There’s a new hashtag in town and boy it’s a goody! The #therealmilfsofinstagram is trending and it’s all for a great cause.
For years us mother’s have hidden our bodies away. Modesty may have something to do with it. Shame could have played a part too. Either way oppression has had the biggest role. Well, no more!
Last night an uprising started. Of course, brave Mum’s have been “bearing it” sporadically for a while now in hopes of changing the way the world looks at our bodies. However as the old saying goes: “It takes a village to raise a child”, basically meaning if we come together we will be far more successful.
Free The Wobbly Bits
Dating back to god knows when, society’s view of the typical female body has included a small waist, unblemished complexion, large perky breasts and a flat stomach. Obviously, this doesn’t represent all women.
The media and fashion retailers are by far the biggest culprits in enforcing these standards. Every campaign we see is photoshopped, airbrushed and fake. This is setting an extremely unhealthy precedent in young men and women that is leading to eating disorders, body dysmorphia and other mental health issues around the globe.
Social media has certainly not helped either. Society look to big brands or celebrities as role models, meaning that people with bodies much like these role models are proud and share their bodies online. That is absolutely amazing that people are so positive about their bodies but it also means this body type monopolises the internet.
So us mothers are saying enough is enough! There needs to be more representation across the board of body types. We need to see the rolls and wobbly bits, the tartan skin and acne, the hair and the stretch marks. These “imperfections” need to be seen. We have lived through the shame and oppression and don’t want our children to face the same self scrutiny. It’s time to free the wobbly bits.
My Body, My Story
Personally, after giving birth to Charlotte I was in shock at my body. I didn’t know I would still have a bump after I had her. I didn’t know my tummy would sag. I had stretch marks in places I couldn’t even see! The stretch marks are what got to me most. Logically, it all made sense so why hadn’t I worked this out sooner?
Because of the media. Celebrities didn’t have my post-partum body. Celebrities have a solid fitness regime and personal trainer though, I don’t. Mum’s on instagram didn’t have my post-partum body. Those mums were very athletic before giving birth which helped them get back into shape.
The only other mum body I had seen was my own mother’s but our bodies are so different that I didn’t think to use her as a comparison. The fact is, I shouldn’t have been looking for a comparison because we are all different! However, I needed a comparison, I needed to know I was “normal” so that I didn’t need to feel ashamed anymore.
I was too ashamed to let my partner look at me for fear he wouldn’t love me anymore. I changed the way I dressed, I changed the way I socialised all because of my new body.
Well what a load of bollocks that was! WHY ON EARTH WOULD I DO THAT?! I quickly realised that, of course I wasn’t the only mum on the planet to look like this after having a baby and I bet that those mums felt the same as I did: ashamed and lonely.
#therealmilfsofinstagram
I can’t say for certain who started this “revolution” but a handful of mums including myself have declared ourselves “Milfs” and are showing the world our mum tums. These bodies are coming in all shapes and sizes. From size 6 to size 26, us mums are here tell the world that our bodies change when we have children. They are stretched and scarred but still beautiful!
I’ve changed my attitude and the way I view my body and others. We all change after giving birth and we all have something we don’t like but rather than moping around in a pity party for one, let’s come together and shake what our bubba’s gave us! Let’s show the world we come in all shapes and sizes.
Why not join in using the hashtag #therealmilfsofinstagram OR leave your mum bod picture in the comments with your IG handle and follow anybody similar to you ❤️
