Are You a Brave Woman?

Have you taken the Brave Woman pledge yet? I have!

"I pledge to honor and respect brave women and children who tackle the difficult journey of change from domestic violence to a new life. I acknowledge my own moment-by-moment bravery, will remain aware of what is happening to others around me, and speak up against violence in any form. I will stand up for human dignity and safety for women and children."

Violence against women is still real and true in this world....sadly. As far as we have come, as much as we have progressed there are still women and children who live in fear. Being silent about it DOES NO GOOD! Making the woman feel like a victim, like she is weak, like she should know better DOES NO GOOD! Failing to educate men and our boy children on what a good man looks like DOES NO GOOD!



For many women it is not as simple as just "walking away" from an abusive relationship, especially if she is low income, has children, or has already been a victim of violence in her childhood as well. Sadly some women don't know a better life. The cycle of violence runs very deep, and can be a hard thing to unravel. I have known women in my life that suffered at the hands of a loved one, but they are NOT victims! They are strong women warriors, SURVIVORS, that managed to escape the cycle of violence. But they had help, support, guidance and love.

Show your support of brave warrior women!

So take the pledge, sign up, stand up, and be heard.

Body Love and Self Worth: Let's Talk

I will admit it, I was so naive. I thought I'd have a baby, I'd breastfeed, get back to jogging, and the weight would just fall off. Then reality slapped me in the face. I am not going to lie, I may be all about empowerment and natural living etc etc etc...but I fall victim to the body image trap too. I am currently carrying around and extra 30 pounds of baby weight, and I am NOT enjoying it. There are days were it bothers me so much, I feel so ugly, that it honestly takes away from my enjoyment of life. But then I see Claire, she will smile at me, my heart will melt, and Ill realize that it doesn't matter. I made a BABY! I need to be more patient with myself, gentle, loving, supportive. And so I write this blog post on body image and self love. Because we all need to hear it from time to time.

What I see in the mirror:

My body after having a baby feels like I am a piece of road kill, all stretched out of shape, smoooshy, and left by the side of the road. Ugh. My big, round, beautiful belly is now just a burden of extra weight. My breasts, and thighs have a map of stretch marks. My pubic area bares a 6 inch long scar from my c-section.The extra weight around my belly and hips throws my back out often, and my posture is now poor.

BUT

I am curvier now, ZAFTIG! I never had hips, or much of a womanly shape until now. My breasts are full and give life to my beautiful daughter....and they make a few of my shirts look really kick ass! Also, I don't have stretch marks, I have battle scars. Men go off to war, women birth babies. These are my scars and I know I should wear them with pride. (OK I know women go off to war too, I just always liked that saying)

Also, on a side note here. Whoever first told me I will loose weight because of breastfeeding, damn you! Liar liar pants on fire! Sure I burn calories, and that helps, but it just keeps me at the same weight nothing more nothing less. All the calories I burn breastfeeding Claire go towards the extra food I have to eat, to breastfeed Claire. I honestly feel that bottle feeding mamma's have more time to exercise and eat well. You can give your baby to daddy or gramma and know they will/can feed her. I don't have this luxury. Hell not even for a nap! Claire simply will not take a bottle, from anyone. Le sigh

I need to love myself more, look in the mirror and see a strong mamma whose beauty radiates from within. I need to stop comparing myself to others, but it is SO hard. There are some mommy-bloggers out there who are so put together! Perfect little outfits, face full of makeup, cute hair AND regular blog posts?! WTF? How do they do it? I cannot compare myself to that because it simply isn't right for everyone. I have decided that as nice as they are in real life, I am sure they must be aliens visiting from another a planet. Stephord wife aliens. For shizzle. With full time alien makeup artists.

And so I walk. I walk everywhere I can to loose the weight and clear my head. I smile. I smile at myself in the mirror and at my baby Claire every moment. I dont want her to grow up with a mom ashamed of her body...that is not the role model I want to be for my child. I love myself, have patience with myself, and know that the rest will follow.