Shut The F**k Up: My Stretchmarks Are Sexy

The Other day I was out Running Errands. I decided to stop at the gas station. As i was there, a young girl, maybe 22, came up to me and asked me if i knew that my stretch marks were showing.

I was really confused. I wasn’t even sure if there was anyone behind me or if she was actually talking to me. I think just the context of what she said, to a total stranger, it kind of threw me off for a second.

Then it registered. I couldn’t believe that someone could be so bold to a total stranger. It was early in the morning and I was just trying to get my son to school on time and get a few other things done in the process.

I put up with that in the past and I no longer have to tolerate someone saying anything about how I look.

I sat back for a second after processing what had just happened and I told her, “Why? Because society says so.” I’m not shy about speaking my mind, and I really needed to confirm what this girl was actually trying to tell me.

She backpedaled a bit and told me some half-assed excuse about how that wasn’t what she really meant. I told her, “I’m not ashamed of them. I’ve had three children.” She was a little taken back to say the least.

I got home and started thinking about the incident. I have been taking care of myself, working out, eating right, and I’ve been feeling good about how I look. I put up with that in the past and I no longer have to tolerate someone saying anything about how I look.

As a woman, and a mother, I would think that people would understand why those marks are there. Those are a woman’s battle scars. You earned those marks nine months at time, same as me.

I look at my kids and I realize that those marks are a symbol of my motherhood. I have a pretty amazing little family, and I’m very proud of my children. I take ownership of those marks, and I wear them proudly.

Confidence is sexy. That’s going to carry you very far in life. In the past, I was made to feel ashamed of them. The kick is, this came from the person whose children I carried. That’s fucked up.

I felt so self-conscious about my own body. I was devastated that this came from someone who should look at those marks with love and respect. Those marks, especially to him, should have done nothing but enhance my beauty to that person.

It really impacted my self-image, confidence, and left me feeling like I was worthless. It took me a while to regain that positive image of myself, but I still struggle with it somedays. Even when the person I’m with now tells me that he doesn’t even see those things, I still have my days.

I think one of the worst parts about losing your self-confidence is how far it can push you down.

The key here is to just keep working on yourself and moving forward. You need to find yourself beautiful. It’s up to you to change your self-image when it becomes such a negative influence on your life.

Hit the gym, go to church. Just do something that makes you happy. Make sure to take time to focus on yourself. It’s not being selfish for you to make time to take care of yourself. In fact, it should be a priority for everyone. When you find time to make yourself healthy, it’s going to have a positive impact on all other facets of your life.

I think that one of the worst parts about losing your self-confidence is how far it can push you down. I didn’t even see it happening until the damage had already been done. It takes a lot of hard work to bring yourself back, but, I’m sure you know this, it is so worth the effort.

There was a time when that interaction with that girl would have landed me in jail. I’m sure there are plenty of you out there who think my reaction was mild. I know…I know…You would’ve beat that bitch down, quickly.

In the end, it wasn’t really worth the effort. She wasn’t really worth the effort. I know who I am, I know my self-worth. What was me flipping out on this girl (in front of my son) really going to help? Nothing.

Would it have felt great to put my fist into her smug face? Absolutely, but I know it wasn’t worth all the fallout that might come out of it. Nobody can beat me down anymore, even when they try. I found my strength, and it is fucking sexy. Guess what? Yours is too.