I have been feeling quite despondent about my postpartum body lately. I had hoped that I would quickly lose the weight like I did with my son and it would just take some exercise to get back into shape. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be that easy.
My daughter who will be 4 months old soon was wearing a shirt today which had “My Mummy is beautiful” embroidered on it. (These clothing companies play on a mother’s emotions don’t they? I immediately picked it out when I saw it in the shop!) So anyway getting back to my story, my 7 year old was playing with his sister and he read out the words. I was standing nearby and I said (because I really wasn’t feeling beautiful),
“My Mummy is fat and ..”
“What? And what?” asked my son looking surprised.
“… and horrible” I finished off.
“No, you’re not! You’re not fat at all, you’re beautiful!”
He tells me that often but this time I noticed that his eyes were beginning to well up.
“Nadir, what happened?” I sat down and pulled him towards me.
“I didn’t know you felt you were horrible, you’r
e not at all horrible, you’re beautiful!”
I gave him the tightest hug I could and told him how amazing he was.
Sometimes I forget that under all that fiery defiance lies the softest and kindest heart. He’s always saying that he wants to grow up to be a superhero and “save the world”. Maybe he just will.
Oh my gosh, Zainab, what a beautiful story! I know that feeling of wanting to be in better shape, especially after pregnancy. It is so hard to keep one’s spirit up. How lovely that your son really believes that you are beautiful, and … you are beautiful! 🙂
That’s a sweet sweet son you have there!