. They were both very early on but it's amazing how my body had already started to change in preparation for it. I've been hating the changes, and wondered why my body was so different. Now I realize it was because of the miscarriages and I can accept the changes and appreciate the beauty of life...and death. Anyway, just thought I'd share. :)
Yes, Viva, our bodies start to change immediately upon implantation. Some changes are subtle, some are drastic. Everyone's experience is different.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your losses. :-(
We cannot experience the full beauty of life without being touched by death. Learning to accept the good with the bad, the beauty with the devastation is part of our journey.
"Do not measure your loss by itself; if you do, it will seem intolerable; but if you will take all human affairs into account you will find that some comfort is to be derived from them." ~ Saint Basil
Good luck on your journey, Viva! I hope you find happiness & wellness...