Become a parent and your body really becomes something else. Something not always that sexy, and from that perspective I see the seductiveness of ‘yummy mummy’ marketing for mothers. Your body becomes a docking station, a climbing frame, a source of bemusement. It is not entirely an act of loss, this transition for parents; for instance, Toni Morrison has a rather beautiful interpretation of the process (see dot point 6).
But for every time my three year old has spontaneously told me that I am “a beeeeeautiful woman” she has also told me something like that I “have long breasts”. Yeah, thanks a bundle.
My body is not a temple, and nor is Brian’s.
I have long breasts, too.
My son’s discovered my thighs make a satisfying noise when he slaps them. He likes to do that first thing in the morning when I haven’t even started my coffee. There really oughta be a law against that sort of thing.
My daughter loves to squeeze my belly. She calls me “squeezie.” She also has no shame to put her arms in my shirt and give me a big squeeze in public. Um, thanks kid.
I did ask her once what she would think if I got rid of my belly and she said “NO!”
my kids call my belly ‘pizza dough’ and like to knead it. feelin’ like Heidi Klum everyday.
Long breasts ‘n’ tiger stripes, that’s us.
It’s true, it’s the one thing the yummy mummy/MILF people do understand – it’s nice to have positive feelings towards your body.
Someday, t-shirts for us all: “I’m not a fucking MILF. I’m a goddess.”
Fred touched the corners of my upper lip in bed yesterday morning and told me that I was growing whiskers and soon could I please turn into a kitten? Considering the transformations my body has been through, I’m not sure I can entirely rule it out, though I think I’d be more likely to turn into Janeway – the black cat we had once who went completely feral after she had kittens and snarled at everyone.
I find the Yummy Mummy thing actually particularly manipulative – all this and we have to be HOT too? Fark off. I’d rather be Janeway.
The day after my son was born I felt like my body was the most amazing thing in the universe – look, a live human being came out of it. Even after the shuffle down the corridor feeling like someone was sticking razor blades in my bits I felt so in love with my body. It bothers me that it didn’t last very long.
I’m with Pen. Why doesn’t that feeling last much, MUCH longer? Unfair indeed.
My 2 yr old likes to tap my squishy areas and says, “Chubby Mommy!” Yeah, kid. No thanks to you.
My children keep me VERY humble in regard to my appearance.
I enjoyed these comments, everyone.
Long breasts and changing into a kitten. So, so funny.
Martin told me today that my nipples were moving. Not sure what that was all about, but I didn’t pursue it….
[...] milk takes a personal look at body politics in My body is not a temple, Rachel Hills of Musings of an inappropriate woman wonders is Labiaplasty the last cosmetic surgery [...]